The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-10-04

that no checks were ofbe used.
None was>used, however, and as a
result, the straight bucks at the
center Of Wesleyan's line failed
several times TO net the nece8.
sary yardage.
In the second half, Oliker went
In At the pilots post and ap-
parently upon instructions, began
TO mix 'em up" little more with
the result that the Mountalneers
soon had another score. But after
this, the team fell back into hIz
old style OF hammerins away
without any surprises and Just as
often found a full complement OF
secondary defensive players wait
IN gto pile MP the plays. Funk was
likewise culpable for the same
mistakes. Both Of these young
stera were playing their first In.
ter.collegiate game at the gen
erals post, however, and, all
thing considered, did we'll Their
failure TO speed up the play can be
Just as easily attributed TO hot
weather and a large portion Of Il
should be Justly credited to this
cause. Their mistakes were plain.
~ the product OF inexperience anC
both OF the yearllng players will
profit by them. One of the most
notable errors In generalship was
the calling ola field goal play III
the fourth quarter when West Yir-
glnia had the ball on the IVES,
leyRn's 5-yard line, fourth down
and goal to go. At this juncture,
the score was 20 to 8 and the adj
ditlon Of fleldgoal would have
meant little-6r nothing to the
team whereas almost any play
would have been justitiable In IN
attempt for o touchdown, the
primary object Of all attack. Had
three points been necessary to
clinoh victory, Funk would have
been entirely warranted in, choos-
Ing this play but under the cir
cumstances, It would have beer
much better to have lost the bali
on an opportunity to score a
touchdown which he still had. AS
a matter Of fact the ball was Loaf
on down. Doctor Spears substitute,
Ing Nardlcci for Funk when he
saw<what the latter was about to
do. Nardicci, however, fumbled on
the play, and was thrown for u
loss. Wesleyan taking the ball and
punting out. Numerous other in
stances could be cited but cont
ment is unnecessary. All tlire4
quarterbacks had plenty Of good
features to their play and, az
pointed out above, their err0ra
can be accounted for in a man
ner that assures they will be
beneficial for the future games"
Wants More Speed
MoRGANTowN, Oct. At Is
whispered about In football cir.
cles here that DR.. C. w. Spears,
head coach Of the West Virginia
University football team which op-
ems Its home season on the athletic
field here this Saturday against
the, Marietta College eleven, is
making an effort to increase the
speed Of his backfield. This means
that Martin, Ekberg and Simon will
give way-temporarily at least to
Mahrt, 0liker, Barnum and other
faster men. Since Coach Spears is
still experimenting he is likely 10
start his three stars against Marie
"a, but 1t is a safe bet that he will
not keep them in the game very
long after the first touchdown. He
Is anxious to speed up" his back.
field but he does not intend 20
make any move that will decrease
his teams strength.
Marietta has a big and strong
line which the Mountaineer backs
will find hard to penetrate. With
the Pitt game following in a week
Doctor Spears does not intend to
let Martin. Simon and Ekherg try
and tear the. Buckeye line to
shreds. Rather than take any
chances SO early in the season it
Is thought he will change his me-
thod OF attack. Size and weight
prevent Martin and the other two
husky, backs from accomplishing
a great deal at the ends, which
makes 1t all the more evident thar
Doctor Spears is going to use Mar.
dicci at quarterback and surround
him with the fastest backfield men
on the squad. Not onlyS will this
give the Varsity a varied and baf-
fling form Of attack but 1t will al
SO enable some of the new men
to gain valuable experience.
Doctor Spears has succeeded In
keeping his plans under cover and
he has not intimated what his next
move will be except to mention
that he intends to give new men
a chance to show their wares
against Marietta.