The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-11-07
FIRST String Still
UNREC0CN|ZAbLE ON
N07RE Dame squad
Manner in Which South Bend
Team Took Beating From
Pitt ExciteS Comment
TACKLING, BLOCKING POOR
Coach Elmer Layden Fails to
Pick Most Formidable
Crjdiron Combination
BY HARRY GRAYsON

BY HARRY GRAYsON
Chicago, Nov. 7.-(NEA)-Far be it
from me to criticize any coach, par
ticularly one whose varsity sand
| wiched In decisive victories over
Purdue, Carnegie Tech, and Wiscon-
sin, between being messed out by
Texas and jolly we'll shellacked by
Pittsburgh.
But in the interest OF true report
ing it is my painful Guty to relate
that Notre Dame men still are unable
to recognize their football team. In
the Pittsburgh party at least, they
found it utterly impossible to distin-
guish the Irish athletes from q lot Of
other fellows.
So it Is that good many Of them
are beginning to suspect that the new
deal at South Bend is flop, for the
first year At least.
It wasn't the 1910 score by which
Notre Dam. succumbed to Pittsburgh
/! /. was the way the Old Gold and
Light Blue looked in taking the past
ing.
Offhand, would say that 1t has
been long while since an opposing
array has run IS yards to one touch
down, IS to another, and combined
sprints Of So and Is with q line buck
for q third, in single afternoon
against Notre Dame.
Tackjing, Blocking Poor
On each occasion, the ball car
riers should have been downed, two
three, or more Irish tacklers having
their hands on Leon Shedlosky, Mike
Nicksick, and Heinie Weisenbaugh,
the young men who ruined the day
for the South Bend rocters.
One heard of reporters debating
detail speak of "yawning gaps" in
the Notre Dame line, Of rival for
wards sitting through. Frequently
there was . pair of Panther arms
around the Irish ball carrier before
the latter could take q step.
On the offense, Notrc Danes in
interference was ragged. Blockers
seemed to run heller SHELTER, and
consequently failed to pick off their
men.
1.-THE game will be even after
Pittsburgh scores ~ points," said
Elmer Layden, the thin man entrust-
Lex: with the mission Of restoring
South Bends gridiron prestige, before
the battle.
That didn't sound like a Notre
Dame coach, but subsequent devel-
opments proved Layden q remarkably
accurate prognosticator
Should Pick Fist String
After five defeats and q tie in 1888,
Notre Dame men really shouldn't be
disappointed on the Irish showing
to date.
Notre Dame men can take it, but
they would like to see 4 Notre Dame
team play Notre Dame football. In
none Of the games in which saw
them did any Of Hunk Anderson,s
squads look nearly as bad as did
Layden's club against Pittsburgh.
Layden apparently is making 81
mistake often made by coaches sud-
denly blessed with q world Of ma
terial for the first time
They all have their weaknesses"
Layden explained.
Most football players have, but the
wise coach selects those with the
fewest. and gives them time to get
used to each other.
The Pittsburgh game gave unmis-
taxable signs that Layden failed to
/ 1A0 q tray ,knS
secret Of the immortal Knute
Rockne. Rockne was quick to pick
the most formidable combination on
the campus, drill it to perfection.
and stick to it in the tight spots.
Changes Cause Confusion
Pittsburgh first scored after Lay
den had sent in an entire new front
in the second period-removcd such
stars as Melinkovich, huge Don
Elser, Bill Shakespeare, Fromhart.
and the crack ends, Millner and
Captain Vairo.
Fromhart played most Of the game.
so it would seen, that Layden def
nitely has decided upon him Is
quarterback.
But 1t was evident that Layden had
not yet made up his mind on the
remainder 81 the lineup. Players Of
the caliber of Melinkovich, Elser, and
Shakespeare were in and out of there
until they looked not unlike three
ordinary backs, and no doubt felt the
same way.
II Layden had named 4 first
string at the outset. doubt that the
Pittsburgh backs would have ran so
wild, and that six of the nine forward
passes attempted by the South Bend
squad would have been intercepted.
Laydenx supporters talk Of his
having started from rock bottom. and
requiring time to get organized
But five year -plans" don't 60,
and shouldn't be necessary at Notre
Dame.
Vayr4tTe7 0AIIrRREr TRnOHlV