The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-11-29

The number Of good kickers de-
veloped this season has shown more
progress than any other part of the
game. This, too, was a feature which
brought rounds of favorable criticism
from the stad old warriors of the
great college game residing in this
section. The season was replete with
its annual surprises, and the champion
ship aspirations of many teams were
shattered before the season was half
over and some were shattered at the
very last game of the season.
Overconfdence a feature of football
most dreaded by coaches and trainers
was accountable for the early defeats Of
the so-calIed stronger elevens Some or
the teams were crippled early in the sea-
son as result of star players being in-
jured and these men were never able to
get in the best of shape to play up to
| their true form any time during the sea-
son.
Another feature of the game which
dominates in all sections of the country,
was the number of good men playing
on weaker and small teams who lacked
| the support of their teammates to be
brought into the football spot light. The
most noticeable were VandeGraaff OF
| Alabama, Paddock and Thompson OF
| Georgia. Schiller of Clemson, Maihers
! and George of Tulane, Reid and Spencer
| of l.. S. u, Patton of Tech, Robinson
of Howard, Toley and Parker of Sewa-
! nee. Any of the above players, had they
| been members of stronger teams, would
| have made envable regulations. On the
whole it must be conceded, regardless Of
the ups and downs, that the play through
her of interesting and exciting games
wherein the work was of higher calibre
and more entertaining to the spectators
! than that of any previous year 1t may
be argued that many of the old school
players missed the steady, continuous
| progress down the field which was posi-
BILE some years ago, but the addition
mow three years old of an extra down
III which to gain the 10 yards. showed
more promise in the season of 1914 of
producing some consistency of running
play than had been apparent in the previ-
| Gus years.
Selection of Team
| Ends: Robinson of Auburn played a
steady, consistent game. He was WON
derfully fast down the field, clever
tacl1ler, quick to size up the situation,
able In almost every instance to thread
his way through interference, and a
first-class man on attack. He is a good
receiver of passes and quick and accurate
In diagnosing play.
Carroll of Tennessee Is an experienced
hand and has been under the coaching of
some of the best end players so that he is
thoroughly familiar with every twist and
kink OF the position which requires prob
ably more football brains than any other
on the gridiron. He is fast down the
field and a great defensive man and has
enough weight to be effective in blocking
n a linn 10 hn cta Of fl,xaN ~.
in handling the receiving end of the for
ward pass. His great work in the Val-
derbilt game won 1t for his team. He re-
ceived two forward passes over the goal
line and kicked a field goal.
Cohen of Vanderbilt, Hurley of Auburn,
and Thompson of Georgia were all good
fast defensive ends.
Tackles
At this position we find a number OF
experienced players who have set high
mark, their work being well above tho
average.
Schiller OF Clemson justified his seec-
ton for the season of 1918 and this year
he is again far and away ahead of any
other tackle. He possesses remarkable
physique for the position, he is fast down
the field and Is often mistaken for an
end. He combines power with speed and
has almost unerring instinct for the point
where the play will strike, and unless
covered by the best interference will find
| the runner
! vandeGraaff of Alabama is a product
, of great football family. He possesses
an ideal build for the position. In his
\ first year of play he lacked somewhat
the dashing qualities that characterized
the best men in the tackle position. but
he has been steadily developing until by
midseason of last year he was a stumb-
| ling block to almost any offense. This
past season VandeGraaff developed into
a great punter, his kicks going high and
averaging over 40 yards. Like Schiller of
Clemson he Is fast down the field The
pair make an ideal combination
| Following these, Kelley of Tennessee,
Cody of Vanderbilt, Dobbins and Parker