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

that no checks were to be used.
None was used, however, and as a
result, the straight bucks at the
center Of Wesleyap'B line failed
several times to net the mecca
sary yardage.
"1n the second half, 0llkor went
In at the pilots post and ap-
parently upon instructions; began
TO mix EN- up" a little more vita
the result that the Mountatneers
soon had another score. But after
this, the team fell back into hls
old style OF hammering away
without any surprises and Just al
often found a full complement OF
secondary defensive players wait
In gto pile up the plays. Funk was
likewise culpable for the same
mistakes. Both Of .hesc young
sters were playing their first in.
ter-collegiate game at the gem
erals post, however, and, all
thing considered, did well Their
failure to speed up the play can be-
Just as easily attributed to hot
weather and a large portion Of It
should be Justly credited to this
cause. Their mistakes were plain.
~ the product OF inexperience and
both OF the yearling players will
profit by them. One OF the most
notable errors in generalship was
the calling OF a field goal play IN
tho fourth quarter when West Vir-
ginia had the ball on the Wee.
leyah's 5-yard line, fourth down
and goal to go. AT this juncture,
the score was 20 to 8 and the adj
dltion Of a field goal would have
meant little or nothing to- the
team whereas almost any play
would have been justiflable IN an
attempt for touchdown, tho
primary object Of all attack. Had
three points been necessary to
clinch victory, Funk would have
been entirely warranted In choos-
ing this play but under the cit-
cumstances, 1t would have been
much better to have lost the bali
on an opportunity to score a
touchdown which he still had. AS
matter Of fact the ball was lost
on down. Doctor Spears substitut-
ing Nardicci for Funk when he
saw what the latter was about To-
do. Nardicci, however, fumbled o1
the play, and was thrown for a,
loss. Wesleyan taking the ball and
punting out. Numerous other in
stances could be cited but COM
ment is unnecessary. All Tires
duarterbacks had plenty Of good
features TO their play and. as
pointed out above, their errura
can be accounted for In a man.
ner that assures they will 5a
beneficial for the future games"
Wants More Speed
MoRGANToWN, Oct. At Is
whispered about in football cir.
Giles here-that DR.. G. 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, 0llker, Barnum and other
faster men: Since Coach Spears is
still experimenting he Is likely 10
start his three stars against Marie
ia, but Il 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 q big and strong
line which he'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 Ekberg try
and tear the Buckeye line to
shreds. Rather than take any
chances so early In the season 1t
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 that
Doctor Spears is going to use Mar
dicci at quarterback and surround
him with the fastest backfield men
on the squad. Not only will this
give the Varsity 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.
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