The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-06
ALABAMA ALUNN||
 HAVE GREAT FEAST.
Tribute Paid To Athletes And What They Do For Their
 Institution

College spirit. that thing so hard to confine or define, was rampant at the Country club Wednesday night when Birmingham alumni of the Uni versity of Alabama poured out their hearts in appreciation of the football team which took top-notch honors in southern intercollegiate circles this year. The love feast was held not only in honor of the Crimson Tide, but for the gridiron warriors of dozen high schools of Jefferson county, who were present as special guests. More than 800 persons at- tended.
 Jelks Cabaniss presided as toast master and among the speakers were Dr. George H. Denny, president of the university; Borden Burr, Hill Ferguson. Homer Thomas, pr. James s. Thomas and Coaches Wade, Grips and Vandegraff of the university.
 College yells and cheers punc- tuated the banquet and those who look to the university as alma mater did not fail to pay their respects to the 62-piece band which made It's presence heard and to the freshman team of the, university coached by Bully" Vandegraff, which completed a hard schedule undefeated.
 Gifts For Heroes.
 Gold watches were presented by the alumni to Capt. Al Clemens, Tom Newton and w. c. Baty, who have completed four years of service on the Alabama team. Newton is a Bir- mingham boy and Baty lives In Bes- semer. Appropriate gifts were also presented to Coaches Wade, Crisp and vandegraff, who piloted this year what was termed Alabama's greatest team"
 The part of athletics in the build ing of men was stressed by all of the speakers and a football game was likened to the game of life where it matters not who wins or loses so much as 1t does how the game is played. As proof that leaders in col lege athletics also become successful In after-life the names of the fol- lowing alumni of the university who wore football togs were called: Judge William Walker. Borden Burr, Charles Comstock. Pat Gresham, Monroe Lanier, w. s. Pritchard, Jelks Cabaniss. Joseph Mudd, Griff Harsh, Earl Drennen, Hugo Fried man, Edgar Clarkson and others who were present.
 Dr. Denny, in his talk, referred to the great growth of the univer- sity and of it's ideals and plans for the future. He was cheered by the alumni us dll-AHeTlcan pr6SlQenI, while pr. Eugene A. Smith, patron
 saint of university athletics, was termed the ''noblest Roman of them all." pr. Smith was present at the banquet and, although he is a busy man as state geologist, has ever taken a pride in backing clean ath letics at Tuscaloosa.
 Homer Thomas. director of ath letics in the Birmingham city schools, declared that he had seen most of the high school games in the city this year and had never witnessed cleaner sports played. The coaches and foot ball teams of the following high schools were present: Jefferson High, Jones Valley, Shades -Cahaba, Phillips High, University High, Fair field. Ensley, Woodlawn, McAdory, Oak Grove, Leeds and Bessemer.
 Special coaches brought the 125 students including the football play CTS and band from the university. They were met at the train by alumni and cars and taken to the Country club. Bob McDavid was the dynamo of the committee that ar ranged the feast.