The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-11-20
Bad Weather Is Keeping Tig.
erS From Much Needed
Practice Before Big
Game
By c. w. UNDERWOOD

ny y. w. 1NDENhWOOb
Sewanee, November 19-(SpeciaLl
The most pessimistic man in Sewanee
over the probable outcome OF the
Thanksgiving game with Vanderbilt
is zone other than Coach John P.
Nicholson. Despite the optimism OF
the student body, or what they think
is optimism, Coach Nick is a dyed
in the-wool pessimist.
Z If there was no chance in the
world of the Tigers coming through
victorious, the coach. could not be
more pessimistic. 1t is seldom that
the clouds have appeared so dark and
menacing, to hear the coach talk.
Whether this is a result of the de-
feat handed the Tigers by Tennessee
or the result of something that the
coach does not divulge. cannot be de-
termined. II the pessmism of the
coach spreads to the team. then all
is over but the shouting, and Vandy
has the game sewed up and carried
off without a struggle.
Little Practice
Some little reason for the dark out
look may be gathered from the fact
that the past. week has been UNI
eunalled in this seasons football for
the small opportunity offered Tor
practice. outside of the bumps re.
ceived at the hands of Tennessee the
weather has been atrocious. No worse
weather has been encountered TINS
season by the Tigers, and full days
practice has not been possible owing
to the downpour of rain and the
thunder and lightning that has ae-
companied it. If it so happens that
Thanksgiving is very rainy tne
Tje ers may show well as performers
in the mud and water. On Hardee
field lately stills would nave neeh
more appropriate, than cleated shoes.
Commodores Have Best Record
A complete record of the Tiger
Commodore battles heretofore shows
that the teams have been playing
since 1891 with but single break.
In 1899, when the Tigers had inc
rreutest team in the south, no battie
vas staged. In the other battles the
Commodores are far ahead OF the
Tigers in games won, having annexed
81 to for Sewanee. Three games
have resulted in ties, two OF lhem
being to affairs and one TO o.
Not since 1914 have the Tigers
walked off the field victorious, al
though the 1916 battle was 10
affair. with the Tigers having the
edge. but not the punch TO. put the
winning tally across the line.
The present game Is something OF
. question mark, for while the .Tlgers
seemed to have the edge on carry SEQ
son form, the set back at the nanus
of Tennessee, who had been previous
iy beaten by Vanderbilt, II TO o. gave
the Commodores an apparent leao ol
Ak ooints. an almost prohibitive lead
n fotbali is played these days. This
setback is partly responsible for the
nessimism of Coach Nicholson. al
though there are other factors enter
ing into the situation of which the
layman wots not.
Miserable Weather
The punk weather, and that is the
only polite word that will describe 1t,
that has been served up for the past
week, has made 1t impossible for the
coaches to try out forward passes,
for the ball has been too slippery 10
handle; nor have the punters been
able to do anything along the line OF
getting distance or direction. Big
Skidmore has tried number of place
kicks, with very Indifferent results,
the ball usually going off 10 one side
and short of the goal posts. lnfact II
has been impossible to get in a real
good. up-to- date practice. IT the
weather doesn't clear very shortly,
the team will go into the game
against Vanderbilt in about the same
condition as 1t was when 1t met rem
nessee. and the result canont but be
disastrous to the Purple.
Despite all these gloomy forebod-
ings. there is an undercurrent of hope
that the Tigers will pull the bacon
out of the fire, perhaps at the last
minute. and probably the result Of q
miracle. The students are neglecting
no opportunity to have pep meetings.
and every day after chapel and after
supper at the dormitories. the noun
tain resounds with the cheers of the
Purple supporters. Everything Is be-
ing done to give the team confidence,
but not over-confidence, and the stu
dents are certain that no matter what
the outcome of the game may be. the
Team will have acquitted itself nobly
and in keeping with Sewanee teams Of
past years.