Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-05
BY II. C. BYRD.

r. papers of Washington, and
/ followers of foot ball gen.
orally, have bemoaned the
fact that the National Capital has
had nothing in the way of reel
possibilities of big foot ball
game, such game as usually fills
stands to overflowing and provides
the color and sidelights that make
a game something more than a
game. This week, unless all signs
fail, with the meeting of Navy and
Maryland at Clark Griffith Sta
dium the unlocked for will come
to pass. Not only is there great
foot ball struggle in prospect, but
in all probability the most color
full crowd that has ever filled the
local field will lend to the game
that something that not many
games have.
Arrangements have been completed
for the attendance of the entire bri-
gade of Midshipmen. Under direction
Academy, it Is planned that the mid
shiprnen will come to Washington and
leave the trains at the Baltimore a.
Ohio freight yards at Third street and
Florida avenue northeast. From there
they will march to Seventh street and
Florida avenue and enter the field
about a quarter of 2. The Midship-
mcn have been working out various
displays of colored cards for use in
iF1H oil NhA 1ft1pc f1zaxy
f1rst used with such success in New
York last year at the Army>Navy
game And there is no other group in
the East, except the Army, which is
not so large. that provides as colorful
a display as the men who wear the
Navy blue.
A GREAT many dignitaries of the
"A Federal Government and of Mary
land are to be present, also with
representatives Of foreign governments.
In fact, as far as Maryland is con-
cerned, it Is likely that the great ma
jority Of those concerned in a large
way with the public life of the State
will be in the stands. A large num-
Der Of these, certainly more than half,
are University of Maryland graduates.
In Congress. for instance, one of the
Senators, Willard S. Tydings, and four
of the six Representatives, Cambria,
Cole. Linthicum and Palmisano, are
concerned with the game as alumni
Of the Old Line University.
The Navy Band will be on the side
lines with the Midshipmen, while the
Maryland Band, one of the best student
bands in the East, by the way, is due
to have place in front of the visiting
team dugout.
No other game Maryland has ever
played has so aroused the interest of
its alumni and students. The contest
this week seems to have taken prece-
dence in this respect over the one of
last year. and that was by far a high
water mark. A year ago the Old Line
eleven went to Annapolis to battle
through great struggle which it lost
by 6 to 0, the one touchdown being
made by Lou Kim in the-frst minute
of play on 65-yard run after breaking
through the line. The contest after
that was just about as heartrending
for Navy as for Maryland, as several
times the latter knocked at the touch
down door only to be met with a last
ditch resistance it could not overcome.
n s far as the game Saturday Is con-
"A cerned. the outlook seems to be for
just about the same kind OF a con-
test as that last Fall. Navy got by its
opening game with William and Mary
much easier than the score indicates,
as 1t played a second team virtually
the Whole OF the first half. Maryland
also has passed through its first two
encounters with clean sheet, and has
SHOWN flashes of real ability
1t is impossible for anybody to figure
what may happen in such q game. In
the Navy backfleld and in the Mary
land backf1eld are fast msn who. once
they clear the line of scrimmage, may
go to glory" to use foot ball ex-
preston. Kirn, generally regarded in
1880 as one of the best running backs
in the country, again is behind the
Navy line. Maryland backs have shown
plenty OF ability to gain ground but
nave been guilty of a lot Of costly
fufnbling.
A GOOD deal of publicity has come
"A out of Annapolis this year about
Nays green team. but, as a mat
ter OF fact, practically all the men who
Maryland game last year or we're mem
bers OF the varsity squad. Some stories
that have come from Annapolis jndi-
Gated that Navy would have to depend
on sophomores for its main strength
but Of the 26 men who played against
William and Mary Saturday only four
were sophs and all the others veterans
might be mentioned that kim, the best
Navy back, did not play at all.
In truth, Navy actually will have a
veteran squad and probably come over
here with the full knowledge that 1t is
in shape to put up great game. OF
course, that is nothing unusual for a
Navy foot ball team, as there have been
few Navy elevens in past years that
could not give good accounts of them
selves. Navy always has a team of
fighters, and 1t always is a cardinal
principle there that to fight hard
enough to win Is the kind of spirit that
lids up fine morale.
MARYLAND proved against Virginia
4'4 that 1t is not entirely without
morale itself, as it came through
and won after it had gone through
enough setbacks and been in enough
holes, largely through its own misplays.
to discourage almost any team. The
Old Liners will put on the field hard
playing eleven, one that should be able
to take care Of itself, provided 1t cures
its fumbling Ills
There Is not mitch doubt that the
game itself should be everything that
close gridiron struggle should be. Hith
all the thrills that go to make UP such
a contest. And back of the game will
be the color and Interest that MAKES
such contests like nothing else In the
way Of athletic competition. And the
combination seems certain to give to
Washington just what most people have
claimed 1t feeds-a game that really Is
more than game, a game that SYM
bolizes not only the ancient death-grip
struggles Of man, but adds to that the
keen sparring of alert minds, and in
addition arouses those emotions that
bestir the ambitions of men to great
accomplishments.