The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-11-15
East vs.. West.

As a rule. among football people
at this time of the year. when the
fir trees begin to look extremely
black against q pink sky around
1 p. m, the main argument Is built
around certain football stars or
championship possibilities. East or
West
This chatter doesn't seem to be
in vogue quite SO much just now.
Quite a section Of the daily gossip
still follows the discussion Of East
ern and Western strength, as
shown by most of the returns. And
for almost the first time in football
history the East is forced to take
a defensive attitude
Not to prove that II Is stronger
than the West
But to prove that It isn't weaker.
West Has the Edge.
With all partisanship and pref
udice thrown aside, the facts In the
case all carry a distinct Western
flavor.
In my opinion there are fve
teams in the West" writes one OBJ
serving tourist who has followed
football for many years, good
enough to beat any team in the
East These are Iowa. Wisconsin.
Notre Dame. Ohio State and Chi
cago. And Nebraska would be at
least a $3.50 PROPOSITION against
any picked eleven from the East"
We have the following facts to
start from:
/. Iowa was strong enough to
beat Notre Dame, which completely
outclassed about the same Army
team that gave Yale practically an
even fight.
2. Nebraska, beaten by Notre
Dame, was good enough to travel
1000 miles and smother Pittsburgh,
conceded to be one of the best
teams in the East with Its regulars
at work -
3. Chicago beat Princeton handily.
Princeton lacked the eminent servi-
ces of Lourie and Clarity. two lead
ing stars. But Chicago's margin was
extremely wide and thick. And
Chicago, beaten by Ohio State.
isn't as strong as Notre Dame or
Iowa. And very likely Wisconsin.
Neutral Testimony.
Certain oficials who worked in
the Nebraska-Pitt game pronounce
Nebraska as. the strongest team
they have seen.
And Nebraska doesn't lead the
West.
Other officials who saw Notre
Dame play rate Rockne's eleven
well above Penn State. the Navy
Yale or Princeton-in fact, beyond
anything in the East.
And NOtre Dame fell before
Iowa.
Who would care for the job of
picking six teams from the East
good enough to beat or hold Notre
Dame, Iowa, Wisconsin, Ohio State,
Chicago and Nebraska?
What six teams could one pick?
lTotre Dame had more real foot
adjusted to the modern game. than
any of the leading Eastern teams
that we have seen.
Rockne's team had no greater
ground gaining attack than Penn
State or the Navy, but 1t has so
much the better passing game, cou-
Piled with a strong defense. that Il
must be given precedence.
There are certain years when the
East is better than the West. There
are other years when the West IL
better than the East. And this lat
ter case seems to be true of the
good year 1921.
And. in the meanwhile, Califor-
MIA wants to know where either
the Middle West or the East hap
pens to get of in claiming any su-
premacy.
How much does Babe Ruth
make in an entire year, counting
from January through December"
writes L. L. G. We have never
heard the Babe" make a confession
to this effect. But Il shouldn't be
far away from 100000, not count
Ing Judge Landis's deductions.
And from afar I heard again the old
autumnal wall,
rs the Harvard Of thu species any
deadlier than the YaieS'
And Cambridge answers modify
above the doubtful clan,
II We only had a IIardwick or n
Casey or Mahan."
No wonder old fashioned taekiinR
grows rarer and rarer. II il no
great boost for the tackIsr's morale
to dive headlonK for some rival and
then have him coyiy toss A forward
pass to a mate waiting for q 30.
yard run. Concentration on the Job
10 big factor in any sport, ana
when one 10 forced 20 split or slice
this concentration IN three sections
the result 10 fairly obvious.
How would Lafaystts stack 10
against Notre Dams, Jews Or Ne.
oraskaT We are asked. Whe can
sayg Lafaystts IL one Of ire star
machines Of the East, nat Nsbrass
ka made q mere formidable show.
Ing against Pitt thaB I,afaystts ala,
at 2 time when PHI was sdppessd
70 nave improved nightly In the