The Washington times., 1931-12-12
ALABAMA SE 7
FOR 8 LOCAL
COLLEGES
By HARRY COSTELLO
GEORGETOWN Backfield Star, 1908

GEORGETOWN Backfield Star, 1908
Charity rings down the curtain
on football today.
A novelty of the gridiron is in
store for Washington when the
huskies of Alabama. famed as
the Alabama Rose Bowl eleven,
meet in three Commute games
the elevens representing George
Washington, Catholic University
and Georgetown.
In Yankee Stadium, New York,
Army and Navy renewed their
football warfare.
Both events were for charity,
the former expected to net $685.
900 for local charitable purposes,
the latter to net no less than
$450,000.
Fine Football Expected
While the afternoons program
at Griffith Stadium is unique as
a gridiron event, it is expected
to develop some mighty fine foot
ball.
Trying to figure the affair in
advance is not only ticklish but
highly complicated as a football
study.
The visiting Alabamans, 26 of
them, are all heavy, sturdy, pow.
erful fellows, with plenty OF
speed. There was some little queS-
ton as to the physical condition
of a few of the big boys from
Alabam', but the coaches of the
famed Crimson Tide were not
worried, knowing full well that
plenty of requirements were on
hand should few of the South
ernerS encounter going just q
bit too swift for their physical
condition.
Alabama proposed to use the
Wade system of football. That
meant a single wing back forma-
ton, with unbalanced line, and
a punt formation with the man
in the kicker's position about 6
yards back, and balanced line,
ends out.
Their Bag Full Of Tricks
From both of these formations
the AlabamanS develop slice
tackle of tremendous power,
short and long end runs, crisS-
cross plays, spinners, deceptive
forward passes, delayed passes
and other we'll known gridirOn
attacking efforts.
George Washington was to
utilize a very similar pair of for
nations. The ColonialS, however,
depend more on a double wing
back. They, like Alabama,
utilize a punt or half-punt forma-
ton also.
Georgetown and Catholic Uni
versity both employ the Notre
Dame system with a backfield
shift. This shift, upon compile
tion, finds the four backfield
units in the form of a square or
box on strong side.
The visiting Alabamans created
widespread interest in their two
practice sessions Thursday and
yesterday. The public to the
number of 500 appeared at Grit.
fifth Stadium Thursday to see the
Crimson Tide. They saw a line
that will average around the 200
pound mark, possibly running as
high as 210 pounds.
Speed and Plenty
They saw speed. and plenty Of
it. despite the weight and size
of the Alabamans. They also
saw a pair of mighty sweet back
fields. heavy, sturdy, strong and
powerful runners and no less
than six expert tossers Of the
forward pass.
The men who comprise the
Crimson Tide which played to-
day are cool, calculating players,
each with a world Of gridiron
experience, each with every ear
mark of the smart athlete. Not
a single unit of the 26 which
appeared on the practice rield
failed to impress gridiron critics
by his football Sophistication.
The men of Annapolis left the
banks of the Severn rrlmed to
the minute to offer the best game
of the season. Navy's eleven.
noted as one of extraordinary ag,
gressiveneSS and intestinal forti,
tude, was accorded little or no
chance to whip the men Of West
Point, but there was great con-
fidence the Cadets would be held