San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-12-29
CHAMP P|CKENS.
BOOSTS LIKE |
NATIVE SON
Alab aman Tells World
Crimson Tide Will
Drown Huskies.
By DAMON RUNYON
Copyright, 1928, by Universal Service.
UnlYersal Seryics ktaff CorroapQndent.

Uniyersai Service staff Correspondent.
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 29.-Over in
Pasadena. where the roses bloom, and
where life is very pleasant, indeed,
Mr.. Pickens, of Alabama. holds forth
making rather broad assertions about
football.
Perhaps shouldn't have mentioned
the roses blooming, however. These
lines 20 East, where the folks are
staggering around in the goloshes.
and ear tippets, and they may think
l am trying to rub it in on them, as
the saying goes. Still, the roses do
bloom in Pasadena. / cannot disrc-
gard the facts.
And Mr.. Pickens, OF Alabama, is
certainly over there making broad u.s.
sertions rs the football squad Of the
University of Alabama, called "Ths
Crimson Tide" makes ready for its
game against the University of Wash
ington in the Pasadena Rose Bowl on
New Years Day.
The natives are hoping it won't be
too warm-but there i go again, heel
less of the meteorological misery OF
my fellow citizens of the East.
MR.. CHAMP PICKENS.
/ feel that the world should be ad-
vised of Mr.. Pickens. of Alabama. He
is not to be confused with Mr.. Pick.
ems, of California, and points north
and East, however. Mr.. Pickens, Of
Alabama. is Mr.. Champ Pickens. Mr..
Pickens, of California, etc, is Mr..
Bill Pickens. They are distantly re-
lated, but there is really quite a diff
ference.
Mr.. Champ Pickens, of Alabama, Is
Of the Old South. i believe he pro
nounces it "Sooth." He disregards ill
RS in his speech. and he is suave
and insidious in his approach. He
holds that Alabama is the greatest
state in the Union, and be dashed 10
yo' sub. Furthermore. it is his con-
tention that "The Crimson Tide" is
the greatest football team ever mobi
lied, and that what it will do to the
Washington Huskies on New Years
Day is shame.
CONVINCES CALIFORNIANS.
So earnestly does Mr.. Pickens, OF
Alabama, talk that he has convinced
many local football followers, even
against their own judgment. I only
hope and trust that no one inquiries
Of Mr.. Pickens the difference between
guard and a halfbGck, or it may
be discovered that his assertions are
founded largely on state loyalty.
Mr.. Pickens, Of Alabama. has no
official connection with the University
of Alabama football squad. He is one
Of q number Of citizens OF Alabama
who have followed "the crimson tide"
out to California, and who will cheer
on in soft southern accents against
the Washingtonians New Years day.
But in all the solid South there is
no stauncher-or louder-prophet of
the progress and prosperity OF his home
state and Of its football prowess than
Mr.. Pickens, of Alabama. He is so
vociferous that he has frequently been
mistaken for a native son since his
arrival in Pasadena. He is only slight
" less enthusiastic and spirited in his
praise of his home land than a native
son.
TOLD EN- ABOUT 1T.
Mr.. Pickens, of Alabama, was pres
emit when "the crimson tide" worked
out Monday in the Rose Bowl in Pasa-
dena (where the roses bloom) before
the eyes of a number Of visiting fire
men from the frigid East, including
some football experts OF note, and Mr..
Pickens took pains 10 explain the ante
cedents Of each and every player, con-
Guiding with further mention Of what
they would do to the Washington
huskies.
The Alabama team is taking this
game New Years day very seriously.
IL was accounted the best team in
the South this season. and it is anx-
ious to demonstrate the supremacy Of
southern football against the champion
Pacific coast team. 1t is said that
Washington hasn't gone about its prep
aration for the game with any too
much zest, a statement am inclined to
take with the proverbial grain Of salt,
but, IL it is true, the Pacific coasters
are apt to be somewhat astonished
Friday.
You see, Alabama realizes the i'm
portance and value Of this game as
a medium for attracting attention 10
itself, and 70 southern football in gen.
eral. 1t knows that the gridiron in
terest Of the country centers on Pasa.
dena New Years day, and that a vic.
tory over Washington will put Ala
bama up among the pictures, so to
speak. Wherefore, Alabama is anxious
to win.