New-York tribune., 1906-12-01
ARMY TEAM CONFIDENT
NAVY ELEVEN HOPEFUL.
Annual Football Game Promises To
Be Hard Fought Struggle.
rBy Telegraph TO The Tribune. I

Be Hard Fought Struggle.
TRy Telegraph 10 The Tribune
Philadelphia Nov. 3o-The football season
VIII he formally closed tomorrow, when the
Army and Navy teams meet on Franklin Field
.n their annual struggle on the gridiron. Both
elevels arrived here to-day under escort. and
tho players appeared 10 be IN perfect condition
end Ieady TO fight IT out TO the bitter end of a
game which promises TO be one of the best and
most spectacular of the season. The Army is a
slight favorite and expects to win. The Navy
ts quietly confident end hopeful. Every officer
and enlisted man of the army and navy that
get away from duty will be on hand. as well
as members of the diplomatic corps and the
legislative bodies at Washington. It will be a
brilliant gathering. President Roosevelt will
not attend this year. but official Washington
will be represented by Assistant Secretary New
berry OF the Navy Department and Assistant
Secretary Oliver. of the War Department.
The game has aroused widespread interest
not only in football circles. but in both branches
Of the service far and near. The game will
hardly be over before the news is being flashed
TO the Philippines, Cuba, China ana even the
little island Of Guam. for the officers away from
home take the Same lively interest in the
struggle a. those who can see the battle fought.
Captain Hill. OF West Point. and Captain Spen-
Ger. Of Annapolis. were fairly flooded to-day
with kilograms and cable messages from Off
GERS Of the line urging them and their men TO
every effort AMI wishing Them success.
The yelling. usual VIII be a distinct feat
ure Of the game; number Of songs and
yeIls will be hurled back and forth by both
academies. but the Navy favorite will still be
the -Four n" yell, which is ''N-N-N-N!
, A--A-A-A! v-v-V-V! Y-Y-Y-Y! Navy
Navy Navyr'
West Poi,t will respond with "Rahl Rahi Ray
s Rahi Rah. Ray! West PointI West Points!
A-RMYr"
The midshipn1en hope TO hav. at least one
occasion to give their touchdown yel': "Rah.
Rah. This way! Football We play! Right
through breakl Touchdowns we make! We
leave wake! Rah! Rah! Rah!" The cadets
confidently expect this
North Point, South Point! East Point. West
Point. Six (etc.) points,
To show their friendly feeling for their cadet
opponents the midshipmen will sing:
She's our greatest rival too ~
But fGRo RRoT Thfr 4rom 5e the aS KEY s1wsT5 5us wn
Nav the best team VIM
'iSn But ths SsG best @fI is % Old pSsti- SaTyi
cheers cheers for for The the sd ws bts and and blue blue
The Army and Navy forever!
Three cheers for the red. white and blue,
The four straight defeats that the mdship-
men have suffered at the hands Of the cadets
makes the subject a rather sore one with naval
5 officers. II is jesting matter. and each year
efforts are made Annapolis 10 turn out a
winning team. Whether these efforts will be
crowned with success this year the game to-
morrow alone will tell.
A comparison Of the men who will line up
against each other furnishes fairly clear idea
of how the teams Hin play and what likely
to he the objective points Of attack At full
back Ingram viii represent the Navy and Smith
the Army. Ingram is and comparatively
green man He was captain of the Navy's vic
torious crew last spring, and last fall did good
work the Hustlers. He s strong. fairly fast
and has at least q fair knowledge of the game
hut lacks experience. Smith. on the other hand
is an experienced man. He has been in so
many big games that there is chance for
stage fright on his part He is heavy. has good
speed, and. what is better. knows every phase
Of the game in this position West Point must
he conceded an advantage.
Douglass, at left halfback, will face Beavers
Both Of these men are experienced. -heady foot
ball players. but both have been kept out Of the
game most or the season by injuries. The Navy
man has played three years on his team. Weigh
ing close TO 1870 pounds, he IS almost ideal
back, both on the offence and defence. His ex-
ceptional speed makes him an exceedingly dan
FeroUs man IN open play. and q clear field for
him would mean a touchdown. He will he
called on 10 DO the punting for the Navy. and
should do II we'll Beavers IS much lighter than
bis opponent. and not as fast As punter he
is probably his inferior also, but in drop kick
ing he has q decided advantage. His ability ~
dodge is notable. but the whole the Navy has
a decided advantage here.
Captains Hill and Spencer will face each OF her
Both these men are Of big three" calibre
Spencer has great speed, powerful line smashing
sbility. and is good punter. This is his fourth
year on the Navy team. Hill, on the other hand
while not as heavy as speedy a man. is prob
ably the best defensive back in the country to-
! nay. He makes up for a slight lack Of weight
by extra fierce playing. His offensive work is
Inferior 10 his defensive. but in carrying the bal
ne runs with a force and determine lion t,a+
make him hard to stop. His coolness at
critical moments and in critical plays is also n
strong point in his favor. In solving his op-
ponents' plays ana warning his team Of them
before they are under way. he is at times al
most uncanny. II due Hill that Harvard
and Yale found that their most cherished tr:c;1
plays were Of no avail against the Army on the
whole, II is but Just to concede 10 the ARMY the
! advantage here, At quarterback. neither team
possesses men Of over moderate ability Norton
Is slightly the superior of either Johnson or
Mountford though he is not always a steady
At centre Slingluff will battle viii, Sultan
The Annapolis man Will have nearly twenty
pounds on his opponent, and III this linz position
II IS safe 10 predict that West Point will he
cieaTly outplayed. This is Slingluff's first wear
on the Navy team, but he has played on the
Fustlers and substitute for the last two
years, and has had the advantage of DashieTS =
coaching Despite his weight, he is a remark
ably fast He charges quickly, is unusually
good in breaking through the line. and besides
playing his own position in top form is able to
steady his guards. He IS one of the steadcst
and best passers playing centre to-day and II
is hardly saying too much 10 predict that All
American honors Will be his If not this year,
then next Sultan is q good, steady man. but
NJ only mediocre ability and rather over
shadoWed by the rest of his line
Christy and Erwin viii face Meyer and Wright
AT guards. Neither Of the navy in the
class Of their cadet opponents. Both are green.
whereas both Chrsty and Erwin are seasoned
g NaE EIgf csr