The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-05-08
THE GREATEST FOOTBALL PLAYER Of ALL TINE
ey WALTER n. EckeRsALL

SuCCSSSlOU. pfoSc wv tHC nv
American eleven and is the only west.
ern player ever so honored. When
Mr.. Camp picked an All.Time All
American eleven, he chose Mr.. Ecker
sail for the position OF quarter back.
Whether Stages former pupil should
be considered for the honor OF the
greatest football player OF all time
cannot, Of course. be discussed with
propriety by Mr.. EekerssII himsef)
To Ted Coy OF Yale. a player who
possessed superhuman endurance. who
more than any other man was respon-
sible for Yale's football triumphs in
the last three years. who possessed all
the faculties that go to make a grea,
football player and who. by his clean
playing and true college sportsman
ship on and off the field which has
done much to elevate the popular col
lege sport, belongs the honor of being
the greatest football player of all
time
Weighing over 1870 poumis. Coy pos.
sessed the speed of a spriuter. the
agility of player fifty pounds lighter
in weight and the ability to cope with
circumstances as they arose on the
gridiron in the heat of battle. He was
natural leader to whom his team.
mates ooked up and in whose every
suggestion they had implicit conf.
dence. Players on teams against
which Yale competed for the highest
title of football recognized his
strength and generalship and admired
and respected his ability. His often
sive and defensive playing were above
criticism. so to him righfully be-
longs this honor e
All Points Must BE Weighed.
In choosing the greatest football
player of all time so many essential
qualifications enter that the field of
great athletes who have won honor
and fame on the gridiron must he
scanned most carefully and the play
er selected only after a study of ail
the qualities which go to make a
great football genius.
Allowances must be made 70: th1
changes in the rules. which would af-
feet the playing of certain men II
they were In their prime In the various
football cycles. Every department Of
football must be taken into conside-
ration and IA man cannot be selected
for proficiency in one o. two branches
but must possess combnatioc OF
qualities which are found so rarely
in men who fight for the honor and
glory of their alma matters on the
gridiron.
4 man may be strong In offensive
play an in all its phases. but he may
lack the defensive qualifications which
have come to be as valuable if not
more valuable than offensive profi'
cheney. Coaches who have REGARDED
a players offensive ability highly and
who have dared to keep this sort q.
player out of the game have so ar
ranged their defense that the offensive
star would be placed in such posi-
ton that his defensive qualities would
not be brought into play to any great
extent
Line Men Barred by Duties.
With all due respect to linemen,
who have been as much responsible
for gains made by the backs as the
runners themselves. the forwards can
not be considered in this selection
for the simple reason they are seldom
called upon to advance the ball, espec
tally under the present rules, and uu'
der the old code they were not called
upon TO perform as many duties as
the backs. At the same time one can
not pass by the rush line without say
ing word of praise for the men who
stand the battles brunt for seven;y
minutes of hard play.
As long as football is played the
name OF "Pudge" Heffelfinger will rank
with any man who ever played line
position. Although he played way
back when the mass play was in is
prime and when weight ari stienatl
counted for more than speed and agili
ty. he was player feared and re
spected by all of Yale's opponents
Although he played a guard postio'
he was as active as a tackle in break
ing up plays and was one of the few
heavy men of his time who tackled
on the wings. On the offense ne vat
power. With his massive weight n
would catch hold of n back and utter
ly force his way through an opposing
line and when he was called back y
advance the ball he seldom failed =
gain.
De witt Ranks High.
Then there was John DE Witt. on
of the greatest players who ever wor
the orange AMI black of Princeton