Evening star., 1916-09-27
MARYLAND STATE
LACKS BAcKF|ELD
College Park Squad Has
Strong Line, But Few
Good Backs.
CAPABLE PLAYERS OUT
FOR THE G. W. u. ELEVEN
Hatchetites' Prospects Now Are
Much Brighter for
Good Team.
BY n, C. BYRD.

The Maryland State College foot ball
There are plenty of men to develop a
good line, but right now 1t looks as if
there is going to be a scarcity of play
ers to carry the ball. This condition
probably will exist for some time at
least. Not a single member of the
quartet who played behind the line last
year is back
Tol Speer. star halfback of last sea-
sons team. has not yet been discharged
from Battery A of the Maryland
Field Artillery. speer did the kicking
and was the main ground gamer in
1915. Roger, who did a lot of good
work last season, is in the District or
ganized militia. and Fletcher, former
Erie High and Dean Academy halfback,
who sent word last spring that he was
going to enter Maryland State this fall,
the other day wrote that he had been
in bed since August 81 with blood poi
soning, and the doctor had refused to
allow him to leave yet. 1t is not known
when Boyer or Speer will get out of
the militia. and even when Fletcher
does report 1t is doubtful if he will be
able to play much foot ball. No word
has yet been receiced as to whether or
not Hart and Shank. two other men,
bers or last years eleven will return
knode. the regular quarterback. has
graduated, and is now at Michigan TAX
ing course in medicine.
Coggins, Derrick, Michael and Smith
are being used back of the line, but the
State team will need more men than
four to play through the schedule which
confronts it. Rich has been shifted
from left end and is being given trial
at halfback. and Ike Macdonald, former
n n tY0 fcpb
worked behind the line. Stevens and
Knode. neither of whom has ever had
the least experience in the back field,
are practicing at fullback and quarter
back.
There seems no doubt that the line
will be better than usual. Not only are
all the forwards of last year ready to
take up their old positions, but two or
three new men of much promise are out
for the team. Oberlin has been shifted
from left tackle to left end, and Into, a
new man, is holding down Oberlin's old
position. Tarbutton has been placed
back at his old position at left guard, a
place held by him in 1914, and Murrell.
who was the regular left guard of last
season, has been shifted out to right
end. Kfshpaugh, right guard, and Po-
sey, right tackle, are holding their
places Of last season. Williams. 1915
center. has been in a hospital for the
last ten days, recovering from an op-
Grafton, and probably will not get out
for practice until the latter part of next
week.
The Marylanders come in town this
afternoon for a practice game with the
Georgetown squad Their line and
backf1eld will get severe trying out
against the Blue and Gray veterans
Country" Morris. former Tech High
and Maryland State halfback, leaves
this afternoon to go to Clemson, s. c.,
where he will take up duties as as
sistant coach in foot ball. Later in
the year he will become coach of
basket ball and base ball. Wayne
Hart. star tackle at George Washing
ton and Georgetown several years ago,
is head foot ball coach at Clemson.
Georgetown lined its varsity and
scrub teams up yesterday In a regu-
lar game. The varsity team won from
the second string men by 10 to 0.
The game was well played and fea-
tured by brilliant work by the veteran
backs of last season. Gilroy, Wall and
Leighty had not the least trouble gain
ing ground against the strong lineup
of the second team.
The George Washington squad yester-
day was fortunate in having Genesee,
regular center at Colgate last year, report
for its team. Several other players of
less previous experience came out for the
team.
The Hatchetites now have several men
of established gridiron regulations around
whom to build their team Miller, who
played center for Yale last year; Genesee,
Colgate center of 1915: Mills, star full
back at Oberlin College season ago, are
the most prominent. Besides these, 9TH
ers are out for the squad who have done
good work in the line-ups of other col
leges. Prospects for a good team are get
ting brighter and indica tions are that the
Buff and Blue will turn out a mighty
capable combination.