New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-28
CADET TEAM HAS
STAR HALFBAO
IN GENE VIDAL
New Player Gives Promise
Of Outclassing Oliphant
West Point Practice.
Nv W. q. MCCLELLAN.

,--v football team has uncovered a
max who promises TO be a sensa-
=, Of the season. lie is plebe-a
!, -, year man-Eugene Vidal. direct
In The University of South Dakota,
- even the most phlcgmatic Of the
INV coaches admit that he will be
.,,rd from considerably.
The cadets frankly declare that he is
Gather Oliphant, and faster than Oil
.,,,t Those who recall what Ollie
IA N the last Navy game will know
A., this is a considerable admission.
The reason that Vidal has not been
lard Of up TO this time is that the
,.,ssry is under strict quarantine, and
,i,i,ors have not been admitted TO the
,,.. since the last Of July. Another
.,,.on is that the coaches wanted TO
-, their fnn q secret until he got the
I.ree 20 fash some of his meteoric
rork in match game.
lie IS rather light, but compactly
,nit for Cridiron star, an accurate
ION kicker and one of the most elu-
I've runners that ever squlrmed across
tangled feld. Once given a start with
- hall. he seems 10 melt out OF the
.-rs Of the taeklers. Though he runs
IN an easy looking lope, he has a
.,rld of speed. At the University oil
s.gth Dakota he was rated as ten
.seopd man in the 100-yard dash.
Kicks from All Angles.
AGAINST the scrub team yesterday IN
,ome scrimmages held before an eXclu-
lively cadet gallery Vidal made two
l,rr runs and kicked two beautiful heId
.osis. one from the 35-yard line ana
ne from the 45-yard line. He can KICK
Nsr from any angle and IN any posi-
ION. He is absolutely unrutiled by the
,ssk Of the linemen who break through.
Nan for man and as an organization,
.ie Army team at the present writing
.sapes up better than any team we
s,vs seen this season. With two eN-
,sn,iops. IL is last years triumphant
Gam. and one of the exceptions Is
Vi9al. a second Oliphant, or perhaps
uper-Olphant.
,oo, was remarkable. when II is con-
,dered that this is only Its sixth ptac-
ice NJ the season. Already the hrst
,ssn is nearly machine perfect IN Tor
wsrd passing Through the entire
'f,srnoon thew made only one tumble
+, their drills. and only one OF the
forward masses was intercepted.
Also the team seems 20 have per-
f,cted a pulling shift, the details OF
rbieb are strategic secret. Some
team will learn q little about il in the
vsrv near future. or IL may be that
ne narticular formation may be kept
for the special benefit of eleven young
gentlemen who are training for the
United States Navy.
Hope for Improvement.
The coaches disparage any praise OF
the Army's remarkable teamwork. "Oh,
no" they insist: their work Is very
ragged lust now, but with d month
work there may be some Improvement.
4. any rate. We hope 70 have them IN
shape before that Navy game.
This is the attitude OF coaches al
ways But you can read from the man
ner in which they say II that down
deen IN their hearts they are convinced
that thew have the likeliest looking foot
ball team Of the season. IL Is too bad
that the Army schedule this year does
rot call for games with some OF the
bigger fellows. The eleven potential
second eutenants in Lieutenant DAILY
pam this year would establish some
football records. ,. ,.--,
to II the coaches. They would not
omit openly just how much they
sought Of this plebe. II IS not done
b coaches. Somewhere IN the distant
sstball past some team or other IoSI
. BIZ game through overconhdencee.
S,ee that time all coaches have guard
d against IL as they would against Z"
Bsek Of the line the Army will be
.subled IN strength by the advent or
Pebe Vidal The Army team 10 the
.-init.ated last year was all O.lpnai T.
With a twin 20 ONphant at leit nan,
hen, the aggressive power OF tne army
team practically is doubled: ana th'S
sViihogt taking into consideration me
.nesrny drop kicking Of the new back
sres4 OF these two ground gamers
I'll Be practically last years line. me
only recruit is Shrader, az LETT end.
Cs,.,;r VcEwan. the keystone of the
ursrssksbIe Army line OF last year, IS
sill 4, centre. lie will be fanked by
re tried guards. Meacham and Jones.
sster ard knight viii remain as
s.sles. The other end will be Reneld,
re fee. and shifty wing who dlstin-
guisted himself last year
Ford. who gained the widest amount
e ground against the Navy, next 10
0hphant. remains a. fullback, and Ger
isrdt. the heady little quarter OF the
Navy game. VIII be in his old position.
here rs no shiftier man IN the lineup
Tor getting through 20 receive Tor
sar4 pass than Gerhardt.
sammy Strang on Job.
That ia the lineup Of tho Army team
"a, has been drilling in the privacy OF
ts q1arantined post. The coaches
would prefer ~ have the quarantine
red Tor some time 20 come, for they
ssnt 70 keep their chances a secret as
',g a. possible. The name Of vidal
,ts been guarded almost a. closely a.
rs eouuterlgn OF the guard.
Lieutenant DAILY, one q the Armys
rsit spectacular players, Us no charge
= the coaching. wish him are assoc
ss'sd Captain Graves. Lieutenant
rrtahSrd. Lieutenant Merrilat, Captain
Fs..sn. Lieutenant Hoge and Lieuten-
- hayes. lowering Ike hen over
~ o. chicks is Sammy otrang, acting
he dual capacity Of trainer and
saitct The Army has not lost 20 the
",ly since sammy came % the post.
While the team worked out this al
Nioon tnc cheering section OF the
act battalion held dress rehearsal
= ne b.eachers. They have prepared d
t.sser Of taunting songs and Jingles
shieh they will launch a. the young
,rst Nto are studying under Secretary
ye,lt.t. They are preparing 20 get a
~ o. enjoyment out Of the nautical
fstea - The service on November %.
ne quarantine a. the post Will re