The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-02
Alabama Meets Ga. Tech and l.. s. U. Clashes
 With Miss. X. and M.
NEW CHANGES HAVE
 NOT INJURED GAME
Tech and Alabama Both Are Strong. Auburn Prospects Brighten. Many Stars Return to
 the Gridiron
ax [. N. GREER

With one more preliminary contest. and d bare weeks practice. the srdiron war riors of the southern colleges clash in, the first contests with opponents worthy or their steel-and the battle for the south g championship Is on. The first test ot the new rules have demonstrated that the football will be football. regardless of the changes There may be more scoring, there may be instituted variety and method of playing that will be new to the patron of the game, but the same tackles will be made. line plunging will De seen, brilliant forward passes attempted, and the fleet backs will be sllrting the ends in days or yore. The greatest of all col lege games may be somewhat changed, but it's moments of thrilling excitement nervous tension. hopes and fears, which are so dear to the hearts of tho sport lovers of the country will be retained; and when the s. l. A. A. warriors clash in the first real contests with their op- ponents, exhibitions of nerve. skill and brains will once more fine warm lodging in the admiration of every whole-hearted American who revels in the excitement which these requisites produce.
 Are you ready, Captain Leurnman? Are you ready. Captain Moody?" The shrill shrek Of the referees whistle, and the Crimson warriors of the University and the Yellow Jackets of Georgia Tech, clash in the struggle which will eliminate one of them as a championship contender. 1t Is yet too early to dope out the prob able result of this Alabama-Tech con test which takes place october F in At lanta. Both teams appeared weak during the early season, but both have been strengthened by the return of old players to the game and by the acquisition of available new material At Alabama, despite the fact that Captain Moody is at present out of the game with strained tendon. and that Wilkinson. q star half. is suffering from a broken rib. prospects for winning aggregation is stronger than for some seasons past. The return of Hicks, the 1So pound veteran, added tower of strength to her line, and Barnes, a back-field man of some seasons past. should make a valuable man at tackle where he is now playing. Ala bama's showing against Marion Institute, was most encouraging to its supporters. While it is impossible to reckon it's rela- tive strength by her first contest, by pling up a score of 52 to o. they demon- strated the fact that the material there classes well with that of any southern opponent.
 On paper the relative strength of Geor-
 
 ing the past week. Early in the season, with few veterans returned, and with light and inexperienced new material to deal with it looked as if Coach l1eis- man was to have a job on his hands in turning out Yellow Jacket aggregation that would cope with it's southern rivals. But with the return of such men as Elria and colley. heavy and experienced tack les. and Harris. a class backfeld man who showed considerable ability last sea son. Tech prospects took on decidedly encouraging aspect. and they bid fair to have well representative aggregation this fall
 Throughout the south many stars failed to answer to the early calls for practice. have yielded to the magnetism of the gridiron and are again in the moeskns Gillem at Sewanee. Lamb. Meadows and Ressijac at Auburn, Schipp at Wander bilt and Cole at Tennessee, are among the tardy ones who are now at work on the gridrons of their various colleges
 With the returning of these stars the football stock of their institutions have risen considerably
 Auburn now has heavy line and one that is experienced. Her backfield, led by Captain Major. is decidedly classy, and prospects for another winning aggre- gation for Coach Donahue are very bright. Auburn does not play next Saturday. She meets the Mercer Bapusts on ms Saturday, October ,. however, and should not have any serious amount of trouble in making a creditable showing.
 Besides the Alabama-Tech contest the only other s. I. A. A. contenders who mix things with each other next Saturday are Louisiana State university and Agricul- tural and Mechanical of Mississippi. Here. too. one contender for southern honors is to he eliminated. Both teams have come to the front to q considerable ex- tent recently by the acquisition of new men and the return of old stars, and an interesting struggle is predicted.