The Washington times., 1934-11-15

team to beat Pitt this year. Per.
haps the Gophers are the only
ones in the country who could
beat Pitt. Princeton and the
Maroon Magicians of Colgate
might contest that contention,
with considerable justice on their
sides. And of course Stanford
and Santa Clara from the West
Coast would have votes. So would
Rice and Louisiana State Univer'
sity.
Middies Are Versatile
The Midshipmen have demon
strated their ability to handle bulk.
Washington and Lee outWeighed
them. They proved their proWess
against cunning and aerial attack
by downing Columbia. They met
the man power and drive Of Notre
Dame. But now they meet team
that combines all the elements
found in other teams, and has
certain other values in addition.
Some one described Pitt as a
team where every man was a half
back. They can all run. all punt
and all pass. Mike Nicksick has
been a standout in recent games:
and in his last two starts scored
half a dozen touchdowns. Two OF
these jaunts were against Notre
Dame and four were against the
University of Nebraska.
Weisenoaugh has made at least
one long run against every team
he faced, and he whirls into action
at top speed after the leather
finally is entrusted to his care.
Leon Shedolsky ran back a punt
IS yards against Notre Dame.
Izzy Weinstock is line-smashlng
boy of rare talent. so you can see
for yourself that Navy has a real
job on its hands.
And here is another phase Of
the game that gives the Middles
pause. Pitt is not a great passing
team-against Notre Dame the
Panther didn't complete a pass
but it is a great defensive outfit
against passes. 1t stopped the
Ramblers dead in their tracks.
Navy Air-Minded
Navy is decidedly air-minded
this season. Tom Hamilton has
iunked all systems as such, and
has borrowed from all where
they would aid him. He has a
little Warner and a little Crisler
mixed in with some Rockne and
dash of Bierman. Sort of a
gridiron cocktail is that Middle
attack. There is always a pass
in the sequences, and when the
passes spread out the defense
there is always a slant or a
plunge off the same preliminary
feints. But the pass is one Of
Navy's basic plays and if that is
stopped then the Pitt power that
checked Notre Dame and smoth.
cred the Nebraska attack may
possibly stop Nays overland
jaunts.
The crowd at Annapolis on Sat-
urday should see two great Pan"
ther ends in action. Baxter,
right end, stared against South
ern California in a way that won
his recognition among the All"
America pickerS. Rocker has al
ready established himself as out
standing. If Pitt packs its de-
tense in and sends the flankers
crashing into the backfield, Navy
will have to shake out its bag
of tricks to get the ball carriers
past Rocker and Baxter.
Pitt has smashed its ends this
season leaving the rush line backs
and wing backs to pick up the
outside backs of the attack, who
would be eligible receivers Of a
forward pass or in a position to
take a lateral. The air will be
filled with passes unless one line
or the other so definitely outplays
the other that old fashioned foot
ball can win.
Naturally, all the star talent Of
the backfields will not be limited
to Pitt. Buzz Berries is one Of
the great backs Of the year. He
has uncanny ability in selling
openings and If there is a better
man at picking up speed and beat
ing converging ends to the open.
ing this writer has not seen him
recently.