Evening journal., 1917-11-30
ny PAUL PuRMAN.

The selection OF an all-American team
for 1917 presents a number Of obstacles
aot met with in ordinary years.
With Yale. Harvard and Princeton
playing only informal" football and
not to be considered IN the selections
with many other teams depleted by the
demands Of war, it might be imagined
that an all-American selection would
settle down TO a choice of players from
he few teams which retained 60 a
aree measure their 1916 strength
This, however. Is not the case. stars
NhO would have been stars under any
circumstances sprung up in an parts Of
he country, many of them with teams
" 4nly mediocre calibro, which made
hem stand ont the more brilliantly
against their more or Jess drab back
ground.
AS the 1917 season draws 20 a close
four teams stand out as the great foot
ball machines Of the year I'm the east
pittsburg, undefeated for It's fourth
consecutive season assumes the leading
role. although closely pushed toward
the end Of the season by Pennsylvania,
which after disastrous defeats at the
hands OF Warmers team and Georgia
Tech, rose from The ruck and defeated
such formidable opponents as Dart
mouth and Michigan
In thc south Georgia Tech was far
aud away the greatest team. and by
some critics was considered the great
est scoring machine IN the country
Tile Big Ten title was won rather
lasily by Ohio state. Notre Dame re-
5crves great credit by virtue OF its de-
leat Of the Army.
in the far west St. Mary's defeat OF
california placed the Oakland school at
he top OF the heap.
After an early defeat at the hands OF
Nest Virginia, Gil Dobie's Navy team
developed into wonderful scoring ma
,hine. defeating all opponents by huge
cores.
Great backfeld men were rather
lommon this year. A number OF expert
snced backs were carried over from the
l9i6 season and performed brilliantly.
For the halfback positions Oliphant
pf the Army and Harley Of Ohio State
IRE selected. Oliphant is a clever open
neld runner. a terrific line plunger and
an uncanny master Of punting and
irop kicking. His long experience makes
Sim equal TO any emergency and he is
equally dangerous on ofense or de-
fense. He is especially adept at rum
uipg plays around tackle.
Harley, the superback OF the middle I
west, Is one OF the greatest open field /
runners since Eckorsall and is a Won
Ger at either end Of a forward pass
IlaS. ln the Wisconsin and Illinois /.
kaines tnis year when the efforts of the |
epposiuon We're directed TO stop him. |
ns snllteo MS style Of play and shot
lofMslo passes TO the other hacks and
% the ends with rine-uke accuracy
At fullback is placed Berry of penn
EylNania, only am oyclssh ahead Of Nc
Larcn, Of Pitt. Berry was perhaps Tho
most valuable man 60 his team i'm foot
ball this year lie is fast i'm a broken
Deld, an adept with the forward pass
and a sure, accurate, kicker. with which
be combines tremepdous plunging abil-
lty
The quarlorbaclI position Is awarded
to Strupper OF Georgia Tech, who, al
though he has played halfback for tw1
seasons, combines all the. requisite
which go to make a great quarterback
East and accurate. a great field genera
and endowed with keen football
Judgment, StIUpper would make al
IDEAL running mate for the other backs
This backfeld would combine an The
essentials Of championship football
team. The entire OUTFIT is lightning
fast. All are exceptional in the open
field. Three, Strupper Harley and Berry
arc wonders with the forward pass,
Berry and OHphant are great piungers.
An are far above the average at the
kicking game And all are football
strategists with two or more years OF
experience.
The end positions arc awarded 10
Won Heimburg OF the Navy and Boien
OF Ohio State
bolen is very fast. and Is q wonder
on getting down on forward passes and
unoer pnnts. lIc starts fast and is
s'tons IN blocking and Interference and
an accurate sure tackicr.
Van Heimburg Is yerv no,verf,,l and
@'''1 - take care OF both the