Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-09-28
JACKETS HAVE
GOODLOOK|NG
SET Of BACKS
But Llnemen Are Far From Be-
ing Up to the Standard That
Is Needed.
By J. w. Heisrnan.

MI ten already about Techs
glorious football prospects
for the coming season, and 1 have
read with much interest of the fine
things the Tech team was going to
do. l sincerely hope 1t may all prove
true, and l need hardly say that l
am quite as glad whenever any good
athletic talent comes our way as any
body else can be.
But If you ask what yours truly
really knows and thinks about it,
am bound to admit that, as yet,
have not seen anything so astounding
as most fans would have US think is
really out on Grant Field.
Undoubtedly the material is better
very much better, than what we had
last year, both in,quantity and quail
ity-and to that extent l am pleased
with it. 1t is certainly true that there
has been a goodly influx of good, new
material for all branches of sport, and
that the athletic outlook at Tech is
better and brighter for the future
generally than ever before At least
that is my opinion and firm belief.
But when you say this much you
have said 1t also far as l can see
1t is not true that we are now shaped
up to beat Yale and Harvard, nor is
DiXieland. Techs material this fall
is only extra good for Tech; it Is not
better than that at other Southern
colleges.
This will prove a disappointing
statement to many Tech man, but
they should have better sense and not
let the wave Of exaggeration and op-
timism sweep them completely off
their feet, These things, you know
go like the swing Of a pendulum, from
one extreme to another. And now
that Tech for once seems to have q
reasonable share Of talent on hand
1t is easy to understand how the i'm
preston could get about that the
Gold and White Is simply going to
clean up.
HNYIELL, what's lacking with the ma
w terial on hand?" someone per-
tinently inquiries. I'll try to be &C
commodating and meet the question
squarely. My answer is that the ma
terial lacks college experience. Yes,
II has weight enough, in the aggre-
gate, and perhaps II will have speed
enough; but it surely does lack high
grade experience.
OF last years pygmy team only a
few have returned, and even II they
had all returned every one knows that
they were too light to ever figure in
the composition of pennant winning
team: so their return-contrary to
what is usually the state Of affairs in
such case-wOuld help but little.
What they would have in experience
they would lack in weight, and what
this new material has in weight II
lacks in experience.
But" some one hastens to point
out Il thought all these new men had
played football-were experienced
players?" Quite a number of them
have played football before; that is
true. But what is prep school expe-
rience alongside Of college expert
ence? One who attempts to favor
ably compare the onC with the other
simply shows how little he knows
about the game.
In a word, this years Tech team
will be composed in the main Of first
year players in college ranks. Do
you think they will, in a few short
weeks. have had time in which to alb
sorb the playing traditions of their
college, become sufficiently inoccu-
lated with the college spirit idea to
fight the way a veteran fights? They
will try, yes; but they JUST CAN'T
GET IT IN ONE YEAR.
If they do, they will be the first
team of new men that | ever saw
absorb 1t. They must have time in
which to get acquainted with their
surroundings, to learn to know and
like each other, and have faith and
confidence in each other and in their
coaches; to develop a love for their
college and its traditions, and to un-
derstand generally how much bigger
a thing college life and college ball
are than prep life and play, and just
what il all means.
IVES, It Is true a majority of the
players on last years grand little
team we're also new to varsity foot
ball, and yet they made heroes Of
themselves. and covered the tradi-
tons of their college with undytng
glory. BUT, absolutely every man on
the team, save one, had already been
at Tech from one to four years. They
were not new to Tech and her tradl-
tons and proverbial spirit; they had
been here several wears, most of
them, and knew what they were
fighting for and how to fight. Their
career and achievements are a shin
ing example and proof Of my conten-
ton.
But II remains a fact that we find
nearly cool half hundred new ath-
letes at Tech this fall, and this force
is bound to be heard from sooner or
later Now, next year, when the team
will or should be a veteran team, we
have a right to confidently expect that
It will be able to do things And this