The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-11-23
Counting ON
GREAT BACKS
FOR VICTORY

nv has ever put on the football
aeld has been accorded more en-
tiaisiastic support, nor has had a
greater amount Of confidence repos-
4 / It that that which "Tubby"
Mcinttre will trot out at Little"
washington on Thanksgiving aiteE-
noon to, do battle with the ancienC
enemy, Washington anu Je1eFsou
mi d couple OF weeks ago there
was considerable dissatisfaction
with the team. 1t was thought that
fhe material was high class, even II
green. and that the coaches were
not getting from the men what they
ought to get. These critics did not
ggire that West Virginia was play
ing the hardest schedule OF games
al any eleven in the country TINS
wear. bar none, and that Mclntire
had but three men lelt from
his 1919 team with which to start
Contrast this with the fourteen reg
MARS he had in 1919 and 1t can De
seen what a task he had. Never
the1ess there were umOrs OF dis
satisfaction in the team II CON
annually there was complaint lald
AT Dawson's door regarding his
handling Of the team in It's games.
"a good deal OF this criticism or
Dawson vas unjust, because the
same plays which Dawson called,
and which failed to score touch
downs, did score t~ouchdowns when
Lytle called them both against Rut-
gers and Bethany.
The fact OF the matter is. that
Dawson, McIntire nor any other IN
3dfyidual connected with the team
should be blamed for earlier fail
tres. It was simply a question OF
making the best OF it till the team
afound itself'' and while the cX-
spertmentation that was absolutely
necessary was being made By Nc
Inttre.
But, the team has arrived" and
against the last four opponents,
Princeton, Washington and Lee,
Rutgers and Bethany, has been
clearly noticeable. In the Bethany
game, in which the Mountaineers
were opposed by one of the scrappi-
est, best coached and keyed-up
teams they have met the whole sea
son, West Virginia's concerted at
tack and her stubborn and clever
defense turned back the Green
team in q manner that satisfied
even tie most exacting critics. or
course Erickson. Mclaughlin and
other W. & ]. players will be more
troublesome than Kelly, Stewart
and hteir mates of the Bethany
team, but West Virginia won, by
reason OF her aggressive game, with
comparative ease from Bethany
and with the same determination
and well organized team-play
against w & ]. the Mountaineers
season will be wound up with four
straight victories and in a blaze OF
enthusiasm.
West Virginia has now the best
balanced backfeld she has had
even In the memory OF the oldest
efan." The placing of Ross Lytle
in the regular lineup, rounds out a
duartette that seems to satisfy
everybody. Carl Beck and Lytle
3areEopen field runners who ram,
with the best in this country. ThGy
both go and get forward passes III
q style that leaves nothing to be
desired ard after they catch them
&c takes the best OF tacklers TO
down them. Homer Martin in the
last four games has been an out
standing star. Against Princeton.
against Washington and Lee and
AGAINST Rutgers and Bethany, his
terrific plunges off tackle has been
Features He gained more ground
from running than all the other
Mountaineer backs combined in the
game against Princeton; he scored
.the winning touchdown with two
great smashes against Washington
andELee and against both Rutgers
and Bethany he divided honors
with Carl Beck in some of the long
est and best sustained marches that
have ever been staged on the local
field against first class opposition,
Captain Lentz is playing the best
football Of his career and that is
saying plenty, because he has al
ways been one OF those players who
was not conspicuous with long runs
nut mas III LhG LIB 6AAASS "4N
pinches done the inconspiCuous but
highly important things that have
led to victory. Martin and Lytle
are both high class passers; Beck
and Lyle can kick with the best Of
them, and especially Is true Of Ly-
Tie. On defense none Of the men
have Weaknesses. though it is nd-
mitted that Dawson a Lytle's SUI
.perior in open field tacklIng. How
ever, It is hoped that not too many
w. & j. runners will get back in
the quarterback position where Ly-
tie plays on defense, and frankly,
Coach McIntire does not expect
them to do SO with his powerful and
awakened line and the secondary
defense that is offered by Lentz,
Emsweller, Martin and Beck.
In this backfield, West Virginia
has two great runners; two great
line plungers; two exceptional
passers; two high class kickers;
four good defense men, and a rapid
IRE strategist running the team
who will keep the w. & ]. defense
hopping about by the selection OF
hts splays on Thanksgiving Day.
There ia nothing to be desired in
This combination and If 1t functions
up to the limit OF its capabilities