The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-11-05


and thus makes them more simple
targets for the tacklers. And there
Is the obvious point that at the in
ception of the play the lateral takes
at least one blocking back out Of the
operation. At the same time, from
the customers point Of view, it is a
thrilling thing.
Rams Fancy losses
The Fordham- Pittsburgh scoreless
tie would have been doubly drab if
1t hadn't been for the occasional
laterals employed by the locals, who,
by the way, seem to get as much
out of the maneuver as any team
in the East. At the completion of
one of these Fancy Dan didoes, a
gentleman IN the press box observed
that the play had everything on it
but a letter to the chancellor.
But the fact remains that the
overhead game is still 80 per cent
forward passing, and the lateral is
just an added ruffle to the main
garment. For one touchdown that
is scored with lateral you can
point to a dozen that were scored
with a plain, unvarnished forward.
If you need material evidence on
this study the results of last Sat-
urdays CAMS.
Six reasonably important games.
including the biggest one of the
day, were decided in the final period
by forward passes. Notre Dame
couldn't have possibly beaten Ohio
State without its daring. well-exe-
cuted forwards which snatched VIC
tory from defeat in the closing sec
onds of play. A 67-yard pass in the
maj quarter enabled Mississippi
state to topple Army from the
ranks OF the unbeaten, united teams
OF the nation.
Cornell's Forward Surprised
Syracuse used the same device in
the final quarter to remain I'M
beaten In its game with Penn State
Louisiana State beat Auburn in
much the same way. 1t was a late
Villanova pass that beat Detroit
University, and another late one
that put Gonzaga ahead of WASH
ington State, just as it was a final
quarter pass that brought Cornell
up to even terms with Columbia in
one OF the most astonishing results
of the weekend.
ana, OF course, there were scores
OF other victories, notably Alabama's
over Kentucky, Nebraska's over Mis-
souri,, and West Virginia's over
Washington and Lee, which were
achieved largely by the use of the
forward pass with little or no stress
on its stepbrother, the lateral. What
I'm trying to say is that the for
ward pass is still the most effective
and explosive scoring play in the
book, and will continue as such for
many years.
Where Is Grid Strength?
Where does footballs main
strength lie this season?
Princeton is probably the class of
the East. 1t Dartmouth and Prince
ton come up to their meeting I'M
defeated and smashing result fol-
lows, I think in all justice the VIM
ner will be entitled to high consid-
Grafton, despite the fact that Meth
ers schedule includes a game with
any established team of quality out
side the East. 1t is still true that
no team can meet 'em all.
Taking the South, the Southeast
and the Southwest as a whole. the
quality appears to be spotty. In a
general grouping you may list North
Carolina, Southern Methodist, Texas
Christian and Alabama. From what
I hear, both North Carolina and the
MethodiSts have something more
than a long cheer to recommend
them.
The coast doesn't seem to be al
together herculean IN its football
powers either. California, unbeaten,
Is on top at the moment. But the
Golden Bears still have to face
Washington and Stanford, two very
worthy opponents. Instead of be-
coming more clarified as the season
rolls on, the coast situation is likely
to become more confused.