The Washington times., 1923-11-27


From the prevalence Of requests
and considering the general situa-
tion-au of the facts and faIlacies
which attend the picking of all
Americans-the impress 3ln il tina
Elmer Layden has the best chance
Il making the "efficial'' all-Alaaf-
lean. Harry Stuhldreher and Don
Miller will be seriously considered
by all critics and Jimmy Crowley
will undoubtedly receive many
picks. Adam Walsh Ill be the
most popular Mnenan with Cap
tain Brown, Oberst and Bach, g.
first year man, receiving eonsidera-
ton.
Notre Dame followers who have
watched the team perform for two
years, are convinced that either
Layden, Stuhldreher, Crowley or
Miller are undoubtedly good enough
for any mythical team.
They win 20 farther than this
and say that Layden Is the most
versatile man who ever played the
modern game Of football, that
StuhIdreIlor is the keenest man
who ever directed team and that
Don Miller can run with any back
In the game today.
But, although they know this,
they realize that all-America selec-
tions, by their very nature. are
largely accidental and that the
accidents win govern this years
pick as strongly as they have in.
fluenced those NJ other years.
The big accident which win cloud
the chance OF all of the Notre Dame
backfield stars, is the fact that they
are all-stars. Illinois hassits Grange,
Penn State its Wilson, Michigan its
Kipke, Cornell its Pfann, Colgate its
Tyron, and so on; but critics have
become accustomed to speaking or
''the N0tre Dame crack backfield.
Another handicap of the all-star
backfield is that where four men of
equal ability play, the opportunities
for carrying the ball are fewer and
the chance to become an individual
star is so reduced by the brilliance Of
the four that the starlight becomes
blended in sort Of milky way
which hides the individuals.
Notre Dame supporters contend
that IL Don Miller were given the
ball three times out Of five-or more
las the case where an individual
stars holds sway, that his runs would
eclipse those Of any man in the
game and that the constant printing
Of the name Miller" would do what
exact set Of circumstances has done
for Grange OF Illinois-and what It
did for Aubrey Devine.
They aIIege that II Iayden were
the single NOfre Dame star that he
would be recognized mot only as q
triple threat Of real brilliance but
as q quintuple menace. All year
long Layden has been punting
nifty yards, passing, receiving
passes, running the ends, running
off tackle, piercing center. He
attempted only one drop licIk-and
missed this from the 47-yard line
at Princeton by % few feet-yet
critics say that the NOtro Dame
backfield is without p triple threat.
III Layden were b single star, who
did something or other three times
out Of every five, he would be the
national sensation.
In the case of Stuhldreher, the
Rockne system handicaps. The
Notre Dame coach asks his quarter
backs only to think-to be the smart
est thinker on a thinking team-to
be on top Of the tactical situation
and alive to every opposing weakness
at all times. Stuhldreher does this IN
q manner at which even Rockne mar
vels. His generalship stood out to
critics in the East who had never
heard of him, but recognized in
the smooth working of the machine
at West Point and at Ebbets Field,
something of genius not entirely
due to q coach on the sidelines.
Harry does other things-more
than any other Notre Dame quarter.
MAY ENLARGE STADIUM
FOR QUAKERS IN 1924