Evening star., 1933-09-20
SQUAD BELOW HIGH
SCHOOL STANDARD
Only One of Is Now on Hand
Weighs as Much as 10.
Punter Lacking.
BY H. c. BYRD.

IF THE foot ball material that
reported yesterday and today
at American University is a
criterion of what the entire
squad will be when registration is
completed, the team that repre-
sents that university this Fall will
be lighter than either Tech, Gen.
trail or Eastern, and very little, If
any, more experienced.
In short, Coach Walter Young is
confronted with the problem of turn
ing out a college eleven, expected to
hold its own In intercolliage competi-
ton, with material hardly as good as
some of the high schools have.
If anybody has an opinion that this
is pleasant prospect for coach. that
individual knows very little about
coaching
1t is just about as gloomy a sit
uatiOn as any coach ever Is called
upon to face, and is enough to
try the soul and patience Of
Job.
If one of the coaches at GEORGETOWN.
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versity were compelled to take over a
squad of the size and lack of experience
of American U. he would throw up his
hands in horror and ask for another
job. Anyway, to ask for another job
would be the sensible thing to do, If not
the courageous.
TN the first place only one man Of the
16 who have so far reported for
practice at American U. weighs
as much a ITO pounds. and when
the team finally is picked the chances
are good that it will not average more
. college foot ball team averaging 152
pounds. The thing just Is not practi..
cable. And to put the cap on that and
complete the snowman. hardly any
member of the squad has had really
valuable foot ball experience.
Then the squad is not likely to have
q good punter. and may nave very
mediocre punting. And, to quote a
man who watched the men go through
their workout yesterday. If forward
passer turns up he will be novelty.
For university to put out
foot ball team under such condi-
tions is remarkable in itself, eDen
it it neuer Uirls game.
One would naturally think that
coach would be so down in the dumps
to do any coaching, but not SO with
Walter Young. Yesterday when he was
asked about the lightness and mex
perience OF his men, his reply was that
maybe things would brighten up, as
last years team was not much heavier
than this one is going to be, and also
that possibly two or three better play
ers might come into the university
with the late registration.
"OH, sure We have light squad.
~ and a green squad" said
Young" but that means little
IN our young lives. except that it is not
quite as good as we have had in past
years. You know We are not used to
big heavy lines and big fast backs, and
when that kind of a player drops in
here We think we're awfully lucky.
I'VE shall wade in with what mate
rial we have and hope for the best in
our schedule. Last year We had very
light team, yet We played some excep-
tionally good games. For instance, we
held Randolph to a 6 to score
the Saturday after that school had de-
just saw wood, and do the best We can
with what we have, and offer no alipis,
no matter what may happen"
No better spirit could he wished
for at any University than that
shown by Coach Young in his
summation of the situation at
his institution.
And for that reason the foot ball
public of this capital of the nation
should doff its collective hat to both
American University and to Coach
Young. as exemplifying the best in
American sportsmanship.
GEORGETOWN and the University
II CT Maryland held another long
scrimmage session yesterday, this
time at the Hill Top. The Blue and
Gray and Old Liners lined up against
each other. first. second and to some
extent third string teams on both sides,
Tor long workout. probably the most
beneficial either squad has had
On offense both squads had more
success with the forward pass than with
the running game, and. naturally, each
defended better against a running at
tack than against passes.
No attempt was made to keep track
OF downs. or to do any punting. 1t
was simply case of giving one team
the ball and allowing it TO keep pos
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the goal line.
GEORGETOWN will have a team
~ with plenty of weight. with a
versatile attack, but it will be
q team without some of the star backs
that wore the Blue and Gray under
Lou Little and EXendine And after
all it takes good backs to get some
where.
A line can get them clear of the
line of scrimmage. but notwithstand-
ing the virtues of interference, about
80 per cent of the ground gained after
a back passes the line of scrimmage Is
individual ability of the runner to keep
on his feet and drive ahead even after
he has been struck two or three times.
XIEAGER, a Maryland back, and
~ Callahan. Georgetown, center,
played some fine defensive ball
The former. green youngster from
last years freshman team, showed an
astonishing improvement over his work
of even last week, and If he continues
to improve should become very valu-
able to the Old Liners.
Callahan is an experienced, big and
fast man. He is exceptionally hard for
interference to handle and has a knack
of closing uD holes in his line that
should save Georgetown many yard
before the season ends.
! OWENS PIGEON VICTOR
Making approximately 80 miles an
inc arx vryin