Evening star., 1932-10-20

very weak teams were turned out
in 1881 formidable combinations
now are doing well against all
opponents.
Such situation is noticeable in the
South Atlantic section, especially at
Virginia and Virginia Polytechnic In
stltute. The former now is represented
by an eleven capable of walking out on
any field and giving its opponent a
merry time of it, while the latter ap-
parently is good enough to be favored
to defeat Kentucky, rated as one OF
the first five or six teams in the con-
ference. 1t Is doubtful if there are two
other schools in the East, possibly in
the country, where so much improve
ment has been shown. From weak
combinations of last season, kicked
around by everybody, both have devel-
oped into big, fast. fighting units that
can take care of themselves under al
most any conditions.
Duke University also is rapidly de-
veloping into well-oiled piece of foot
ball machinery. Last season the Dur
ham school did not enjoy very much
success, but so far this year has won
all its games against South Atlantic
elevens by big margins. North Caro-
lima State. North Carolina University,
Wake Forest and William and Mary
also have moved ahead rapidly.
EARTHER South, Georgia Tech is a
1 good deal stronger than in 1881,
SO much so that there is hardly
any comparison between its team of
last year and this. Clemson has showed
some improvement and SO has South
Carolina. Florida is good deal bet
ter. Auburn has come along SO rapidly
that it is now regarded as one of the
four or five best elevens. As a matter
of fact, Auburn is much more formid-
able than it has been given credit for
by anybody other than its opponents,
who are in a better position to judge
its strength than others. Kentucky
also is an improved eleven, which
means there are not many stronger.
Vanderbilt and Tennessee have de-
veloped elevens that apparently are
more capable than year ago and Ala
bana also seems to be at least as good.
Tulane has not suffered much from
it possibly may not be within a shade
or so of as strong as it was when it
swept through last year undefeated. 1t
may not be whipped this season, be-
cause if Vanderbilt could not take its
measure. and only got tie, then it
should be hard to find any other uni
versity that can. Two or three schools,
Georgia and Maryland, for instance,
are below their strength of the last two
or three seasons, but as a whole, the
South is showing that general improve
ment that indicates consistent progress.
CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY leaves to-
~ morrow for New York, where 1t
expects to run up against some
tough opposition from Manhattan Col
lege. Last year Manhattan, coached by
Chick Meehan. was whipped three
touchdowns to one. but it was not until
late in the game that c. U. get real
mastery. There are several reasons
why Bergman expects much more
difficult game.
In the first place both Manhattan
and C. U. have large followings in
Brooklyn and a crowd of $4,000 per-
sons is expected. Naturally. before SO
many of the home folks, Manhattan
will be especially anxious to win. Also
1t is Manhattan's last home contest
and it desires to leave good taste in the
mouths of its supporters as a result
of its last seasonal appearance before
them.
And most important of all, Manhat-
tan is said to have much better squad
than it brought here last season. c. U.
scouts reported to Bergman that it
is a big, fast and capabie-looking out
fit, but that it has yet to begin click
ing In other words If Manhattan plays
as it may play and has the material
to play. then Catholic University will
have all the trouble it is looking for.
At least, that is Bergman's opinion.
WHILE Georgetown has a feeling
w that 1t will win from Western
Maryland, it may be that the lat
ter will play better foot ball than the
Blue and Gray expects it to. That has
happened twice before in very recent
years, and it can happen again. West
probably better than wore its colors last
season, while its line is said not to
measure up to what it was then. OF
course, after all is said and done, it is
a line that makes or breaks a foot ball
team, although the backs get most of
the credit
I'VE know that Western Maryland
has a good team, as it has had for the
last four or five years, but think we
are strong enough to take it over the
jumps by couple of touchdowns," was
the way Coach Tom Mills expressed his
opinion of Georgetown's prospects
However, I am looking for tough
foot ball game and, while I think we
ought to win that is not saying that
we will. Very small things change the
whole course of game and one or two
good breaks for the other side might
throw my opinion out of line
MARYLAND entertains st. Johns,
1v1 which game dates back to the
early days of foot ball. And. in
cidentally, while Maryland has been
victor in most of the games in recent
years, st. Johns, in the early days, won
enough to put it so far in the lead that
Maryland has barely caught up.
st. Johns has big team that has
been playing fine defensive foot ball. Its
offense so far has hardly been up to
the standard Of some previous st. John S
elevens. However, how good its defense
Is may be realized from the fact that
in full-length practice game some time
ago Catholic University could score but
once against it.
Maryland, like Georgetown, may have
more difficulty Saturday than it an
ticipates The Old Liners, under ordi-
been strong enough to win from the
Annapolitans, but Maryland so far this
year has not shown its strength Of the
last few seasons.
A MEXICAN UNIVERSITY knows
n practically nothing about the
team it is to meet Saturday, when
Bluefields College is to be the Meth
odists' opponent The local school Is
getting ready to face any kind OF
opposition, easy or hard. As far as
possible, Coach Walter Young Is not
taking any chances. He figures that
1luedelds may have team much weak