The New York herald., 1921-11-26
LAST PRACTICE OF
THE SERVICE TEAMS
Canvas Has Protected the Polo
Grounds and Field Is in
Fair Shape.
by WILLIAM II. HANNA.

Final practice. me last they'll do this
year, for which they're probably thank
ful. was had by the Army and Navy
varsity football squads yesterday. The
Soldiers and the Midsh'pmeu both went
through their final PAGES before squar-
Ing off for the game this afternoon,
snd while they were at it. as well as be-
fore and after they were at 1t, their
respective Headquarters In New York
hummed with football talk.
The sod Of the Polo Grounds gridlron
mas been covered with canvas for two
days and When the covering was re-
moved for the practices yesterday the
players found the turf in much better
condition than they had reason, after
the rainfall to expect. Bob Folwell,
the Navy head coach, said 1t was fairly
firm. soft in spots where the sun doesn't
reach much at this time Of the year,
not fast field, but still by no means
bad and better than he thought it
would be.
Navy Limo Intact.
Tho practice was the customary kind
on the eve of battle. 1t was secret
not because there were formations to
be concealed. but because the coaches
and players didn't want to be bothered
oy outsiders The Army players, along
with Whom were such coaches as Major
DAILY, "apts. McEwan. OHare, Neyland
Merr'lat. Prtchard and Hoge, arrived
IN West Point yesterday morning and
the Navy squad the evening before.
The lineup OF the Navy team for to-
days game has not been changed from
that announced on Thursday, but as
late as last night the backfIeld of the
Army had not been decided Players
who had been definitely settled on, were
Storck and Meyers. me ends: Davidson
and Mul. gan, the tackles, Gabisch, left
guard. nd Greene. the centre Bred
ster was the prot sbllity for the other
guard place. but Goodman was a pos
sibility.
The Army coaching board met in the
evening to discuss the backfield selec-
tions. Smythe, the kicker, and who has
been playing elsewhere in the backfied d
all fall. was mentioned during the day
as likely to start at quarterback, with
the rest of the backs consisting or
Laurence Richards and Wood.
French Is the fastest man in the
West Point backfield and the best for
ward passer. If the Army intends to go
in freely for an aerial game French
hardly can be dispensed with. In the
did some pretty teaning In overhead
tricks. and numerous sharps are in
clined to think johnson will be found
at quarter this afternoon, with French
at fullback and Smythe and Wood the
other backs.
The officiaif for te- day are DR.. Al
Sharpe Of Yale Tom Thorp of Columbia.
w. G. CrowelI OF Swarthmore and James
A.. Evans of Williams. An efficient
corps. though what position each was to
fill. was a matter not to be decided last
night. There will be a conference be-
tween service representatives this morn
ing TO decide. The Army. according to
gossip. wants Sharpe for referee and
Evans for umpire. with the Navy favor
ing Crowell for referee and Thorp for
umpire.
The writer wishes to apologize TO
Messrs. Pfann and Ramsey Of the Cor
rell team. He was quoted as saying
with Pfenn ard Ramsey to add their in
significant quota" OF rushing against
Penn. What he intended tn say was
their not insign. 'icant quota.
Among the coaches on hand last night