The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-11-15
lTIRRIN'
the DOPE
By vEDDER GARD

ITO seldom do the men who
make possible the long
runs in football receive the
credit that is their due. The back
who carries the ball gets all the
glory usually. Undoubtedly he de-
serves much credit, but his team
mates, who chop off the opposing
secondary defense frequently are
unmentioned
The coach knows, but the pub
Ec sees only the results of the
good blocking. 1t sees only the
darling figure of the man with
the pigskin. This is only natural.
In the Kaleidoscope flashes of a
football play there is too much
action to concentrate on much
else but the ball itself.
Even a trained observer has
only one pair of eyes and every
thing can not be seen. 1t was
with much satisfaction that we
noticed in Walter Eckersall's &C
count of the Notre Dame-Army
contest that the man who umpired
the contest gives two hnemen
place along with Christy Flanagan
in the play that brought victory
to the Irish"
Eckersall says that Miller, left
tackle, and VOedisch, left end,
helped make Flanagan's sixty
three-yard run for touchdown
possible. The two of them, sweep
ing over from the left side of the
line, ''took out" Wilson and
Harding, who were in a position
to nail the NOtre Game half
back.
Rockne's back fields from year to
year are considered great. Any
number Of important games have
been won by the Irish" because
of long runs which come sudden
ly, Unexpectedly, in contests which
seemingly were deadlocked.
The answer is superb blocking.
The ball carriers are fast and
know how to run. No credit
should be taken from them, but
any time one witnesses a Notre
Dame game he can not help but
be impressed by the savage,
ruthless interference.
Every great football team excells
in this feature. That's what
makes it great. Theoretically each
play is a potential touchdown. II
every offensive man "got" a de-
fensive player the man with the
ball would speed to touchdown.
The odds are always against
such thing happening, of course.
But team that gets the greatest
percentage of it's opponents out OF
the way is going to win.
Back of the flash and sparkle
of NOtre Dame is fundamental
football. They should give Rock
ne the nickname of Bed" His
grid principles go right down to
bedrock.
TN interesting question was
IA raised Sunday in the Wash
IL ington Park clubhouse by
"Gaumy" Neale, former Washing
ton and Jefferson tackle who is
now playing with the local j. j.
C.s. There was an argument con-
corning the best scoring play to
use when within a yard Of so Of
the opponents goal.
Usually a line smash is tried.
The big tackle thought that this
in many instances was mis-
take. The opposing team usual
~ piles in on such a play-the
secondary defense swarming into
the center of the line to aid
the forwards. A plunge off
tackle or through center is ex-
pected and the backs play in
close.
Neale was of the opinion that an
end run usually is the attack hav-
ing the best chance of success.
On an end run, with only such
short distance to go, the end usual
ly is in close. He is about the
only man to be taken out of the
play for short gain.
Iock GolI,rxlouSz nAIna-n
games Yale scored it's only touch
down on an end run when two
yards from the Princeton goal
after two line smashes had made
only yard. Ohio State scored
it's last touchdown against Michi-
gan on a seven-yard end run by
Eby.
We are inclined to believe Neale
is right. There are too many pile
up plays close to the goal line. 1t
gives the defensive team too much
chance to concentrate it's power.
~1HE Indiana high school
basket ball season is under
- way at a mid-season clip.
Many one-point decision argu-
ments last weekend started the
fans on their goofy way in a
hurry.
Vincennes opened its $t25,000
gym with a 80 to 3S victory over
Mitchell. Some $500 spectators
saw Bedford trim a fine Martins
vile team, IS to "a.
Frankfort nosed out Montmor-
enci by single tally and Green
castle dowued Shelbyville, 80 to
%. Hartford City and Elwood also
were in the one-point winner class.
This city had one Of the lucky
Mo 1IroI orad ~ ra~oNA