The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-09-26
feeling BETTER AT
MORGANTOWN NOW
University Expects to Make
u Good Showing in Game
With Pitt.

MoRGANTowN. Sept. TIA con.
Servative estimate Of the rise In
stock in the West Virginia team dur
ing the last week would be about fifty
points. A week ago indigo" meetings
were numeours among local followers
OF the team and predictions Of a 400
score were common wherever a bunch
Of fans gathered. Today the feeling
of optimism has been restored and
while even ardent supporters OF West
Virginia concede that Pitt betters
should grant odds because OF the gen.
orally conceded superiority OF Pitt
over practically every team in Amer.
ies last year, still the general feeling
here is that West Virginia has a
chance" TO win and is certain TO make
. most creditable record against Pitts
formidable eleven.
The reason for this rise in stock is
Brooks, last years end, and OF Har.
ris, the promising quarterback who
was called home because Of illness Of
his father last Thursday, are perhaps
the most concrete reasons 10 be
found, but during the last few days,
too, there has been noticeable finer
fighting spirit among the men that
has resulted in increased efficiency
in the matter of running off plays in
signal practice and a moro intense
earnestness when sCrimmages have
been staged.
The question OF ends has been wor.
rying the coaches all year, and es.
pecially when Hager, the one veteran.
was injured the task of developing
two, men who could go into the Pitt
game almost hopeless. The arrival OF
Heavener solved the question for one
Of the positions. however. and now the
return of Brooks I'm better shape than
he was rather severity injured in 1915
makes both positions appear to be
well taken care of. This is especially
true because of the fact that no two
positions on the team are as well
fortified with substitutes as the wing
positions. Hawkins and Erwin. both
Fairmont youngsters are two Of the
most conspicuous. Both have al the
requisites in weight and speed for
making ends and both are exception.
ally aggressive, but both. too. lack
experience. When Hager was out and
neither Brooks or Heavier were avail.
able, these men looked good for reg.
ulars later in the season. but the
coaches did ont believe them sum.
GENTLY experienced to start against
the Pitt team. Calvert. another new
man, and Mills last years back are
two others who are unusually prof.
'cient at the terminal positions. Cal.
vert plays either at guard, halrbacli
or end, and therefore is exceptionally
versatile, and In view of the fact
that the ends are now so well taken
care Of 1t would not be surprising to
see him shifted to a guard altho he
is light for that position for team
that plays a schedule such as West
Virginia does this fall
Harris at quarterback is one OF the
most finished performers in that po.
sition who has ever donned the Old
Gold and Blue. Rodgers is a good
open field runner. especially for a
man OF his great weight. but during
the last three years, and even since
the days Of Dick Hebinger and Kemp
Shelton, the University has AWAY
missed the services of a man OF mo
dunn weight and exceptional speed
and lodging ability in her backheld.
In Harris all these qualities are to be
found and his presence on the team
VIII round out a backfeld that SHOULD