The Washington times., 1929-12-03


The gridiron game has changed
completely in the past 20 years
, The forward pass has introduced
chance element which has in
creased interest among patrons
but causes much worr fment
among coaches.
Today it is possible for team
to win by lop-sided score this
weekend only to look like band
Of novices the next Saturday. Nc
one can foretell the outcome OF
the most insignificant game, nor
can any critic say with juStifica
ton which are the eleven best
, players in the country. The diff
ference between the various can.
didates for the eleven positions is
not so marked as it was before
football became universal.
With larger squads and
larger areas of activity a
greater num':cr of stars must
he considered for all-American
hOnOrs.
No one can say with full truth.
fitness he has witnessed all of the
big teams in action. The writer
has been fortunate enough to see
most of the big games. In his
capacity as an official, he. has
been able to get closeup to some
Of the more prominent players.
His opinion is based on what
his investigation of the various
teams has disclosed. South, Middle
West, Southwest and Far West
have been canvaSSed. 1t is his
humble opinion the team selected
would be just as strong as any
that might be selected by any one
else.
AS said before there is no basic
way Of determining who is the
greatest football player. The grid
. iron sport is not one which the
best are matched against one an
other in the hope of determining
a champion. Schedules are made
because of local rivalry between
various schools. In most cases
tradition governing the making OF
schedules. No college enthusiast
is interested in seeing free for
all where the spoils are awarded
the last survivor.
The team selected is one with
a strong offensive punch. The
writer is of the opinion games
, must be won by touchdoWns. The
team without a scoring punch is
of little use in the present day
football. Offensive qualifications
are paramount to the makeup OF
a successful football player.
Able Booth. of Yale, was
the best offensive back the
writer witnessed in action all
season. The Eli star is as
slippery as wet eel.
What is more, he has mans
head on his shoulders. Few backs
of the present day are as well
equipped in ball carrying quail.
ficationS as this dininutive back
He is the outstanding star of
the East. With a fighting, hard
charging rush line to open holes
and block opposing players, Booth
would be one of the greatest sen.
sations of present day football.
AL MarSterS, of Dartmouth, IS
selected as his running mate.
Many may say the unfortunate
; injury to the Hanover star cost
him his right to All-AmeTican
honors. However, the writer con-
tends that Marsters showed
enough in his seasons work to
win him place on any all-star
aggregation.
With two such ball carriers as
Booth and MalsteIs the offensive
strength Of our All-America team
would be we'll established. It
would take a highly spirited and
determined SQUAD of har:', fierce
tacklers to halt this pair from
gaining enough q ound to win.
McEver, of Tennessee. is Sc
lected for the fullback job. He
has played hard and we'll for a
couple of years. Bob Nyland has
worked wonders with his Tennes-
see charges. They are great
scoring machine. McEver is the
star of the aggregation. Combin.
ing his strong offensive punch
with what Booth and Marsters
would add to the strength Of the
aggregation. it would make the
trio unstoppable.
Every great team has its in.