The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-17
POLLARD AGAIN
UPSETS THE DOPE
CLEMSON LOSES
Pratt Kicked Goal from Place
ment from Forty-ninth
Yard Line
ALABAMA'S SQUAD
WAS FULL OF FIGHT
Clemson Was outeeneraled Complete
ly and Adopted Punting Attack,
at Which They Were Out
classed-2o,ooo People.
BY HUGH w. ROBERTS.

Alabama won from Clemson yesterday
afternoon, to 0.
Derrill Pratt, in the early minutes of
the first half, from a little mound on
the forty-ninth yard line, kicked the pig
skin exactly half way between the goal
posts.
The kick was phenomenal. 1t was spec
tacular. Considering the distance through
which the ball was driven, it is believed
that the performance broke all previous
southern association records.
Pratt, too, by magnificent punting prob
ably saved the day for Alabama. for
Clemson gained more ground by means
of straight forward tactics than did Ala
bama. The visitors had two powerful
ends, and a strong and heavy line. For
Alabama to gain the impossible had to
be attempted.
In the beginning 1t looked dark for Ala
bama. After Pratts kickoff the visitors
rushed the ball with leaps and bounds
toward Alabama's goal. But an on-side
kick was received by Pratt, and the ball
returned to Clemsons territory. Then
IOllOWCQ lllo MIN IL QAeN~S
Alabama Goal Endangered.
In the second half Alabama's thin red
line" was steadier, and repeatedly the
heavier men from Clemson were foiled
and often held for downs The visitors
had but one opportunity to score. This
was towards the conclusion of the second
half. White, behind splendid interior
ence, dived between Alabama's left tackle
and left end, and ploughed his way to-
ward the Crimson-White goal for % yards.
He planted the ball on Alabama's eight
yard line.
The Alabama supporters held their.
breath while the heavy visitors prepared
for the first plunge 1t was met how
ever. by the Alabamians and the chargers
were hurled back for loss. Again the
visitors prepared for attack. The assault
this time was directed against the other
side of the line. 1t was the first. The
plucky little squad from Tuscaloosa flew
at the throats of the Clemson boys like
bull terriers and shook them to pieces.
| And time was called.
| AS a result of the game, DR.. Pollard,
Alabamas coach, has completely upset
the dope" He came to Birmingham Qf
the press reports are considered cri-
terions) a beaten man. Clemson was
heavy while his team was light. Glenn
sons record was splendid, while Alabama
had made no record.
But those who. predicted an Alabama
downfall failed to figure in the fighting
spirit of the Alabama squad. They failed
to figure in the fact that DR.. Pollard Is
the best coach whose teams have played
regularly In Birmingham. They forgot to
figure in the fact that the Alabama boys
come prepared with more tricks and more
weird plays and formations than any
other team. They failed to figure In the
fact that Alabama, since the coming OF
DR.. Pollard, has scored an almost UNI
paralleed number of consecutive VIC
tories in Birmingham. People here have
stopped figuring on an Alabama defeat.
They never count DR.. Pollard "out," It
matters not the verdict of the dope"
CIemson's Fear Deadly.
Clemson has a heavy team and a fast
team The South Carolinians are well
coached But they were outgeneraled.
They allowed themselves to be led from
the form of attack which might have
won for them. and to resort to punting
tactics at which they were outclassed.
This is the secret. Had they ploughed
Alabamas line continually and chased
around Alabama's ends continually, they
might have won.
But they were afraid to run the risk of
losing the ball on downs at any distance
from the posts from where there was
chance of Pratt kicking field goal.
And they punted and punted again. And
Pratt outpunted them. The fight there
! fore, was generally in Clemson's terri
tory, and had not Alabama fumbled one