The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-11
ALABAMA SQUAD OFF T0MEET THE YELLOW JACKETS OF GA. TECH
Best Prospects for Good Eleven in Years-Back Field Is Fast and
 Heavy

University. October 10.-( (Specia1)-- The University of Alabama football team leaves tonight for Atlanta, where the crimson clad warriors of Coach Graves Will have their true rnettle test ed for the first time this season by the pupils of Heisman at Georgia Tech. The outcome of the game. which will be played on Saturday Is await ed here with the keenest of interest, for 1t Is looked upon as kind of index Of the showing that the team will make during the rest of the sea- son.
 Bright Prospects
 Though the followers of the pigskin sport here believe that Alabama has the brightest prospects that she has had in many seasons. there Is still a slight feeling of uncertainty in the at mosphere. Both of the preliminary games were won by large scores, 1t is true unusually large. But neither Ma rion nor Birmingham college Is ex- pected to be In anything like the class of the University. And despite the fact that the Crimson and White, with team made up largely of substitutes. piled up total of 62 points to Owen tons 0, the contest was not altogether satisfactory The Methodsts' eleven was one of the weakest ever seen on the campus, and yet at times they ripped through the Crimson line for consistent gains and more than once held fast against the attacks of the Alabama backfield. And this fact brings us face to face with the question of Al. and her strength.
 The Real Problem
 The great problem that has confront ed Coach Graves all through the pre- liminary work and has made him do some thinking in the small hours of the night is the construction of a sat- isfactory set of forwards. When hs called for candidates for the team there was not veteran from tackle to respond. However. there was a good bit of sturdy material in college, and out of this the coach has evolved line that promises to become powerful machine before the season wanes. At center Is Riddle. a stockily built fell low, who would have made the var sity before now If he had not had such men to contend against as Countess and Barnett. on either side of Riddle are Hicks, the only veteran In the tackle to tackle group. and Hamilton. who was one of the most valuable men on the scrub team last year. Both arc tall and active and have plenty of weight. Just who will be the regular tackles cannot be guessed at this time Four men, Bowman, Barnes, Candy and Gibbons, are fighting 1t out for these pivotal points and all that can be said is that the best man will win. An other applicant for a steady job In the line Is Brunson. and he may step in at the first sign of slowing up on the part of any of the others. When coach Graves has made his final selec- ton and has worked his men together for some time, there Is little doubt that they will be able to open up large holes for the backs and hurl back tho attacks of the foe.
 Backfield Is Strong
 But If there Is a slight factor of doubt about the line, there is none about the ends and the back field. liar grove Vandegraaff and. Jones should make one of the most brilliant pairs of ends that Alabama has ever had. Little Vandy" is heavier than ever, a surer tackler and more consistent ground gainer. Jones' his running mate. though this Is his first year on the team, is fast on his feet, Is an unerring tackler. and carries the ball nicely. This pair of ends should make name for themselves and for Alabama be- fore the season is far advanced
 The pride of the Alabama aggregn- tion. however. Is the back field. Since Captain Moody's injury Joplin has been playing quarter and he has made good with rush. Jop, Adrian Vandegraaff Long and Mcdowell form a quartet that is hard to beat. There Is everything in that back field that is necessary speed, weight. bunting ability, shift mess and accuracy in handling the ball. Given show, they will rip of many a gain for the Crimson and White. Their nnderstudies are Wilk- inson, Riley Stickney and Bates
 Considered from all angles and from early season performances, Alabama's chances for A successful season on the gridiron look better now than they have looked on the same date in a good many years Barring accidents. the Crimson eleven should be powerful machine before the last game is played.
 Those who go tonight to engage Tech Saturday in addition to Coach Graves and Manager Freeman are Van desraaff, II. Jones. Candy. Gibbons. Barnes, Bowman. Hicks. Hamilton. Riddle. Joplin. vandegraaff, A., Long. McDowell, wilkinson. Riley and Stick