Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-30
TALE OF WOE FROM :.
THE MIDDIES' HOME

ANNAPOLIS. Nd. November 30.-The
Navy people are still somewhat dazed
over the defeat of the Naval Academy
foot ball team, but the eleven of the mill
tary cadets is hardly in shape to discuss
it calmly or account for the entirely I'M
expected defeat. In a sense. only the
Navy team was victim of overconfl-
dence 1t did expect to win. of course:
but not for one moment was it thought
that the Navy would meet weak OPP
ponents from West Point. The midship-
men were filed with the idea that they
had better team and could win If they
played to their best standard. They lost.
not because the Navy players did not
play we'll. but because the Army men
played wonderfully we'll and also out
Unanswered their opponents. Full credit
is given to the Army players and those
who have handled them for the way
which they have overcome the faults of
previous years which contributed SO much
to their defeat. Already the Navy is
thinking about next year and planning to
turn the tables. However, present pros
poets are far from bright, and the ma
terial will probably be the poorest that
the Navy has had for three seasons. The
only hope is that the Navy will be able
to do next year what the Army did this
year-take lot OF green men ana, WITH
a few veterans. turn out winning team
The greatest regrets here are Tor the
veterans Of the Navy team who have
done so much in years gone by to win
for the Navy, and particularly for Capt.
Northcroft who, after four years of the
most consistent and conscientious work
for the Navy. had to finish his foot ball
career with a defeat after having led
through the season an eleven which had
caused all the experts to pick it as an
easy winner over its Army rivals: Be
sides Northcroft, Slingluff, Wright.
Leighton, Lange and Jones graduated. II
would be impossible to find six players
who have worked more steadily for the
success Of any team than these men have
done for the Navy team. Every one In
the academy and the. friends or the IN
stitution generally have the greatest sym
pathy for the men who Will graduate pe-
fore another game is played.
No one attaches any blame to any
member of the Navy team for the defeat
of Saturday, except on account OF the
numerous and palpable errors or )udg-
ment which were committed. The oppro-
brium of this is laid by some to LANCE
door, but 1t must be remembered that
both LANCE and Northcroft were PROB
ably bound by instructions which mapped
out the line Of play for them. This must
certainly have been the case in the worst
blunder of all. the failure to use Richard
son. who has gained against every team
that the midshipmen have met this sea-
son. This was remarked after the first
half but he was used even less in the
second half. and plays which actually
lost ground were attempted time after
time 1t is hardly possible but what this
was upon the orders of the higher au-
thorities, or they were as much to blame
for not directing: after the first half,
that Richardson should be used more.
The Navy will have a nucleus for a
team next year in Reifsnider. Clay. Dali
ton Richardson and Meyer of the regu-
lars. Then there are number of good
men the SQUAD who have played in
parts of some of the games during a
period of two or three years Mason, who
received a badly sprained ankle early
in the season. Is likely to develop into
an excellent quarterback. and Hobbard
has also done good work in that position.
Brand at center and Reinicke at guard
have had much experience against the
resTIlar team and in parts Of games. An
dor-"2. Grafton and Merlin" are other
pen for the line positions from
+ in. For end there are Cobb, Bis
chef and King. all promising PLAYERS.
Back of the line there are, besides those
mentioned, Elmer and Sowell. new men
who have done some good work this sea-
lots of spirit. These. with what the new
class may bring. form a 1olerable nucleus
for the team of 1909. though it will be
hard to fill the places Of the six mighty
men who will graduate
The captain of next years eleven will
Of course. he taken from the first class
Those eligibles are: Reifsnider right
end; Meyer left guard. and Richardson,
fullback.