The Washington times., 1915-11-23

ANNAPOLIS, Nov 23-The Naval
Academy will oppose It's soldier rivals
at the New York Polo Grounds on Sat-
urday with the least experienced team
in its modern athletic history. II will
oppose the Military Academy eleven with
. team OF which but two. possibly
three. received their letter last year.
and not one Of whom was picked as
hFst choice to begin the final game last
pear. Such q condition Is most unusual
among the teams of the country. In
not, hardly an instance could be cited
where q team has been 30 shattered In
enc year.
OF tho twenty-four players who re-
cefvsd tho IN" for creditable work dur
tnS the season. thirteen were lost by
graduation. but even then this years
00uad still has seven of the eleven men
who started against West Point In 1914.
INJURIES or total failures to make good
have changed the team SO that the
eleven Of 1915 contains only the small
representation from last years squad.
Ward, who was substitute tackle
last year. and won his letter. VIII be
In the lineup at the beginning OF the
game on Saturday. and Craig, q sub
stitute halfback last season. VIII be at
quarter. Blodgett. who was n regular
halfback last season. may begin the
game at left end on Saturday. but this
Is not certain
ginning of the present season have been
most serious. They include Miles, the
captain and quarterback: X. II. Jones
and Mills. the most experienced guarus
at the Academy Kennedy. q big fellow,
who did some excellent work at tackle
last year and T. w. Harrison. last
years right end. Other players who
were beginning to be Vaiuapie nave
Of Failing and Blodgett. the big fellows
who were the regular halfbacks last
year, an early decision was reached that
they were not the men ps dot ior paSeS 9hs
teen minutes on the first team during
matches this year. while Blodgett has
been candidate for end. ana has
about an even chance with Won Helm
berg. fourth classman' to oes'n 'he
The team as whole is greatly lack
ing in experience. kercher. one OF the
guards johnson. who Will Ill, pr95baSRK rp,rpbacR
and Westphal, left halfback. were mem
bers of the squad last year. but only
Craig won sufficient recognition to be
given a letter. Craig played halfback
player, as he has been this season.
Westphal did promising work In a por.
ton OF the early games last season. Dut
broke his leg in the third game played.
and was not able to play any more dur
ing the season.
There are four members Of the new
fourth class who are booked to start
the game. These are: Mardn' fm!l-
back; Won Heimberg, left end: Smith
guard, and Gilman, right tackle. Martin.
though the best man on the squad. has
played only on high school teams be-
fore coming to the Academy. and Won
Heimberg's experience has been SINH
lar.
The two linemen, however. have play
ed a good deal of football. Gilman has
been a member OF the squad at both
Colgate and Cornell. though not max
ing the team at either place, and
Smith has had four years experience
on preparatory school team. and one
on a Western college which Is not well
known in athletics. -,
The lack of experience of nearly all
of the Navy players Ia tho strongest
reason for doubt as to its ability 10
play q strong game against the Army
team next Saturday. Individually
there is much playing ability on the
Naval Academy squad, but II is un-
likely that a team which has played so
loosely during the season can get to-
gether in the. few days that remain
before the final contest.