The Washington times., 1904-11-13
NAVY RECOVERING
FROM BAD SLUMP
Practica HIS Been EncOur-
aging i'll Past Week.
BACK COMBINATION STRONG
Coaches Preparing Several Men for
Each Position That Attack May
Not Be Weakened.

ANNAPOLIS. Nd, Nov. 12.-Next TO
the last week before the final contest OF
the season. with West Point, al Frank
lin Field, Philadelphia. finds the navy
recovering slowly from the slump mark
cd BY the draw with Dickinson and the
defeat By Swarthmore. the first sign OF
convaIescing being the defeat OF Penn
sylvanla State last Saturday. The prac-
tice this week has been generally en-
couraglng the attack especially being
decidedly more effective than at any
previous time in the season.
The coaches seem determined TO fit
two OF three men for each OF the post
tions back Of the line. 50 that no mat
ter what mischances shall befau the
team the strength OF the attack viii not
be much diminished. This has been the
plan at Annapolis for several years and
IL has been criticised on the ground that
with the limited hours Of practice at the
Naval Academy the best set OF backs
does not get sufficient practice 70 de-
velop 10 the highest point either indi-
viduaily or in team work.
Backs FIXED Upon.
] The arrangement Of backs to which
the coaches have devoted the greatest
attention this week consists OF Norton
OF Wilcox, quarter DOherty, left hail.
/ Speuser. tight nalf. and Smith, full THIS
/ combination is fast and a little heavier
/ than any other which has been tried
this season. During the whole week II
has played together and has acquired
/ lots Of dash
An interesting fight for quarterback has
/ been going on between Wilcox and Nor
ton. The former was discovered toward
the latter part of last year and was
/ considered decidedly better than anyone
] who had played the position. He was 4
+ sure and accurate handler of the bali'
/ had a good head, and tackled well Nor
ton came 10 the front this season Dy
kicking a goal from the field against
/ Princeton. He has had three tries Tor
goals and made them all Nor IS ms
drop kicking his only football excel
Ience for he tackles and handles the bail
i equally as well as Wilcox, but has not
disDlaced him absolutely yet. as the lat
fer-s greater experience still ho-cs nm
in the place. The position, however ls
decidedly open
( Smith at Fullbask.
The most notable change IN the teatA
/ Is The transferenCe OF Smith from Io4t
etard 10 fun. Smith is a chunky Duilt
/ Loy Weighing little snort OF $50 pounds
IND standing about fiye feet I'VE inches
/ He is fun OF football and always does
E y great deal Of tackIing and such Valu-
able blazing as blocking kicks and get
\ ting the bail on a tumble Lately ne
I has been used 10 carry the bail. ana
made gains 50 reliably that he has been
Dlaced a. fulback Here he not only
continues 10 carry the leather along. Dut
/ is most valuable in giving impetus 10
plays. and in backing up the line ne ls
a tower of strength.
Doherty has been playing right haIt
most of the season, and shows steady
| imDrovement he weighs les pounds
SDenser has been moved from fullbaek
"a left half. and is probably better than
any other back al the Academy, except
ing Doherty and Douglass. who is out
Of the game with q broken leg Re
weighs 10
Several Cnpples.
/ There have been several eriDples in
/ the line this Week Farleys the captain
and right tackle. is giving the coaches
( some worry IN regard 10 his physical
condition. He seems 10 have Overtaxed
himself and cannot last through hard
game This week he has not gone into
the Ine-ups Left Tackle Chambers has
/ been out of the game for several days.
and Left End Howard. one Of the play
/ crs who is most sure OF his position. Is
stu in the hospital with a badly
! scratched leg.