The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-11-20

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In all AtlantA's football history nc
more coIorful ball battle has ever
been waged. Most OF the color was
mud. The gray brown Of Ponce de
Icons dirt, literally mixed with
rain water. neutralized the red and
black Jerseys of the Georsians and
the crimson and white jerseys of the
Alahamians. Only natural, inttinc-
tive football spirit permitted players
of the teams TO recognize frtond from
Toe. Nothing but a natural insist
i've football spirit could have per-
mitted that battle to have been SO
splendidly fought as 1t was.
Rain Slows Up Game
Rain began pouring early yester-
day morning. 1t did not abate until
just a few minutes before the ref
erees sent the two teams into action.
1t kept on internationally through
the whole afternoon of fighting. 1t
held the attendance down to q few
THOUSAND, where normally more than
10000 would have attended.
But it could not dampen the foot
ball ardor of those players of
Georgia and Alabama. When they
finished their game they were not
much to look at, still that chilled
and soaked audience remained stand
ing to cheer the gallant fellows as
they left the field. They had fought
against each other as only clean,
wholesome spirited collegians know
how to fight, and then both had
Jointly battled the elements.
Despite all the mud and muck and
sleek and slime and dark and drear
qualities that crept into the after
h..1 49,
watch. On two occasions the crowd
broke into that natural tribute to the
brave that knows no partisanship
when the. powerful Georgians were
held within Aabama's five-yard line.
Those two occasions were the real
nigh POINTS of the game. From the
time the teams trotted onto the field
the issue was apparent. The crimson
jerseyed warriors of Alabama
seemed high school team as against
the giants OF Georgia. Particularly
in the rush line public sympathy IL
always with the little fellow, and
when the little Alahamians showed
a fighting ferocity that hasn't been
seen on an Atlanta football field in
many a day. the neutral members of
the crowd turned their allegiance to
Alabama and the ranks of Georgia.
like true sportsmanship. gave those
heroic efforts OF the. little fellows
the plaudits that they deserved.
Alabama Shows Great Defense
Georgia played remarkable foot
hall, think. The day preciuded foot
ball as 1t is known all : through the
season, but the Georgians were able
to adjust themselves To the unheard-
OF conditions and drive, while the
Alabamians seemed literally stuck In
the mud from the first onset. That
is as far as the game went on attack.
on defense Ala ALBANIA was anything
but lost. 1t had the ball but seldom.
and generally when IT did have i.
its back was to the wall, but when
Georgia was trying to reach Ala
bamas goal the defensive ability of
Alabama was astonishing. 1 confess
TO me that Georgia was able to do
as little with Alabama's line as II
did. We all know the quality of
Georgia's line. We had all been told
that Alabama's line was an uncertain
quality.
wherefore It was rather a revelA-
ton when the Alabamians were able
to play Georgia's forwards on even
terms until the last period, when
weight told the story and Alabama
resistance had been reduced to mere
fighting spirit.
But when Georgia was unable to
crash through Alabama's line, 1t
started short runs that gained and
gained and on one occasion Georgia
opened up an air attack in a pinch
and scored a touchdown as an indi-
rect result, though, the ball must
have been as hard to handle as a
cake of ice.
Georsias ability to handle that
slippery ball was the real answer to
the success OF the Bulldogs. 1t Is
true that Georgia fumbled and fun
bled frequently. but the wonder is
that the ball was not fumbfed more
times than 1t was carried and the
fact that Georsia's fumbles were ex
cepticns to the rule. shows fairly con-
ciusively the grim determination that
each man had to swing on to the ball
at all costs.
Fumbling Cosly
Alabama suffered in this compare
son. Two of Georgia's touchdowns
were made possible by Alabama $
lack OF ability to hold that elusive
spheroid with anything like consist
ency. Coming right down to cases.
the first half would have in all prob
ability been scoreless had the Grim.
son backfield shown anything like