The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-11-02

Poor Showing of Saturday
Only Makes Team More
Determined
By HUGH r. RILEY.

4AANAtA4 NgA9A1l wv = ~ - -
players and those connected with
The football team at the Naval
Academy are not yet able to get
their bearings after the stunning
defeat of Saturday by Michigan,
the worst in the history Of modern
football at the Academy, it may
Be said with assurance that the
team and the whole Navy con-
tingent viii not become discour-
aged, but will work with even
greater determination to make a
creditable showing in the remain
games.
Fortunately, the great objective
of the season, the game with
the Military Academy, is ahead,
and even the dzbacIe at Ann Ar
Dor has not made naval people
feel that victory in that contest
IS out Of the question. The Army
was getting bitter dose Satur-
day, even though not quite so
drastic one as the navy re-
ceived, and much may be done
ia the four weeks remaining.
The defeat BY Michigan Saturday
cy the score Of So to was tie
worst received by u Naval Academy
team since modern football began.
Looking over the records Of the
last quarter Of q century no sucla
overwhelming beating appears. IN
1903. when football at the Navel
Academy was at its lowest point,
i lost to the Military Academy s.
score Of 40 to 5. and this was the
worst defeat received by q Navy
team. before Saturdays horror.
Moreover. never before. EXCEPT
possibly in 1903. did an. opposing
team tear 3 Navy line to pieces.
as Michigan team did. Even III
the days when the Navy had a
weak team on the whole. Il was
noted for It's staIWart and impreg.
nable lines. and Il happens that
the Navy has one of the heaviest
and most experienced lines in ITS
history this year.
Up to this time. the Navy play
ers and those connected with the
team are too dazed to thoroughly
comprehend what happened. It is
sufficient to say that they went up
against a brand of football that was
beyond anything that they under
stood. and. fight as- they might,
they were not able to cope with 1t.
That valuable lessons will be learned
can not be doubted.
The Navy team plays two more
games here, against Western Mary
land and Bucknell. The Bucknell
game should be q real test and may
Indicate whether the Navy stiII has
reasonable chance against the
Army. Then come two solid weeks
Of special preparation for the final
game. A victory against the Army
eleven would make the season a.
success. Notwithstanding the hui
initiating result or the Michigan
game
It is unlikely that there win be
much change in the Navy lineup.
Apparently, the defeat was not due
to weakness at one or two points,
but because Michigan was better
everywhere. There are no particu-
lar players in the Navy squad who
stand out as likely to strengthen
the first eleven.
1t is possible that Owsley may
give more attention to his second
string backs ard try to develop an
attack that will not depend so
largely upon Shapley Caldwell,
Millican. Hannegan. and Ransford
nave shown particular promise as
running backs. 1t is possible that
one or more of them may be used
% a greater degree with advantage.
The end play of the Navy team
mas not been particularly good
this year, the covering Of kicks
being a particularly weak point.
Also, no end has shown any par:
acular ability in taking the ball
on forward pass plays. There is
also possibility Of change here.
However, the great effort will be
20 improve the team as a whole
rather than to seek other PLAYERS.
The Army was beaten very de-
cisiYely by Yale on Saturday.
though not so badly as Michigan
defeated the Navy. Still, Penn had
defeated Yale. and Penn was
enleared by Illinois, which had been
defeated by Michigan and two
other western teams. Under the
circumstance, there is nothing to
show that the Army team is be.
yond the class of the Navy.
The Navy spirit is not quenched
and the team and those connected
with 1t are already raIIying their
forces from stricken field, there
they lost to a force better armed
and generated. II 1t can win from
the Army eleven on the New York
Polo Grounds on November %
everyone of those fifty-four points
scored by Michigan win be wiped
out in the memory of every Navy
man.
A.