The Washington times., 1922-10-01
NAVY COACHES
PUSH WORK ON
SUB BACKFIELD
Middies Have Numerous Sturdy
Lads to Keep Up Stiff Pace
Throughout Game.
BY HUGH r. RILEY.
ANNAPOLIS, Sept. 80

~ Folwell and his assistant
coaches at the Naval Acat-
emy have progressed rapidly with
the work of developing relay back
.r'a'd< a. important feature Of the
teams Of recent years. There is
probably no team in the country
which has a larger supply Of
backs of high standard, and by
means of it the Navy can keep
up terrific pace from the start
TO the finish of any game.
1t is the policy at the Academy TO
make frequent changes In its back.
field, and to that end its backs are
changed in the work of but one po-
sition in the backfield. substitutions
are made from backs specially train
ed to fill the place of the player
leaving, and there Is a minimum Of
interference with the coordination OF
the backfield.
At present the first backfield is
composed of Hamilton, Mckee, Con.
roy (captain) and Barchet. This Is
a rather light, but well-trained and
experienced combination. All but
Mckee were regular backs last. year.
and Mckee won his varsity letter In
1920, giving place to Barchet last
Bcd6OIl1 WneH lHc uCNSiopCo
into such a brilliant runner. '
Strong on Defense. 4
Hamilton, Weighing 1853 pounds
has been on the team for two sea
sons. While not a great carrier OF
the ball, ne is a great assistance 10
the other runners, ard a notable de-
fensive nlaver. Mckee, weighing 1853
pounds. Ia a good all-round back and
q fair runner. Conroy Is, next to
Rarchet. the lest runner In the com.
\ bination. he weighs 169 and is very
\ fast ana rugged. Barchet, weighing
Abut 1F3 pounds. Is very solid and
ktroag, and developed last year into
I'M OF the best of the college backs.
NlThe second-string backfield Is
ah8e up Of Cullen, 1863; Devens, 179;
ORssan, 178, and Norris, 154. 1t Is
set NJ line.breakers. with a good
runnersh the person of Norris. Nor.
ris, In facN, is the closest understudy
OF Barchet,and would take his place
II the lattes dropped out. He is
still young. but has great possibili-
ties. He Is a hster, but not 80 rug.
ged, player than Barchet, and has
done some verS fine work when
given a chance in match games.
Cullen Is regarded as having a fine
chance Of displacing Mckee as the
first choice in the varsity sbaekfield.
He is a very powerful youth, with
considerable speed. and his kicking
would make him a useful man In the
backfield, the first combination being
weak this line.
Devens a Hard Worker.
Devens was a hard working sec.
ond-squad player last year and his
slashing work against the varsity
toward the latter part of the season
convinced the coaches that he would
be a valuable first squad player this
year. O'Regan has speed and ex.
perlence, as we'll as weight and
strength, and is a valuable element
in the wearing down process to
which the Navy subjects its oppon-
ents.
A third backfield combination Is
made UP of Sommers, ia: Rooney,
100: Z. B. Taylor, 176, and Hughes,
las. This Is a very fast combina.
ton, and not lacking in experience.
Rooney and Hughes have been var
sity substitutes for two seasons,
both playing fast, aggressive games
when called upon. Taylor, a rugged
and determined youth, has great pos.
sibilities, while Sommers, who just
entered this year, has made a repu-
delphia. He Is an even-time man
for the hundred yards, and with
weight and stamina should be val
liable back in time.
Fourth Combination.
The fourth aggregation is COM
posed of Lewis, ISL: Soucek, 164; Bel
linger, 1853, and Shapley, 172. Though
three sets of backs remove this
combination from the first selection,
many college elevens would he
pleased to have such an efficient
quartet behind it's line. Soucek, Bel
lingcr and Lewis have been worthy
members of the squad for two sea
sons, while Shapley probably is the
most promising of the football can.
didates yielded by the new class. He
runs the hundred close to ten sec.
onds and appears to have natural
ability as runner. The Navy con-
tingent looks to him to prove of i'm
mediate value and to be one Of the
best of the Navy backs in another
season.
These four combinations by no
means exhaust the backfield mate.
rial, and good men are constantly
developing on the second and class
teams. As they show sufficient abil-
ity they will be transferred to the
o. varsity.
The relay backfield has been one
OF the main factors contributing to
the success of Naval Academy foot.
ball teams in recent years, and the
material necessary to develop II up
is more aboundant than ever before.