The Washington times., 1921-01-11

West Virginia a winner.
Just why Spears severed his CON-
ncction with his alma mater is hard
to understand. Surely those in
charge of affairs at Hanover appre-
ciated what Spears accomplished un-
der adverse conditions since taking
up where Frank Kavanaugh left off
in 1916.
Last fall the White Mountain
eleven was as formidable as any
other combination in the country. The
fact that Syracuse and Penn state
triumphed over Spears pupils could
not have caused the AK to fall on the
neck of their chief mentor.
AN ABLE INSTRUCTOR.
From what we have observed of
Spears in his four years of coaching
we are frank to state that so far as
football knowledge is concerned he
ranks with the best instructors OF
the day. Each eleven that he de-
vcloped at Hanover was more power
full and worked smoother than the
preceding one.
Taking up the burden of coaching
when the funds of the athletic asso-
Citations at Hanover were at low
mark, Spears practically single-hand-
ed drew the New Hampshire seat of
learning from the slough of despair
to the foremost rank.
The 1916 Oar mouth eleven was
beaten by a great number of rivals.
More than one critic had his mis-
givings over the success of Dart
mouth football. 1t was under such
adverse conditions that Eat" Spears
| took up the reins for the smallest
! sum ever paid a big varsity instruc-
| tor.
However, it was not the money
consideration which attracted Spears
to his Alma Mater His ambition in
life, so far as football was concerned,
| was to bring a winner to Hanover by
fair means.
HAS SOUND SYSTEM.
No fair minded critic can challenge
| the soundness of the system of play
that Spears instruced his men in.
The success which greeted his coach
ing efforts in 1919 and 1920 proved
J beyond question that the HanoNeritcs
were as well coached and thoroughly
drilled as any team in the country.
In 1919 an unfortunate occurrence
kept Spears from the championship
honors His team defeated all of the
big elevens of the country only to
| lose a loosely played game to Brown.
This defeat was sustained after most
of the Dartmouth players were in
vania the week previous.
No doubt had Spears been in po-
sition to send his teams full strength
against Brown the championship
would have gone to Dartmouth be-
yond question.
Last year unfortunate injuries sus-
tanned by his stars in early games
kept him from starting his full team
until late in the season. The fact
that such opponents as Penn state
and Syracuse triumphed over his
squad never should have caused the
critics to reach for their hammers.
Hugo Bezdel's OUTFIT showed itself
to be one of the best of many sea-
sons. while Chick Meehan's Salt CITY
lads played good ball against Dart
mouth. Each opponent that ran up
against Fat Spears pupils after
! ihese two defeats knew II had en-.
countered first-class eleven.
Johnny Heismann's University Of
| pennsylvania lads were showed under
! by "A bigger score than Red and
Rlue outfit was ever before defeated
| BY, yet the Quakers feel that thcir
| eleven was far from a failure.
WAS GREAT LlyEsMAN.
During his collegiate days "Fat"
Spears was one of the greatest line
men OF his day. Short. fat but pos.
| sessed Of unusual speed for player
of his weight, he was the choice Of
! walter Camp and other critics for
| Ml-American honors at guard.
| His frst season as a coach was put
in at Dartmouth. He developed the
indicated freshman eleven Of 1911
Tho following season he succeeded
| Frank Cavanaugh. as head coach.
| Tho material that Spears will find
~ Norrantown is the best that n
coach could ask for. whitley" Beck,
the speedy right halfback OF the West
virginia outfit, Ia the star of the ag-
grcEation.
This PLAYER is one OF the fastest in