The Washington times., 1925-11-17
OPTIMISM
RULES At
NAVY
Annapolis Following Feels
That Maybe Army Won't
Be So Tough
BY HUGH r. RILEY

ANNAPOLIS, Nov. 1.-THE
widespread interest felt in the
clash between the teams of the
Naval and Military Academies, on
the New York Polo Grounds, the
twenty-eighth of the present
month, has not been diminished
: IN the slightest by the lacing
given the Midshipmen by Michi-
gan or the decisive defeat admin
istered to the Cadets by Yale and
Columbia.
While in recent years the serv-
ice games have generally been
pretty good exhibitions Of foot
ball, the fundamental interest in
the contests does not depend upon
the quality of sport exhibited, but
the intense rivalry which exists
between the services, reaching its
climax in the clash between the
teams Of the two training schools.
Under ordinary circumstances the
Navy contingent would have liked
to see the Army WIN from Columbia
Saturday. but It Is probable that
che defeat Of this West Pointers viii
rather relieve Navy people Of some
Of the chagrin felt by the thrashing
their team received at the hands Of
the Wolverines, and will tend to IN
crease the general optimism as toI
the final game.
While no one is attempting 20 ex-
plain away the defeat Of Michigan.
q 10 clear that good many cir
cumatances contributed to the com
pletgnes5 OF that conquest, and that
the Naval Academy has not, by any
means, the weak team that the score
Of 81 TO might indicate. The Navy
can point To it's tie game with
Princeton and its defeat Of BucknelI
Saturday a. indicating that t las
considerable power on occasions.
BuclmeIl brought = powerful and
reeourceful team to Annapolis last
S0eurday and one with many cle-
menta 0f strength. Physically, e
matched the big Navy. team will,
and Il had several backs who ran
and passed for above tho average.
"a fact, Moran appeared to have
sucked away just the player he
needed for any special occasion. and J
could send either q good runner
or passer on the field when the
proper moment arrived.
Several circumstances Of the
BuclnelI game were highly pleas
ing to Naval people. In the first
place. the line seemed to have found
its old staunehuess, quality nota,
BILE absent in o her games. An.
other thing. equally pleasing, was
that the team appeared to have suf-
ficient resourcefulness and punch
TO carry the bail when an oppor-
tunity OF scoring presented itself.
On one occasion. when near Buck.
neIl's goal, the Navy scored through
q running attack, and the second
time, on q forward pass.
The Nays defense to the pass
Ing game was better than 1t had
been, but not alright, by any
means. However, Buckneil had one
Of the most varied and daring at.
taeks of any team that has oppos-
ed the Midshipmen this year, and
the Navy secondary defense de-
serves much credit for, its work
against it. improving constantly as
the game progressed.
Mutual scouting has practically
ended. The Navy has played its
last game refore the final meeting
with Army, while the latter team
meets Ursinus next Saturday, but
II not likely t. have to use its reg.
ulars or show much Of its inside
BdtStC. NAVY SNOuI6 arc AhCtJ ~
be on hanl, but viii not learn
much.
The Ar7ny's poor showing
against Davis-E lIkins and Column
bia and the victory of the Navy
eleven over RucIxnell have served
TO change, the odds, which were
strongly 0n the Army. In fact,
the two teams are likely to meet
on even terms. and Il would be
hard for any expert to say that
either team had an advantage
from the result Of the games they
have already played.
The next two weeks will be de-
voted to pointing UP the team for
the final struggle. Both teams have
tried to keep their players In the
finest physical condition for this
struggle and to reserve all they
can of heir nnst important often
sive tactics. This has not been en-
tirely possible. al both teams have
been forced 20 their limit In one or
more games.
The trend of the last two games
played by the service teams H. that
the Army has passed its climax,
while the Navy is steadily pushing
towards its greatest power on the
day OF the final game. II this is
true, the Navy has a fine chance
of victory, according to it's follow
ere. However, everyone knows that
everything that skill and determin.
alton can suggest win be done to
pull the soldiers out of the rut and
mt them "a tho hoiOhf Of afffpfouOv