The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-10-13
TO RECONSTRUCT
M0QNTBlNEER TEAM
Mistakes Made on Satur-
DAY VIII Be Promptly
Taken Advantage Of.

MoRGANToWN, Oct. 13.-1t is en-
tIrely unlikely that the West Virginia
loctbal team which suffered such a
crushing defeat the hands of Pitt at
Ptttsbnrgh on Saturday can recover
tthcient Of morale and playing
strength to beat the Maryland State
lean which plays here the coming
week end. While Pitt was trampling
oyer West yirginia's players and their
opes Maryland was down at Char
loltesytlle giving the University of vir.
uia eleven 1870 troprcing right on
theft own field. This performance
coupled with their 1916 game with the
strong SWarthmore team week be-
lore and the present demoralfzed con-
dition OF the West Virginia eleven
makes the outlook for Saturday ex-
remedy gloomy.
Il isigoing to be a colossal task for
West Yirginia's coaches to Tesurrect
me Mountafneer eleven which was all
but wiped out at Pittsburgh. Nobody
was hurt seriously but the morale of
the team was practically destroyed.
IA Is probable, too, that the mentors
viii tear down entirely the eleven they
aad constructed and start to build
new for the Princeton, Rutgers and
w e ]. games. II the team, in this
PROCESS Of reconstruction, can escape
defeat at the hands Of Maryland Sat-
uTday It will be lucky,
There were about six thousands OF
West Yirginians at the game at Pitts
bnfgh Saturday and most Of them had
their money bet on West Virginia.
Tine, most Of it was bet at odds and
3points, etc, but the odds might as
veil have been 1,000-1 for all the
stFength West Virginia showed. Con-
lequently there is gloom not only in
.he ranks of West Virginia's players,
nut It has penetrated to practically
very. city, town and community in the
Mountain state.
There was little tendency on the
part OF Mountaineer followers, or her
players, to belittle Pitts performance
Dti Saturday. AS whole they gave
Warner and his men credit with an
other invincible eleven, the deeply dis
appointed, Of course, in the showing OF
their faYorites against them.
lamentable weakness OF falling
Oh and holding wet and muddy ball;
POOR judgement not alone on the part
o. the quarterbacks but OF everybody
responsible for the direction of the
team; and weakness in offensive tao
tics are the most general criticisms
heard against the Mountaineers. 1t is
especially difficult for the fans" to-
see why Mud" Hite and George Hill,
two of the best men at running on a
muddy field ever seen here, were new
rgiyen a chance with the ball around
the end. Twice Hite attempted to car
~ the ball through the line, but never
around the ends, while Hill handled
the ball but once, this on the receiy-
ing end of forward pass for seven
yard gain. West Virginia wasted more
Than half her plays when she had the
bait,swith attempts at the line when
any sort of judgment at all should
have dictated that line plays, espe-
cfaily. at the center, are practically
Worthless on field like that of Sat.
ufday,
Pitt was on the alert, She got IL OF
the Ia free balls that cropped out in
the game and this was big factor i'll
The result. Pitt diversified her play.
She took advantage of giving West
Virginia the ball on the muddy field,
While West Virginia showed an in
clinatien to want it, which under the
conditions, was poor judgment. Pitt
made three of her touchdowns almost
directly from West Virginia fumbles
when trying to advance the ball or
handle kicks.
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