The Washington times., 1908-11-22

ANNAPOLIS, Nov. H.-With the last
of the local garnes over, there is moth
ing TO obstruet tbs view OF the Army
Navy game whia5 will take place on
Franklin Field, Philadelphia, next Sat
Urday, and which has begun TO loom up
In such proportions as TO overshadOw
everything else in Annapolis
With the big games OF the Eastern
season over except for the Pennsyl-
vania-Cornen game on Thanksgiving
Day. the West Point-Annapolis game
viii have nothing to rival it in the gen
EraI interest it will excite during the
present week.
The Navy team is strong this year,
and its friends have little doubt of q
victory. 1t Is composed OF veterans.
whereas the Army has almost an en-
tirely new lineup. Still. the military
lads have shown much strength against
Yale and Princeton, though their play
Ing against teams of lower standard
has not generally been Of d high order.
Not Expecting a Snap.
Though everything points to the third
successive victory for the Navy, the
supporters Of the latter would be the
last TO expect an easy job when they
tackle the Army, and the team has been
run rom the beginning Of the season.
Rs II there were only a fighting chance
OF winning the game. and to accomplish
that reult every man would have TO do
bis utmost.
Most of the competent judges who
know the conditions believe, however,
that the Navy has too much team for
the Army this year. It's line is practi-
cally the same that has withstood West
Points most severe attack for two
years, while the backf1eld IS certainly
as good as that which has succeeded in
piercing the Army defense both of those
seasons.
II is true that Douglas is not now be-
hind the line, but his loss has beer on
set by Dalton, the new man, who is DO
Ing such fine work, and by the great i'm
provement IN the work Of LANCE, Clay
and Richardson. the others who make
np this years backfeld. Then there
are Jones and Reifsnider on the ends,
pnd the halfback experience of these
two will strengthen the offense greatly
II they are used. It IS likely that the
Navy win have plays by which both OF
these men can carry the ball both IN
the forward pass plays and running
from their position In line
From tackle to tackle, the lineup is
the same which has been through ali
the hard games of the two previous
seasons as well as this one, and the men
are somewhat heavier and stronger. and
probably little better than ever Cap
tain NOrtncrOft and Leighton AZ the
tackles Meyer and Wright, guards, and
6linglun, center, are all men upon whom
me Navy depends, and they have ell
shown themselves to be dependable.
No Swelled Heads.
NOrthcroft and Slingluf are easily of
An-American csIiber. while the other
three are not much below that standard.
There has been 10 indication on the
part Of any of the old players of feel
ing that they are good enough. On the
contrary, every man has played from
the start as if working to get on the
eleven for the first time.
The fact that ten Of the PLAYERS
who started the season as regulars will
begin the Army game, and that nine
of these viii be in positions in which /
they were first placed, is probably /
unique In the history OF 1908. Not only
does it reflect much credit upon the
foresight OF the coaches, but II is also /
a nigh compliment 10 the iutelli gent /
and conscientious work of Trainer Nc
Masters, Not the failure Of any of ]
the team men to come up to expecta-
lions, or the phenomenal playing of any
youngSIers nor yet accidents, have caus-
ed the disarrangement of the team to 1
any PRACTICAL extent. A broken collar 1
bone received by Robertson, who start /
ed the season at left end, and Dalton S /
break into the ranks of the hest men
on the squad, have been the only in /
cidents which necessitated changes in 1
the team.
Only One Change.
The play started with LANCE at
fullback. Richardson at haIfback.
though his position was menaced by I
Reinicke, and Jones and Clay at the
IA
such great form, particularly in punt 4
ing, that it was clear that Navy must
have his services. He was put In Clay's
place, and the Navy for time was
without the services OF that fast and
clever back.
Robertson, who was substitute tackle
last season, started the game at left
end and was doing good work. though
he hardly had the position ciiucbed /
lie broke mis- collar bone, however. and
aIleF some experimenting, the coaches
filled the position by taking Jones from
halfback and restoring Clay 10 the
team: Inc change has worked well.
ana II VIII be the permanent arrange
ment Of the team. unless accident up-
sets II clay is a very fast man, knows
the duties Of the position thoroughly, L
and never loses his head.
Clever Bsckfeld.
The backfeld has shown I'D very
strong 1t was thought that the loss
OF that great player. Douglas, would
prove very serious. but each man seem
ed imbued with the idea OF making up
for his absence, and the result has
been a notable Improvement in all of
the backs. LANCE has shown brilliant
form. and his running back OF kicks
against the strongest teams has been
remarkable. 1t is thought that Dillon.
OF Princeton. is his only rival for the
Richardson is doing the best work
he mas ever done at fullback. is hitting
the line like an automobile. and keeps
his feet wonderfully Dalton, the new
man, is punting better than Douglas
ever did. and IS also a good ground
gamer. Altogether. the team is very
strong, and If il plays up to the stand
ard. as its friends are very sure II will. |
II viii take a mighty Army team 20
whip II on Franklin Field