Evening star., 1926-10-27

matter OF pure loyalty an0 DAD pSy'
holds Michigan to two touchdowns
IA to 0, everybody around the Acade
ending would be extremely satisfacto
One OF the Navy scouts. who
statements that Michigan is not as
the Wolverines are stronger.
''It is all bosh to say Michigan is
weaker than 1t was year ago." said
this man. why should it be. 1t has
back practically it's entire team. and
that team Is bigger than the Navy in
every way. especially in height. Also
1t is a much more experienced team
than the Navy. Michigan is much
stronger now than It was last year,
as a matter Of fact. 1t is not beating
teams as badly as 1t did a year ago.
but you must remember that 1t has
q terrific schedule ahead of 1t and it
cannot afford to run up scores as it
did then. At that. it beat Illinois 13 to
last week and barely beat 1t to 0 a
year ago. Michigan has yet to meet
Wisconsin, Ohio State and Minnesota,
and all three are the toughest kind
Of teams. and Fielding Yost knows it.
Frankly, the one ray that appears
open to me is that Friedman may
be off in his passing. Friedman did
not throw the ball much last week
and when he did the passing was not
good. Oosterbaan did most of the
hurting and his throwing did not
measure up anything like as well as
Friedmans. 1t may be that Fried
man took a foot ball and threw all
Summer long and that his arm is not
in good shape. A foot ball passer
can lose his arm just as well as a base
ball pitcher.
mo one need underestimate Michi-
gan's passing abilities. They have
wonderful receivers and the most
accurate throwers in the country.
And in addition to that Molenda is
one of the greatest line plungers in
the country. 1t is a great team with
all kinds of possibilities. I look for it
to be Western Conference champion.
However, Michigan'S passing can.
be stopped, because Illinois stopped 1t
last week. It's running game can be
stopped, because Illinois stopped 1t
last year. Therefore, a thing that has
been done can be done again. We are
hopeful of the outcome, but know we
are against one of the greatest Of
foot ball teams"
This statement just about sums up
the Navy attitude. 1t is question of
realizing that a fine foot ball team is
to be met, and that, with a stronger
team than usual, Navy hopes to be at
it's best so that it, may make the best
showing possible.
Bill Ingram, Navy coach, makes no
comment on the game. He Is working
harder with his charges, hoping to
teach them the fundamentals of Michl-
gan's passing game in order that they
may know just the type of passing
they are to meet when they step on
the field Saturday.
Works Against Passes.
Yesterday the second eleven was
lined up and for an hour did nothing
but hurl passes against the varsity
backs. Some passes were intercepted,
some were blocked, and some were
caught for long gains. And all during
the practice the Navy backs were wor-
ried by the variety of passes and their
success in breaking up the throws,
which were not as perfect as Will be
Michigan's Saturday, was anything
but satisfactory. OF course, there will
be considerable improvement in that
before Saturday and Of necessity Will
have to be.
OF course, it is impossible for any
body to foretell what foot ball game
NAV bring forth. Indications are
that Navy probably will lose by three
touchdowns. but several factors may
enter that are not now considered.
Michigan last year was victor by
"a to o. It may be that. feeling they
will have an easy time, Mlcnlgan
PLAYERS, against stronger team than
they were then. may be unable to
pull themselves together" and there
by fail to play as well as they are
capable Of playing. Really great
teams have found themselves IN that
position before. Another thing. Navy
-
gain and nothing to lose. In that
frame Of mind a team sometimes
plays foot ball with such reckless
abandon that it could beat anything
on earth.
Experience Big Factor.
In argument against these things
fs the fact that Michigan has a very
experienced eleven and players with
experience are not so often caught
mapping. They play more with the
precision that comes from long prac-
tice than under any particular mentai
stress, either advantageous or dlsao'
vantageous. In other WORDS, tne
more experienced an eleven the less
do psychological factors enter INTO
the results of its games.
The game is attracting a good deal
of interest, irrespective of what the
result may be. This Is the hrst time
Michigan has played in the East in g.
long while. and there Is mucn nat
ural interest in 1t. regardless or What
team 1t meets. And Navy mas many
supporters around here. who like to
watch it play. Navy always Is an
attractive eleven, and against Michi'
gan, even If it's prospects DO seem
poor, it is even more attractive tnan
against a team like Colgate.