Evening star., 1915-11-15
BY II. G. BYRD.

BY II. G. BYRD.
Tho south has three powerful foot
ball teams this year-Virginia, George
town and Washington and Lee. Which
is the most capable Of these elevens
will not be determined either. as only
by comparative scores can their rela-
tive standing be judged. These have
shown greater strength than the 9TH
ers and undoubtedly are among the
best the south has ever developed.
All through the year these teams have
given evidence Of exceptional prowess.
Virginia by its defeat of Yale. close
game with Harvard and trouncfng OF
Vanderbilt takes its place high in the
foot ball calendar; Georgetown because
1t has shown consistent, brilliant foot
ball since the opening day, when it
fought Princeton through hard game,
and Washington and Lee by to 8
tie with the University of Indiana and
with three touchdowns scored against
Cornell, have each shown unusual
power.
1t is indeed unfortunate that more
representative schedule cannot be ar
ranged in this section. A series IN
which Virginia and Georgetown would
meet Washington and Lee would de-
velop some of the best foot ball games
that ever were played In the south. Ine
worth of these elevens is undoupted
and 1t is to be regretted that the only
Way their strength can be compared
is in putting together scores OF many
games. which at best is not q very
safe criterion.
Georgetown's decisive victory over
North Carolina A. and NJ. did not come
as any great surprise. The Carolina
Aggies had an eleven that was un-
doubtedly strong. but it met one better
in that which represented the Blue
and Gray. The work OF the two teams
at times was about on par. but in
suit the Hilltoppers proved their su-
periority. AS a matter of fact, George
town may be said to have had the mar
gin all the way. Its Interference start
backs showed greater capabilities In
the open field, while its forwards and
backs generally proved surer tacklers
on the defensive.
One thing is assured and that is
Georgetown in another year will have
one of the greatest backeflds the
south has ever produced. Wall, Leighty,
Maloney and Gilroy are all freshmen
and with the experience they gain TINS
season should be a remarkable quar-
tet next fall, and there's no telling how
good they will be If they continue to
develop for the next three years as
they have this.
The big game in the west between
Minnesota and Chicago resulted in IA
vor of the former by a margin OF two
touchdowns. Chicago had its star full
back declared ineligible Just two days
before the contest and, as many OF Its
plays had been built around him, 1t
the showing 1t otherwise might have.
Another big game in the west was
that between Nebraska and Kansas
The former continued to march rough
shod over the elevens in the Missouri
valley, as it has done during recent
seasons.
But what was the matter, with
Princeton? There are many thousands
of alumni of that institution asking
no answer can be given-not salts
factory one. at least The Tigers were
quoted at big odds to win. according
to reports from the north. but could
not.
Princeton's failure to win either the
game with Harvard or Yale is a
bitter disappointment to it's follow
ers. After a preliminary season in
which 1t showed splendid form and
worked to much better advantage than
Tigers lost to both Why it did so is
hard to say-perhaps no one really
knows the difference in strength be-
tween Yale and Princeton and Harvard
dropped both contests after splendid
fights which were a credit to every
man in the lineup. but it lost games
in which it was figured to win by all
familiar with the conditions.
Because Princeton lost. though. is no
reason for believing that the team
has failed in any sense other than
in actually winning. The style of play
has been built on solid basis and
there has been such progress made as
to cause, Princetonians to look to the
future with pleasant thoughts.
One thing that has stood in the way
of Princeton's success in games with
Yale and Harvard Is the youth of its
team. The players on the Princeton
eleven averaged far less in years than
those of Yale and Harvard. and the
value of maturity-just a year or two
in such grueling contests cannot be
overestimated. Maybe in another year
but that is something to be consid-
cred then.
There must be some foot ball team
wearing the colors of Syracuse Uni
versity, that it could defeat Colgate by
3S to O. Colgate was supposed to have
one of the most powerful combinations
in the east, yet Syracuse seems to have
shown decided superiority, if the score
counts for anything. Syracuse. with
SUCn a victory over colgate, looms up
as one of the strongest elevens and
undoubtedly must be given a higher
ranking than was thought 1t would be
entitled to before the season was quite
as old as it is now.
The Lafayette team must have been
coming forward rapidly. inasmuch as
it's victory over Penn State by such a
wide margin Is indicative of a prowess
not previously shown. Penn State is
said to have a fine eleven. yet Lafayette
must have had everything its own way.
Any team that beats Penn State by
33 points certainly must be very strong.
It begins to look as If Lafayette may
beat Lehigh this year. After some
dissatisfaction expressed at Lafayette
Coach Crowell is said to have made
the statement at a smoker that he
knew the team had the strength and
that 1t would make good in its games
with Penn and Lehigh. His statement
has come true IN regard to Penn. and
now If the Lehigh game is won every
body will be well satisf1ed-and they
should be. Lehigh has won for the
last three seasons.
For the first time in two seasons the
Alabama Polytechnic Institute. IA
miliarly known as Auburn. is a de-
feated team, Vanderbilt having won
from it Saturday by II to 0. That is
about the first time that Auburn's goal