The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-10-19

sition viii guard against weak
ching the line when changes are
necessary i'm any game. The
team now has three guards,
three tackles, three ends and
two centers.
Frank Coughlin, Dave Hayes and
Grover Malone are members of the
Rock Island Independents no more.
There names were stricken from
the roster yesterday afternoon
when Manager Walter Flanagan an
nounced a new policy calling for
the residence in Rock Island of
every player. The three in ques-
ton were notified by wire that they
are free to look elsewhere for
employment.
Consequent with this declaration,
Manager Flanagan announced that
Jimmie Councilman will henceforth
be in complete charge of the team,
so far as the playing end is con-
cerned- Councilman has hung his
hat in Rock Island every night
since he arrived in the city before
the first practice. and much better
results are expected of mis- coach
ing than it was possible for Frank
Coughlin to give while 200 miles
away. -~
Z. These important bits of news
were flashed to the players at
meeting in the clubhouse of Doug
las park before the start of yester-
day afternoons drill That the
Move was a popular one, can be
taken for granted, for those players
who work hard all week are the
oh haI nd who
want, first call in the game.
The action is certain to be ap-
proved by every fan, too, for the
reason that it finally brings the
Independents to the point where
every member is here for daily
practice In the beginning of the
season, Manager Flanagan guarded
against accepting players who
could not be here at all times but
it was almost necessary to sign a
few for week end service to give
strength to the team on paper. Now
that the Independents have proven
their class to the world, the draw
ing power of individuals is not
needed; rather it is teamwork and
harmony such as is possible only
by constant application to prac-
dce.
COughlin DisappOintS.
Coughlin, heralded as one OF the
greatest tackles in the game, has
been a big disappointment, to say
the least. The former Notre Dame
captain, the one who led a team
through a season indicated, has
not had his heart in the profes-
SIGNAL game. That about sums uI
the case against him With all due
respect to those critics who Sc
lected him for all-western honors
and even alI-American, CoughliI
is either far removed from the
class needed by the Independents
or he is trying to get something fol
nothing. To the unbiased onlooker
it has seemed that Coughlin has not
been giving his best in playing
ability to the team. His work in
three games indicated he had nc
l intentions of risking injury, if il
~ could be avoided.
VI Net So, Hayes Malone
This is not true of Honest Dave"
Hayes or Grover Malone This pair
gave the best in them during their
games with the team That much
was evident Both showed sterling
qualities that would entitle them to
continued recognition but for the
fact of their Chicago residence.
With Hayes, it was case of ION
again, on again, on" He was re-
leased last week with Freeman
Fitzgerald but was returned to the
lineup Sunday for certain good rea-
sons.
Cardinal Game Reason.
Manager Flanagan was prompted
to take this drastic step after wit
Messing the exhibition Sunday
against the Chicago Cardinals The
writer characterized the game as
a battle of wits in which Jimmie
Councilman triumphed over Paddy
Driscoll; and that was exactly what
il amounted to TCose players who
have been with the team steadily
and on hand for daily drill, were
the ones who played the game best,
bu5 to the most casual spectator il
was evident something was wrong
in the execution of the plays.
Closer observation revealed an I'M
familiarity with the signals on the
part of those who were absent dur
ing the week. At times it was nee
essary to call one of these aside and
tel him in a whisper what was
coming next. The result was dis
organization. that but for grim
fighting would have plunged the
team into defeat.
"Brick" Travis, all-Missouri
tackle from the University of Mis-
souri,, played the first half of the
Cardinal game. 1t was his first
professional start but he more than
indicated his worth and reliability.
Travis was willing to make his
home in Rock Island. In him
Flanagan had a tackle capable of
fitting in on the side opposite wal
ter Buland. Thus was the road
cleared Tor Coughlin's release
Travis went back to St Louis i'm
rinrsfia alr afrr.r y.