Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-11-15

WESTERN GRID TEAMS
TOP EASTERN RIVALS
What Six Teams on This Coast Could Trim Notre Doo
Nebraska Io,Ua, Wisconsin,, Ohio and Chicago9 VI
Asks Expert "
By GRANTLAND RICE


As A rule, among football people at
"A this time of the year, when the hr
trees begin to look extremely piacK
against a pink sky around L: M
the main argument is built around GER
tain football stars or championship pos
sibilities, East or West.
This chatter doesn't seem to be In
vogue quite so much just now: quite
section of the daily gossip still follows
the discussion of Eastern and Western
strength, as shown by most of the re-
turns. And for almost the first time In
football history the East Is forced to
take a defensive attitude
Not to prove that 1t Is stronger than
the West
But to prove that It isn't weaker.
West Has the Edge
WITH all partisanship and prejudice
w thrown aside, the facts in the case
al carry a distinct Western flavor.
"In my opinion, there are five teams
in the West" writes one observing
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
Chicago. And Nebraska would be at
least a fifty fifty proposition against
any picked eleven from the East.
We have the following facts to start
from: $1,000, 4.
First. Iowa was strong enough 10
bent Notre Dame, which completely out.
classed about the same Army team that
gave Yale practically an even hsht.
Second. Nebraska, beaten by Notre
Dame. was good enough to travel lVoV
miles and smother Pittsburgh, CONCEDED
to be one of the best teams IN the Eas'
with its regulars at work. ,,
Third. Chicago beat Princeton hand
ily. Princeton lacked the eminent esIV-
/ ices of Lourie and Clarity, two leaolhs
stars. But Chicago's margin was eA-
tremelv wide and thick. And Chlcago,
hooten bv Ohio State, isn't as strong
as Notre Dame or Iowa. And very
likely Wisconsin.
Neutral Testimony
CERTAIN officials who worked on the
~ Nebraska Pitt game pronounce Ne
hraska as the strongest team they nave
| seen. ,x,..
And Nebraska doesn't lead the west
Other officials who saw Notre Dame
nloy rate Rockne's eleven well ABOVE
Penn State, the Navy, Yale or irihce :
! ton-in fact, beyond anything IN the
| East.
Who would care for the job OF pick
inc six teams from the Fast good enough
r. heat or hold Notre Dame. Iowa, Wis'
consin. Ohio State, Chicago and Ne
What six teams could one pick,
Sotra Dame Ind more real football
players on 1t, stars who were adJusteo
to the modern game, than any OF the
leading Eastern teams that we have
seen. o,,, :,
Rockne's team had no greater ground
gaining attack than Penn state or tue
NAVY. but it has SO much the Dettei
nassing game. coupled with a strong
defense that it must be given prece-
dence.
THERE are certain years when th'
| i Fast il better than the West. There
ore other wears when the Westsis better
than the East. And this latter case
Secms TO be true of the good year lo2l
ND in the meanwhile, California
"A wants to know where either th'
Middle West or the East happens tC
get off claiming any supremacy.
uTTOW much does Babe Ruth MAKE
II in an entire year. counting from
January through December writes l.
L, G. We have never heard th'
babe" make a confession to this ef'
feet. But it shouldn't be far away
from 100000, not counting Judge
Lands deductions.
And from afdr heard again the old
Gutumnai tcdil.
"Is the Harvurd of the species any
deodHer than the Yaler'
And Cam bridge anspers moodilv above
the doubtful clan,
"It TOE only had a Hdrdtoick or q
Casey or Mahon."
MO WONDER old-fashioned tacklint
~ grows rarer and rarer. 1t is nc
great boost for the tackler's morale to