New-York tribune., 1918-12-02
Get That Mani"
And Saunders
Did Get Him
Substitute Who Broke Into
Navy-Great Lakes Game
Explains Act

ANNAPOLIS, Dec. ALL the facts
connected with the incident dur
ing the football game last Saturday
between the Naval Academy and Great
Lakes Naval Training Station elevens,
when Midshipman Saunders. u substi-
tute, ran from the side lines and
tackled Ellison, of the visitors, when
he had clear field before him, have
been quite definitely established. AS
the affair is certain to pass into foot
ball history, and will probably be the
basis for a change Of rules so as to
cover like occurrence, it is impor-
tant that these be recorded directly.
The midshipman's tumble when the
pail was pruc.lc-4ly over the line TOR
q second touchdown was the starting
point. There was much uncertainty
on this point just after the game, but
it is now known that Captain Ingram
got the bail and had carried it the
yard and half to his opponents goal
line and then lost it, lie states this
himself, and so does Roberts, another
of the backs. No one has been able
to say definitely how the ball was lost,
, and ingram does not know
However, the ball did not roll along
the ground, but travelled in the mir
| toward the side line Oh the south
toward the main stand. While still in
Inorams pos ession it may have hit
been kicked or knocked out Of his
arm. AT any rate. no official thought
that it was taken unfairly, and no
such claim is made by any one con-
nected with the Naval Academy eleven.
The referee called the play as he saw
it and he is not criticised.
Act Not Condemned
Saunders makes an explanation of
his act which involves the power Of
suggestion. He says that everybody
was yelling Get that man." and an
impulse seized him that made him for
get everything but that he should get
him. His act is not condemned here,
but every one feels that he would not
have done it if he had had moment
for consideration.
Saunders, by the way, weighs but
100 pounds, mighty light weight for
q guard, but he has been going up
against players thirty and forty
who know him say that there is not a
drop Of unsportsmanlike blood in him.
The referee, Of course, acted upon
general principles, rather than q
specific rule, in awarding the touch
down, but he is not criticised here.
Every one admits that Ellison had to
be awarded touchdown and also that
the ball was properly placed directly
behind the goal post, making the try
for goal as easy as possible. Great
Lakes had to be put in the best posi-
tion that it could possibly have &C.
cured had not Saunders acted as he
did. However, the Navy contingent
would have been glad if the official
had simply awarded the yards pro-
vided by the rule so that they could
have conceded the rest of it,
There is some satisfaction here over
the fact that the superiority of the
Academy team over its opponents is
generally acknowledged by competent
judges who saw the game, though the
fact gives additional sting to the out
come in a way. To believe that their
team is better than their opponents
makes the midshipmen feel the de-
feat all the more keen]y.
Gilmour Dobie completes his work
with the Academy squad for the pres
ent season this week His contract
provides for his return next year