The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-11-04

e1zsssz2zzzssssA coach's personal
Joe Williams ity? Possibly. The
bac kgro und OF
the University? Possibly, too.
But 1t seems clear to me that
these two factors represented the
difference in the two teams in the
big football game of the weekend.
Despite a lead of 1870 going into
the fourth quarter, Ohio State
didn't have the stamina to hold it.
And despite a deficit Of 1870, Notre
Dame still had the spirit to fight
back hard enough and long enough
to win.
Better Team Wins
Whether the best team won or
not is unimportant. In modern
football, where one long pass can
decide a ball game, the winning
team should always be accepted as
the best team. And in all contests
where youth is involved, the two
aforementioned factors condition
and spirit-are just as vital as any
All-America half back or linesman.
Maybe more vital
In any event, Notre Dame today
stand as the No. | football team of
the country. This may be thco-
retical standing. Notre Dame is so
classified because it was pretty gen.
orally agreed in advance that IN
Ohio State it was facing the great
est football team of the year This
was largely theory, too, but in foot
ball if you stress a theory long
enough it ultimately becomes a fact,
Or at least a great number of peo-
pie accept it as a fact
There never has been any direct
proof, for instance, that Ohio State
was better than Minnesota, Prince
ton, South Methodist, North Caro-
lima, Texas Christian or California,
to name a few teams that have yet
to be beaten. The fact is, there can
never be any such proof. The foot
ball map makes it geographically
impossible. 1t is seldom that the
best teams meet.
Unfair to Name No.
I hope I DO not give the impress
sion that Notre Dame didn't score
a memorable victory think what
am trying to do is to point out
that it is both illogical and unfair
to establish any football team as the
No. l outfit of the country. 1t is
unfair to the men and the coach for
one thing secondly it is absurd be-
cause-well, how can you ever prove
1t?
Nevertheless Notre Dame seems to
have a fine chance to 60 through
the season undefeated, despite the
absence of Andy Pilney, who from
all accounts is an All-America back
If ever there was one. Only three
games remain on the schedule, and
beating Northwestern, Army and
Southern California, off their rec
ordS, should not be a difficult as
signment. Notre Dame must be
rich in material again.
Who will go to the Rose Bowl?
The best team in the East appears
to be Princeton. The Tigers smoth-
cred Navy, 300, Saturday. After the
game member of the Navy coach
ing staff called the Tigers the great
est team he had ever seen anywhere
at any time. Better than Notre
Dame?" he was asked BY two
touchdowns," he answered
Rose Bowl Prospects
But the Tigers are members of
the traditional Big Three: they
wouldn't so to the Rose Bowl if
asked. Unbeaten Syracuse would,
but Vic Hanson's team hasn't had
blood and iron schedule Dart
mouth faces the same possibility
One stern, forbidding obstacle
looms. Dartmouth must yet meet
Princeton.
Minnesota probably will win the
championship of the Big Ten. Its
remaining games call for engage
ments with Iowa, Michigan and
Wisconsin,.
But Minnesota wouldn't be able to
accept bid either. The Big Ten
has rules. So automatically both
the East and the Big Ten appear -
be eliminated. The Rose Bowl op-
ponent is always selected with one
eye on the box office. Fortunately
Tor Notre Dame, in this respect its
game with Southern California is at
South Bend. This keeps the element
of novelty alive.
Not so fortunate is Southern
Methodist. This apparently great
team goes out to Los Angeles Nov. IL
TO play the local unit of University
OF California. So win, lose or draw
the novelty element must suffer.
But its an Ill schedule that blows no
good. The Methodists play Texas
Christian later on-and what if the
Christians remain unbeaten up to
that time and then win? That would
put the Christians in a nice spot for