Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-11-22
By J. W. Heisman.
.i.sH.

THE only mill down on the
Southern slate for tomorrow
is the one between Auburn
and the Commodores.
This game win not only decide
the championship Of the South, but
probably also It will settle which
team shall rank second, for it is
likely that Auburn viii defeat
Georgia on Thanksgiving day, and
more likely still that Vanderbilt
will do the same thing for Sc
vance.
A comparison Of the weights of
the two teams shows a slight edge
in favor Of Vanderbilt. Team eN-
perience indicates stand~on,
though perhaps Auburn has shade
the better of the figures here. Speed
in the back field must go to Van
derbilt's side Of the ledger. The
prestige OF past performances, both
this year and in previous years, is
clearly with the Commodores, while
the matter of physical condition
ing grounds are neutral,
A consideration of the foregoing
facts does not clearly point out
winner: 80 we must go further.
Vanderbilt's running game is con
siderabIy ahead of Auburn's, but
the Commodores are almost as far
behind the Alabamians when IL
comes to the bucldng game. 1t
seems certain to my mind that the
Vanderbilt backs are going to
make substantial gains around Au-
burns ends. for they did It even
against Harvard.
Is it equally certain that Auburn
is going to make Roadway through
Vauderhilt's line?
No: not equally certain-despfte
the tremendous driving power OF
the Auburn back field.
Why not?
BECAUSE Vanderbiits line is
heavy enough and it's charging and
tackling good enough very nearly
20 match it. Excellent as is Au-
burns drive and power, it must
not be lost sight of that they only
scored once on Mississippi A. \ M,
and that was by a long end run by
Newell. Against L, :. L. they Jared
no better, making only one touch
down. and that not by buclling, but
because the left END carried the
bail for rather long run.
Was Donahue Possuming?
The question arises, therefore,
NAV not Donahue he holding his
light under a bushel? Might they
not have scored more had they
chosen so to do2 Yes that is quite
possible, for Donahue has been
playing the patient waiting game
the whole season in anticipation of
this game. Auburn ia not likely
to show many new and effective
plans. but it is fairly possible that
they could have scores more points
with the plays they used had they
seen At to do So.
When it comes to puntiug, Au-
burn, with Majors to propel the
pigskin, has all the better of 1t over
Vanderbilt while the latter is un-
doubteldy Aubum's superior when
il comes 10 forward passing 1t
must not be overlooked, however
that Vanderbilt is considerably bet
ter fortified than auburn in the
matter Of goal kicking from the
field; and such a play in such a
game is likely TO be the deciding
factor, az it has been i'm many an
other game this season.
Here's Vandys Edge.
The departments Of play thus TAR
considered show. I should say. IA
very slight margin in favor of the
Commodores; but hardly enough on
which to base a sure prognostipa-
ton in their favor Now however,
we come to the last item needing
consideration, and here the dispar-
ity between the tea.as has been de
cidedly marked-so much SO that
am inclined to think that the rsult
Of the game viii turn upon ihis
very point. / refer to the tacilling
7 viii not mince lsatters. In Au-
burns game in Atlanta the play
ers tackled wretchedly, and my uu-
derstanding is that they have been
weak in that respect the whole sea-