Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-11-08
THE GRIDIRON
WHO IS THE FEST
 FOOTBALL PLAYER TO-DAY

Who is the best football player in | the country? One way at which to ar
 rive at an opinion on this subject is to
 consider which man plays his position best; another, to consider which com
 pines to the most extent football brains
 with the necessary physical qualifica-
 tions: still another, to deal with the question from the standpoint of the
 greatest of all around ability. And the
 question of the players value as a
 unit In team work cannot be over
 looked. Football brains, or instinct, or whatever one is mind to call it, the knack of being able to cope with emer-
 gencies on the field and if necessary assert individuality and get away from the requirements of a cut and dried policy. are mental qualifications with out which no footballist could ever be considered in the best class. One diff. ficulty in arriving at conclusion Is that much of the very best work In football is done in the line. where it does not come under general observa- ton. as does the work of the backs, who sometimes get all the glory when the forwards do all the work.
 Shevlin, the Yale end and captain, comes pretty near being the best foot ball player in the east. Blessed with physique that makes him not only very strong but very fast, he is also player who uses his head to good pur- pose. He has shown ability as lead CT. and while sensible enough to follow out the policy of the coaches and ad- visers. has just the right amount of self independence to make whatever departures are necessary to deal with situations that cannot possibly be fore seen. In short. he has football in- stinct. is not SO well pleased with him. self as not to abide by the advice of older and wiser heads. but yet has enough assertiveness to handle situa. tions when they are up Co him. De fensively and extensively he is the best end in the country and by his individ- ual ability is conspicuous In every game. He knows when to take a chance and when to cling religiOusly to orthodox tnctles He Is one of eleven or an individual as the occasion re- auireS. In addition to all this he comes as near being an all around player as any football player. He has played tackle and fullhack with sue cess and is heavy enough to play guard or center in a pinch. Then. again. his all around ability in bis posi- ton Is equalled by few contemporaries. whether they be end Or what not Whether carrying the ball. breaking up l plays. tackling or getting down under kicks. he does them all well
 Hurley. the Harvard halfback and captain: CO0ney. the Princeton tackle l and captain: Stevenson. the Pennsyl l vania auarterback. and EckersalL the Chicago quarterback. are other players whose work makes them worthy of l Hurley knows the game from A to 2. plays the halfhaek psi lion fn first class style. is thoroughly | zame and makes as much out of bis I position as any player in the country. l -ooney. Ike aII of the other men men toned. is greatly in evidence in games. md that because his high grade play \ c. He is a fighter. Ike an ,f the others. and a man whose nat IraI atfalnmenfs on the eheckerbosrl makes him an inspiration for others Co 10 tIeEr best He may not be zs good In an sruand man as sone. but his Iplrft and his proaciency ss a tackle lut hin in the frrt ra1k of pisye-sL
 EtsrenSca is a great player Sn his tositica. His eeleraishiR. befokeninr nstiuctire knowieixe of the came. and Iis inliiVt1n1l rr1vezs. making hln d In tlzes dsnzzfocs t1 t1s ether ada