The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-17
M'GUGIN DECLARES SEWANEE
 STRONGER THAN LAST SEASON.
THINKS CHAMPIONSHIP RATTLE THANKSGIVING WILL RE TER RIFIC CONTEsT-VANDERB COACH DISCUSSES CLAIMS OF AUBURN TEAM

Nashville. November 16.-(Special.J- That Sewanee is stronger than last season Is the opinion of Coach Daniel McGugin of Vanderbilt, who also con- tends that his own squad is better and that if a victory comes his way Thanksgiving it will take every ounce of strength and every particle of skill that can be called into action That the game should be one of the hard est fought the south has ever seen goes without saying and already the eyes of the entire southern gridiron public is turned toward Dudley Field, where Dixie's prime battle of the sea son will be fought out.
 When asked as to the outlook for the game and something of his estimate of both Sewanee and Vanderbilt, the Commodore coach spoke first with ref erence to the possible claims of Au burn for championship honors and the statement appearing in some outside papers that game with the strong Alabama Pollies would likely be played in Atlanta or Birmingham be- fore the Thanksgiving game.
 "All this talk about championships is not entirely in keeping with anna teur sports. Of course each team would like to be considered best and is de- sirous of leading all the rest. We have been, however, planning for some time to be in our best possible condition for Sewanee and it would be suicidal for us to attempt to take on Auburn in Atlanta or Birmingham this coming Saturday. My honest opinion is that we are going to have the fight of our lives to win from Sewanee. She is mcu,. stronger than last year. Her guards are just as good and her center, Ju- han. is the same as last year. The same She is much stronger at right tackle for she has McCallum, strong. able bodied youth weighing 195 pounds in place of Noise. who was much light CT and who was never better than an average tackle. Gillem at right end Is far better punter than Noise ever was and is better end than Finlay of last year. Syke Williams, on account of his experience and cleverness, was last year doubtless a better end than Gillespie is at this time but on the whole Sewanee's ends are about as strong as in 1909. Ward at fullback is a much better man from every standpoint than Hawkins and Myers is in better condition than last year At quarter and at right half she has Browne and Lanier. Therefore it seems to me that Sewanee is much stronger than she was in 1909"
 As to Vanderbilt. he remarked: We will also be much stronger than last year at that time but it will take every ounce of our strength and ev- cry particle of our skill to get the ver- dict even If that Is possible"
 Further commenting upon Auburn's position regarding the southern asso- ciation championship he observed: While I have high regard for the spirit and ability of Auburn. yet think she is hardly in a position to claim superiority over the other teams in Dixie. Several years ago Auburn had great team which she claimed to be the best in the south. The next year with practically the same team Vanderbilt beat her 54 to 0. In 1908 Auburn had another high class team and was awarded first honors by many critics. However, she came to Van derbilt with her 1908 team practical ly intact and Vanderbilt defeated her IT to o. Had Auburn delivered the goods in either of these occasions 1t would seem tl{8t claims that she Is best could be more seriously consid- cred. l am sorry Auburn Is not on our schedule this year, but as I retnem- Der 1t, she was offered one of two days at the time our schedule was being made up. I understa however, that Auburn did not take one of tthose days because she expected to play Sewanee at the time"
 The occasion of the Thanksgiving game will be featured by a home coming" of Vanderbilt alumni. who with old Sewanee men from all over the south, will be back to witness the fray. Vanderbilt alumni will celebrate with a reunion in the morning, with some oratory and a luncheon, with headquarters at the Hermitage hotel, while Sewanee's local alumni force will look after its contingent in somewhat similar fashion.