Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-10-01
POPULARITY OF FOOTBALL PROVED
WHEN CROWD OF 1000 WITNESSES
GAME BETWEEN PITT AND u. OFW. VA:
Spectators Travel on Scheduleless Trains From
All Points to Attend Opening Battle in Morgan
town, w. Va.-Pitt Not So Strong as Last Year
BY ROBERT W. MAXWELL

to have no confidence in the plays called
by the quarterback and changed them on
numerous occasions. Foxey Miller first was
used and was substituted by McClelland.
Pitler went in at the end and ran the
team much better than his predecessors. But
none showed much class and 1t looks as
IL a field general must be developed in
a hurry or Pitt will have hard time this
year.
There also is a weakness in the punting
department. Sizes, the big guard, booted,
the ball well, but outside of that he vir-'
tual;y was useless. When he went back n
punt formation, the opponents knew he was
going to kick, as he couldn't run with
the ball and his forward passing ability
still Is unknown. In modern football, a
punter must be a combination man. In
other words, he must be able to run around
the end. forward pass and kick. thus keep
ing the opponents in doubt until the play
gets under way. Mahan, Of Harvard was
one of the best combination men football
has even seen, for he kept the other side
guessing all the time. Perhaps Sizes will
develop into good man as he has the
speed, weight and is a strong runner. once
he gets under way. But he Is a better
guard, and with Peck absent It seems best
to keep him in the line to help Stahl, the
new center.
Bailey Plays Well
Stahl by the way had his hands full
captain Bailey played n wonderful game
and showed up his rival in many respects.
Stahl showed his inexperence, but he is a
rangy youth and should develop with hard
work The guards Sutherland and Sizes.
played well, but the tackles, Hilty and
Siedel, were not very conspicuous. Hlty
was paired against Herrlck, a freshman.
and the West Virginia youngster played a
great game. He stopped everything di-
rected against him and in the last period
stfted through the line and blocked a kick
which resulted in a touchdown. Brooks at
left end handled Harrington and Heavener
took care of Carlson. 1t was a pretty even
thing all the way through, which shows
that West Virginia has a team which must
be reckoned with this year.
Rogers, the giant fullback, who played
such sensational game against Penn for
two years, was the bright shining light of
his team and performed we'll He almost
got away for touchdown on two occa-
sions but his Interference was poor. King
punted well and his all-round play was ex-
cellent. Lewis ran the team well from
quarterback and used excellent judgment
McLaren Stars
McLaren's line plunging was the feature
OF the afternoon and there Is no doubt hut
that the Pitt fullback will be one of the
stars of the East this year. He hits the
line hard and has the ability to keen his
feet which allows him to suuirm a few
yards further after being tackled Gougler
also played good game.
When baseball team wins the cham.
pionsh'p it usually sumps the next season.
rms also is true in football The players
on the Pitt team are conscious of the fact
that they went through the season without
deteat and are trying hard to repeat this
year. This is not so apparent in the older
men, but the newcomers show it in every
move. FOR example. Stahl realizes that he
is taklng the place of Bob Peck, one of the
greatest centers in the game Harrington is
replacing Pat Heron and Gougler and Eas-
terday are filling the shoes vacated bv De
mart ana Hastings. These players evidently
are worrying about their positions and trv-
ing 10 live up to the standard set by the
ueparteu stars AS result, their game will
suiIer until they realize that they can only
DO the best they can. and IL that isn't good
enough. change must be made.
III also might be possible that the PLAYER,
nave 100 much confidence i'm themselves and
imagine they are unbeatable If such Is
the case. they might as well get that Thought
OUT OF their heads, for a big Improvement
must De shown before the game with Penn
on October q or there will be a bitta1
ending o'''oi
Earned One Touchdown
Pitt earned the only touchdown Saturdav
"heh McLaren pushed the ball over I'm the
second period. The score came aftar
west Virginia fumbled the bali on tho On.
yard line. The Mountaineers scored ON
blocked kick which was recovered bebir6
the goal line and counted again when NJ
carter was thrown behind his own goal for
satety. McCarter evidently was nervous
on this play, for he caught the bali hafora
it bounded over the goal line and ran he
hlnd to dodge tackler when he was
brought down by Bailey