Evening star., 1923-11-28


both coaches and players that SO i'm
presses those visiting the Marines in
their hospitable camp. Without neg
lecting the duties of the service, the
gridmen are living apart from the
main body of the corps, figuratively,
eating, playing and thinking nothing
other than foot ball, yet seemingly
not doing this any more than they
would at any other time of the sea-
son.
Marines Serious Men.
1t is a habit with the Marines to
take everything seriously. In battle
they fight hard, on liberty parties
they are quite likely to get the most
out of life and at play they put every
thing into the sport. So with foot
ball, it is not the" game-it is every
game.
This splendid spirit has brought
results all season. Undaunted by a
reverse suffered at the outset, when
Virginia Military Institute nosed
them out, the Marines attacked their
problems seriously and with vigor.
The team was rewarded with Sc
rieS of victories until Michigan was
encountered at Ann Arbor, and then
it made a splendid showing against
one of the western conference leaders.
The Marines were the only ones to
cross Michigan's goal during the sea-
son and. had not timing error crept
into the first half, they probably
would not have been defeated SO Sc
verely. There followed gallant
stand against the Haskell Indians,
game notable for the Marines great
second-half rally that brought two
touchdowns and a tie score.
Since then the Quantico contingent
has been perfecting its play for the
clash with the Army and. while say
giving the men from Camp Meade a
most interesting afternoon in the
Clark Griffith Stadium Saturday.
Goettge Keystone of Team.
And the Marines have reasons to
believe this, too, the reasons being
a collection of officers and enlisted
men, many OF whom rose TO stardom
IN their days on college gridirons.
First and foremost among those
reasons is one Frank Goettge, a
rangy chap weighing close to 200
pounds and every pound filled with
energy and determination.
This Goettge has demonstrated
time after time that he has no equal
herea about and probably few through
out the country at smashing an op-
posing line to pieces. The former
University of Ohio player can also
speed around ends, elude tacklers
in remarkable manner. kick accu-
rately and far. pass and receive
well and is a demon on defense.
The Marines undoubtedly look
upon Goettge as their pivotal player
about whom the team is to be built,
and plays desicned. I'rohnhly for this
reason they have about decided to
have him run the team against the
I'd Corps Saturday. 1t would seem
q wise choice, too, for Goettge Is n
student of the game, 4 calm thinker
and unusually steady under fire. He
is just what all Marines admire, a
real leader of men in desperate
struggle.
Building Strong Line.
To support this sterling warrior
Of the gridiron. the coaches are
drafting from sturdy array of
talented men well versed in foot ball
play and knowledge. From tackle
to tackle a line is being constructed
that should withstand powerful as
saults.
Entls and cnnters also are getting
special attention and most capable
men ought to be selected from the
good lot available. 1t is not adj
visable to give the personnel of the
forward set at present. for definite
selections have not been made by
the coaches. who prefer not to dis
close the identity of leading candi-
dates.
The mentors are not so close
fnouthed regarding the backf1eld
material, however. In addition to
Goettge, those considered most likely
are Lieut.. Sanderson, noted aviator.
who starred on the gridiron for the
University of Montana; Corp. Ryck-
man, who sprang into prominence
last year while playing with a Ma
Ttne team in Peking, China; Corp.
Henry and Private Neal, the last
mentioned two veterans of the 1922
Marine eleven.
Sanderson and Ryckman are run
ming backs of considerable ability.
but neither has been used throughout
the season by the Marines. Ayia-
ton work has kept Sanderson busy
most of the fall. 1t will be remem-
bered that he set a world speed
record recently at st. Louis He got
into the game against the Haskell
Indians. however, and performed
nobly.
Battle for Fullback Berth.
Neal and Henry are plunging backs
and the former has done a great
deal Of the punting for the team.
w va