The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-11-20
DON'T Get Cocky

The unexpected and severe
drubbing handed Wash-Jeff by
the Pitt Pnnthers on Saturday az
ternoon will not make the going
any easier for the MountAineers
when they meet the Presidents
on Turkey Day, according to the
majority OF those who are follow
ing the old football game. or
COURSE 1t all depends on Just
what kind OF reaction Will fol-
low the singing blow administer
cd to the Red and Black in the
game with the Warnerites.
1t may so shatter the morale Of
the Presidents that they will not
be able to find themselves again
this season, while on the other
hand, after the first shock has
worn away. 1t may mean that
Wash-Jeff will play better foot
ball In her final two engagements
Of the year with Detroit and West
Virginia than any otheT battles
this season.
At any rate, 1t will be a foolish
trick II any Of the West Virginia
players or fans get the idea that
simply because the Pitt team
smeared Wash-Jeff in easy fash
ion that the Turkey Day game at
Morgantown is going to have Il
walkaway. Pitt played suitable
football Saturday according to al:
reports. The Warnerltes played a
superior brand Of ball shan in
any other game this season. 1t
has taken Warn era long tine to
get organized" this year and the
Presidents caught the Pittsburgh
team at a time when II was run
ming after the fashion Of the old
teams few years ago. The re-
suits wan inevitable before the
game had gone the first two pei :
iods.
The Presidents came to Pitts
burgh very cocky. Score 10 70 o.
The lesson for West Virginia Is
don't get too cocky. Everything Is
going to be lovely in Morgantows
Thanksgiving evening, so far as
can see now, providing the
strength OF W. & ]. is not under
estimated as n result Of being de-
feated by q team that West Viz
gina defeated.
But Spears will take care OF
that little detail without trouble
u..Li,, RnUI.u,
Standing out far aud above ali
the u7sets OF Saturday and pos
sibly for the season was the de-
feat Of the Wash-Jeff a. Aorbes
Field by the Pitt Panther. No
only was the Red and Black de-
teated, but tho score Of 10 to 7
was so decisive as to be humiliat
ing. Outside OF the p. m. ex
perts ! know Of only four people
who were cocfi-sure Pitt was go
ing to win. The famous four In
cludes Jock Sutherland, who pre-
diCted q Pitt victory after Wash
jeff defeated Lafayette; Charles
Hodges, who came out in the Nor
gantown New Dominion two days
before the game with She state
ment that Pitt would win; Glen
Hamilton Of the Fl. &; H., and
Pop Warner himself. / don't tainE
Earl Neale thought the Panther
would win, and Frank Jacobs was
sure Pitt was due for q licking.
To my mind the Pitt victory
Saturday was one Of the greatest
II not the greatest football
achievement In Warmers career
as a football coach. Losing his
captain and field general In the
second game OF the season, when
Holleran broke his arm, he drop.
ped two games in row, one to
Lafayette and one to West Viz.
ginia, both by very narrow mar
gins. Then he kept plugging
away on as hard a schedule as
any team could wish for. Pits
trimmed Syracuse, Buckuell,
Geneva and Pennsylvania in
tuning up for WaSh-Jeft None Of
these victories were particularly
impressive, although Pitt was
playing a little better and more
co-ordinated football each Satur,
day. The day before tho team left
for tho Penn game. Shulo-. who
had been starring In the barkfield
after Holleran's injury, was taken
Ill with pneumonia. taking. out an.
other star. In tho Penn game
Colonna suffered an injury that
will keep him out for IN season,
so another star passed out betare
the Wash-Jeff contest, A day or
two before the gamo Saturday,
Flanagan took i'll. but fortunate
ly recovered in time to play Sat
urday. So It was a rather badly
battered up backfIeld that started
against the REQ and Black. with
few available trained men to take
the places Of regulars injEel.
Knowing the class possessed by
the Red and, Blacksand the great