The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-10-05

behind the line and, like the linemen,
at intervals of five yards.
How 1t Worked
Here was how the play was to be
worked: If Auburn spread out its line
to counter ours, the back carrying the
ball would smash straight through the
opening between center and right guard,
it being the duty of our right guard to
keep the opposing left guard outside
the charge; but II Auburn refused to
lengthen its line Strupper, receiving the
bnll, was to dash toward the opening
and then, as our line closet up to box
in the defense, turn and run around
right end.
We counted a good deal on this
strategy. 1t was not called into use
until late in the game. Then, through
a misunderstanding, it was mishandled
on its first trial in way that would
have threatened its efficiency had 1t
not been for the individual genius OF
Strupper The lad, by quick thinking
and brilliant running, covered up the
mistake that had been made. minute
later, demonstrating the strategy as
it was intended to be played, he pulled
one of the most unusual and amazing
IcNtS L ever saw ANAANhs AAhN
in a coaching career of thirty-twO years
duration-exceeded in length only by
that of the famous AlonzO A. Stage,
who has been at it 33 years. have
seen many great plays, l assure you.
Strupper And The System
A little bit more, now, concerning
Strupper and the system l had worked
out for getting the best results from
his use. Like all systems, this one was
based considerably on necessity. don't
care what plans you're working out
whether in actual life, or just in a
game-those plans have to be logically
weighed with respect to the material
upon which you depend to put them
over.
To tell the truth, when Everett came
up to us from the Riverside Military
academy at Gainesville, Ga, couldn' t
see him on the eleven at all. 1t wasn't
merely the matter of his size; there
was that deafness of his to be con-
sidered Too light for the line, l didn't
see how he could play in the back
field, because he wouldn't be able to
get the signals. He could have played
quarterback fine, but his enunciation
wasn't clear enough for him to call
the plays.
Showed Into Light
Before the end of his freshman year,
however, 1t became increasingly APP
parent l would have to take the boy
into consideration. He turned out to be
one of those rare animals, a real all
around athlete. He was a star baseball
player, a crack at basketball and the
best sprint man we had in the school.
Playing on the freshman football
team, he showed genuine ability. In
fact, one day in practice, he ran
through the entire varsity team for a
touchdown-the first a freshman team
had made in the history of the school.
Everett Shows Him q Way Out
Stripped down in the dressing roms,
Everett was a sight to behold. There
never was better set-up lad than he
he was regular Apollo, beautifully
muscled and built and co-ordinating
rhythmically in every movement. Some
how, l figured. I was going to have to
use him on the next years eleven. just
how, couldn't figure out. His bad
hearing always popped up to worry me.
But in his Sophomore year, when he
reported for practice, Everett himself
showed me the way out. He noticed
that the quarterback in calling signals
when he was to carry the ball always
put lot Of steem into his voice. Ever
EFT never overlooked any bets. He knew
that would be dead tip-on In a game.