The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-02

In assuming the post of honor, as re- cent Birmingham actor declared, one realizes that he is also assuming post of danger Especially is this true as con cerns the selection of an all Southern football team. The selection Of an agsfe- eation of Il from a field Of possibly ioo stars. is no little job. The statement or that selection Is simply the statement of an opinion.
 AS it is scarcely possible that no two men in the south will agree in every es- sentiaI concerning the members or tfe all southern for 1911, it is a safe predic- tiop that the selections above will be crit icized. There is no reason why they should not be- However. it may be stated Una. inc teams were not chosen in haphaz- ard manner, but were made up after the conclusion of the seaon, and after Inc merits of each player of the south had been earnestly considered.
 In selecting the backfield of the all southern there was no difficulty in nam ing Davis of Auburn and McWhorter 9l Georgia, These stars have every requisite of tbe all-round splendid backfeld man. Each ranks with the old stars of the game in the south, and as to their ability to advance the ball there is no question: It is generally admitted that McWhortei is the best hafbaclS of the year. In tear ing an opposing line to flinders, there Is no better man than Davis.
 The Backfield Selected
 In selecting the third member of the backheld. there was more difficulty. But it is believed that in Williams, the stai captain of the team of the Mississippi Az ricultural and Mechanical college the problem was solved. Williams was the very backbone of the Mississippi farmers the past season, and it was chiefly through his work that the heavier and more experienced Auburn aggregatioh was held to a negative victory of 11-6 Will Hams is che of the smartest football play CTS of the south. His Judgment IS excel lent. His speed is phenomenal, and in running on a broken field he is the su- perior of Hardage of Vanderbilt. on the defensive, he is everywhere, and his tack ling is superb That he possesses nim- ole wit is demonstrated in the fact that during the games of the season just closed he played a Half back position, an end position and the quarterback pos,- tion.
 Quarterback and Ends There are several excellent quarterbacks in the south. Meyers of Swanee is an eX- cellent man. Woodruff of Georgla IS one of the most spectacular runners of the south, and is a superb general. Newell of Auburn has many excellent points, ana his speed and ability to dodge tacklers serve him splendidly in advancing the ball. But the quarterback of the south Is Ray Morrison of Vanderbilt. It is be- lieyed that his selection will meet with the unanimous approval of every expert of the south.
 | It is believed that practically every writer of football in the south will give | one of the end positions to Gillem of Sc- vance He is a sure tackler and a man of I fine speed. But he stars more brilliantly | in ulntine the ball behind the line of 1 scrimmage and is perhaps the pest drop kicker and place kicker in Dixie today. l There is no doubt but that the man who has the best toe in the south since he | days of Derril Pratt deserves a place or honor in the football hall of fame. In the selection of the other end there will be difference of opinion. Kent Nor ..ison is superb, and has the advantage l of having had experience. But Tn many respects he is outpointed by HargroVe Vandegraaff of Alabama. Both are sure taoklers. But Vandegraaff has an advan- tage in speed, both in following a punt and in advancing the ball. And under fire Morrison lacks that dash of style and enthusiasm which are characteristics | of the young Alabama star. The only | men who will decline to place VahuesraalL | C1 CT Morrison will be those WHO nave not seen the star of the Crlmson-W hite team in operation, or those who will make | ,t,,sr h is fayN ga rc l of experience.
 Selecting the Line
 The most difficult department or ioot- | ball team to select is the line rms IS | due to the fact that the work or the iinesmen is generally less spectacular 1 than that of the men who run with the nall There are but two men in the south l other than the Commodore contingency capable of dispacing any player from inc Vanderbilt line. These men are | Cogdell of Auburn, one of the most prli- | Iiant defensive tackles in the soutl. ano Maddox of Georgia. There is no questiof hut that Brown. Freeland and Metzgei of Vanderbilt are linesmen who cannon he displaced On account of the fact that for these five men places must be round if has been deemed advisable tf I nut Metzger at center, where he mas nae , experience He Is considered an all rount
 better man than Morgan "iio is van derbilt's regular center
 | There is no place wherehr the all south ern team as selected can be considered lweak. It has magnificent defense ant
 /, brilliant offense. In Gillem it has th'
 best toe artist in the south and one o
 the best in the nation
 The Second Team
 The second team is made up Of player l who are almost as strong as those o the first team. As a matter of fact
 there is very little difference in tn
 strength of the two aggregations. Ken
 Morrison of Vanderbilt is the first SC
 lection for end on the second team wni
 McC,ee inc brilliant end of Mississipr
 Agricultural and Mechanical, who's
 splendid work wrought the defeat of tiI
 University of Mississippi Thursday. de
 serves the other place. Allen Of Auburn