Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1913-11-24
MIDDIES AND CADETS
COMPARED BY EXPERT
Tom Thorpe Says Navy Has
Something on Army.
GREAT GAME IS EXPECTED.
Puts Sailor Lads in Class With Har-
ward, Yale and Others, Of Big
College Teams.

expert on the great college sport,
has the following to say of the rival
players, who will clash in the an
nual inter-service struggle on the
Polo Grounds. New York, on Satur-
day:
"The football season Of 1918 is
slowly approaching the Great Di-
vide. - The final classic of the sea-
son will be staged when Uncle Sam s
future admirals and generals clash in
New York city. This contest should
prove a fitting finale for one of the
most interesting seasons that the
gridiron game has experienced in
great number Of years.
The reversals Of form suffered
by some of our so-cslled major col
lege teams were so pronounced that
the football public were kept in a
constant state of unce rainty, which,
by the way, has added considerably
TO the interest and POPULARITY of the
game. II this factor can again find
its way into the sport next season
the expone nts of the autumn game
NAV look forward to renewed activ-
ity on the part of the public TO wit
ness more Of the early fall games
and not wait for the final champion
ship affairs.
Aside from the fact that the
Army-Navy game is to be held for
the tirst time in Gre alter New York,
and that football interest is at fever
heat, the clash between these two
service teams has always been class
ed as one of the greatest fights of the
year. This seasons battle should
not be an exception.
Comparing the teams, mao for
man, the Annapolis dele cation APP
pears to have little on their West
Point brothers. The middies have
shown more real class in every de-
partment of the game than the ca
diets. Their record of overwhelming
victorie is scond to no aggregation
in the country; in fact, believe if
the midshipmen would meet Harvard,
Yale, Dartmouth or Princeton the
score would be in doubt unit the
final whistle.
ION the other hand, the Army con-
stitDents have duly to their credit
season that gives promise of great
power if properly conferred. Their
defeat at the hands of Notre Dame
will stare them in the face, causing
the &C aches a great amount of worry.
That a great any of the faults eX-
hibited by the soldiers in that contest
have been corrected is testified to by
their remarkable showing in the last
few games.
THAT they are determined to carry
the fight into the middies' territory
and not allow any lack fighting spirit
10 creep into their playing on SatUr-
day is certain. Both teams have
exhibited well-organized and we'll
coached attacks. In line plunging
and old.style cross-bUcking both are
past masters, while the on-side kick
and forward pass have not been
neglected Spectators should wit
ness a wonderful repertoire of plays
when these two teams clash.
Both elevens posses wonderful
generals. Nichols and Mitchell for
Annapolis, and Prichard, for the
Army, are quarters who have won
their spurs on many battlefelds. They
can be relied upon to get the maxi
mum power out OF their respective
squads. In open-fied running and on
the defense, these players are on a
par with any men playing the game
today. They are fast to size up a
situation and will vary their offsnse
t. such degree that their opponents
will never be sure of just where a
play is going.
The remainder of the Navy back
field seems to outclass anything that
Coach DAILY may decide TO start
against them. In Harrison, Failing,
McReavy, Blodgett, Bates and Miles,
Coach Jim Reilly has combination
that comes nearer perfection than
any other combination of the season.
Not only are these men exceptional
line plungers, but they excel in open
field running and as defensive backs
they have on many occasions proved
their worth by bulwarking their
line in such fashion that tire coaches
have been able to allow the linemen
to make the initial charge in almost
standing-up position, and thereby
gain the advantage of never burying
themselves under a play. In this
way the defense has an added amount
of strength.
The combination that the Army
coaches may decide to start against
this squad of backfeld men looks TO
have a great amount of strength as
offensive backs, but to lack a little
of the defensive ability of their rivals.
The Cadets secondary defense has
times been very faulty, especially
when called upon TO intercept forward
passes. This was most apparent ia
the Notre Dame game. but, as have
said, this fault will not be so appar-
ent in Saturdays contest as in the
earlier ones. Hobbs, Benedic, Hodg-
son, Milburn and B. HJge are backs
of more than average intelilge nee, and
possess power and strength. They
will not be found wanting when put
to the crucial test.
At the extremity positions little
Is TO be given either team. Captain
GiIchrist and ingram, for the Mid
dies, as well as Marklee and Merrill
lat, for West Point, are high-class