The Washington herald., 1917-10-24
|DOBIE HANDED jolt
BY LOCAL athlete
Harry Harris. of Business. Hands
Great Coach First Setback.
BY JOHN A. DUGAN.

oy JoI1IN N. DoSA4Ns
It Is with pride to gridiron fol-
lowers Of the District. especially the
High School players and fans, thar
1t was the individual ability Of
local scholastic player that jolted
the powers of one Coach Gilmour
Dobie. Dobie is now coach of the
Navy eleven and he came East with
record of not having seen a club
that he coached defeated in thirteen
years.
A few years ago under the tutoring
of Doctor Paul White, a young ath-
lete was developed at Business High
School Of this city. namely Harry
Harris. 1t was this same Harris,
wearing the crimson and blue of the
West Virginia University, that indi-
vidually Jolted Dobie's great record
as in the clash with navy, on the
sixteenth day of October. he skirted
the night flank of this powerful navy
machine and registered the touch
down after a D-yard run that handed
the great coach from the Far North
west" his first defeat.
Harris history outside of scholastic
ranks has been a short one, as last
season he was quarterback on tho
Dartmouth freshmen team. This sea-
son he entered West Virginia Univer-
sity and was practically unknown out
side of local ranks. until the coaches
of the Mountaineers used him as a
substitute in the final period against
Pittsburgh. 1t was his work in this
short time that gained him the posi-
ton Of quarterback and the privilege
of playing against the navy eleven.
1t is now ancient history as how
t., IL 4~4
navy eleven and registered the touch
down that brought victory to the West
Virginia team. Although there is moth
ing but praise for West Virginia and
the local boy Washington gridiron
fans must give navy credit for its
return to form. While navy gets the
credit for the comeback Gilmour
Dobie must be credited as the "man
behind the guns"
Tribute is coming to the coaching
skill of this silent man from the
Northwest, as he Is the keystone to
the Middies' reversal of form, and
their showing against the Carlisle In
dian last Saturday places Dobie in
the rank with Glenn Warner, the IA
nous Indian coach, now at Pitts
burgh.
At the outset of the season the navy
appeared hopelessly weak in all de-
partments of play. But today, after
handing the Indians a trouncing to
the tune Of 61-to-0, they loom up as
mighty formidable opponents for the
army should the elevens meet in the
annual service clash at the Polo
Ground next month. Although the
big event was called of by army and
navy officials early in the autumn,
there is still a chance that the
struggle between the service schools
will take place and the receipts be
devoted to war charities.
Dobie In two weeks has converted
the navy eleven from green outfit
that gave no promise OF future de-
velopment whatever into a finished
organization. 1t performed with CO.
hesion and intelligence against the
Indians and showed both power and
versatility on attack
Dobie has accomplished wonders in
drilling the midshippmen in the use OF
the forward pass, and 1t was by this
method Of assault they managed to
pile up points against the Carlise
eleven. To be sure, the Indians no
longer are the formidable outfit they
were in the days of Glenn Warner
and Jim Thorpe. They are but a
shadow of the great elevens Of the
past. But they are still strong
enough to give a good account of
themselves, and the navy's great
victory over them shows the mid
shipmen will have to be reckoned
with from now on. Dobie apparently
has accomplished miracle in his
swift development of the team.
Among the Navy lads Perry, at
guard, perhaps is the best player.
and his punting promises to be of
great value to the Blue and Gold
in future contests. He was a MEM
Der Of the team last autumn and
knows a lot of football. On both Of
fense and defense he is a skillful
player. but his right boot is the big
gest asset of the Navy. He gets both
distance and direction In his kicks,
and his spirals are mighty difficult
for the opposition to Judge. His long
punts In the Carlisle game were par
ticularly confusing to the Indians.
Perry recalls memories Of the great
Navy punters of old, like Brown,
Douglass and other stars of yester-
year. Dobie is authority for the
opinion that he will develop into one
of the greatest punters of the year.
The Navy also numbers among this
years men a few of last years vet
Grams. Won Heimburg is available for
back field or end duty, but will prob
ably play one Of the wings in the
more important games. He Is fast
afoot and fine tackler and also
something of punter, although he
doesn't appear able to kick as far as
Perry.
Both Martin and Roberts, half
backs on last years eleven, are on
the team this season, and Dobie is
! sanguine they will be in fine shape
for the Army game, IL 1t be played.
Martin and Roberts are both skilled
in running a broken field. They were
big assets for the Navy in last years
| game against the Army, Roberts
particularly being elusive in an open
field.
Gilmour Dobie's next football
lesson for the local scholastic and
sandlot players will be a play
which has proved a winner for
his victorious team in the past.
This play that put over victories
| In the past for his team in his
thirteen years gridiron campaign
coaching Is delayed pass and
will be the first of a number Of Of
fensive plays that Dobie will Of
fer to his local pupils. This first
play will appear in tomorrow's
edition Of The Washington Her.