Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1911-09-26
FOOTBALL PRACTICE.
Summers Heat Does Not Deter
Navy Enthusiasts Full
Squad Present.
GETTING LINE IN TRIM.
Coaches Busy Drilling the Football Men
\ at the Naval Academy Into Shape.

4
Fifty candidates for the Naval
Academy football team, including the
members of last years team and sub.
stitutes who are still in the Academy.
and others, with one or more years of
experience on the squad. reported for
early practice at the Academy YES
terday afternoon.
To this squad was added twenty
or more of the most promising mem
bers of the new class, making a
lusty squad of about seventy. FIVE.
from which it is hoped to pick an
eleven which will repeat THE tri-
umph of last year over the Army
team.
Practice started with great spirit,
Notwithstanding the almost mid-sum-
mer heat, but the men who have lust
arrived were not permitted to do more
than go through few of the prelimi-
naries, such as kicking and passing
the ball around. The object of the
coaches will be to gradually round the
squad into shape and not to go too
fast at the start. The fourth class
men, who have been at work for about
two weeks, were given a fifteen-min-
ute scrimmage, during which they did
excellent work.
The members of the squad returned
| by orders and were all present.
From lateness in returning, which is
a bother to other coaches, the NAVY
coaches are delivered, as the mem
bers of the squad must report at the
time set, and no time is lost by
failure of the full squad to be pres
ent at the time set.
Four of the regular players, be-
sides several of the best substitutes,
have graduated. Clay, from the
backfield, and Wright, King and Lof-
tin from the line, are the players who
will not be seen fighting for the Acad-
emy again, while Douglas and Mer-
ring, two strong substitutes on the
line, have also finished ftheir course.
However, both Clay and Wright were
on the field yesterday, and will assist
with the coaching. Another member
of the coaching squad present was
Farley, tackle and captain of the team
of 1904.
One of the most pleasing incidents
of the afternoon was the appearance
- ASNNNoy A0iAbdNh VI ldSl year team.
Rodes was not in the best of health
towards the close of the last academic
year, though there is no reason what
ever for thinking that football was to
blame for it. At any rate, Rodes ap-
pears to be in splendid shape, and
| should develop into a most useful man
this year.
OF the other backfeld men, Captain
Dalton, Sowell, Byrd, McReavv,
| Austin, Cochran were all on hand,
and with others hardly less valuable,
powerful offense should be devel-
oped. The work of Field Coach Frank
| Wheaton, Ensign Jonas Ingram and
ex-Captain Clay will be of particular
value in working the backfield into
| shape.
The ends should be well cared for
with Gilchrist and Hamilton, veterans
of last season, on the fianks, but
there are number of fast new men
who may crowd the old fellows if they
do not keep right up to the standard.
Weems, center, and Brown, guard,
are the only other regulars on the
line, but each of these are towers of
strength, and should ever better their
| splendid work of last season.
The filling of the tackle positions
and developing one guard is the big
problem for the coaches this year, but
from the appearance Of some of the
members of the squad yesterday, there
is no reason for discouragement.
Howe, huge third classman, was the
man who would naturally be first
1 r1inlgO6 fnV &c L.
season. He is even bigger than his
ciassmate, Big Brown, and of most
athletic appearance. For some rea-
son, Howe did not develp as might
have been expected last year, but if
he only gets the football move on him
this year, he should make guard or
tackle with ease
Elmer, a veteran of three seasons.
will try for the line this year. He
weighs nearly 200 pounds and with
| speed, strength and experience, should
make wonderful player. He has
formerly played in the backfeId and
on end, but this year will try for
guard or tackle. Wakeman and Davis
are also two valuable men who will
try for tackle or guard.
1t is conceded that the outlook, so
| far as material is concerned, is excel
lent, hut it is also borne in mind that
it has frequently happened that the
Navy has had disappointing seasons
under just such conditions, and with
the most promising material has fail
ed to make good and win the final
game. This is well understood by
the coaches and will be thrilled into
the men, until they understand that