The Washington times., 1935-11-08
HOOSierS
Inspired
By ".Bo"
BY FRANK BUCK O'NEnL


This is a story Of a coach and
a play. The play was made when
the coach was accoutred in head
guard and cleats, wearing the
gold and white Of Centre College.
Alvin "Bo" McMillin, now head
coach Of University of Indiana,
was the player, and the strata.
gem he devised during the heat Of
action carried the Praying
Colonies" to victory over Harvard.
1t is small wonder that e. player
who could make UP winning
thrustS as he went along should
develop into a master coach. It
is small wonder, too, that "Bo"
McMtllin's teams have won IS
games, lost IS and tied five in the
IA years he's been coaching.
But the plays the thing.
Centre played the Crimson to
q standStill. But the famous Nc.
Millin sweep was constantly
stopped by the Harvard style Of
advancing end play. McMillin,
Jared to earth, studied as he was
Jared and tossed for losses.
Skirts Interference
You see, the Harvard end was
striding three steps over the neu.
tral zone and then cutting in,
This carried him wide of the in.
reference and he usually got his
man. II the interference followed
him, then the line supports made
the tackle.
In a huddle McMillin said to
Red Roberts, the Centre end. A
great football player If ever one
lived: Never mind your tackle,
step back and side swipe that end.
Get him."
Again the play swung out, Rob-
erts followed the Harvard end
and cut him down. McMillin cut
back off tackle, the halfback tax.
ing out the tackle, and the weak
side hnemen cutting through. Nc
Millin stepped into the clear and
raced down the side lines, side
stepping and hip-slipping pursuit.
His touchdown beat Harvard and
made Centre College synonym
Of victory. So
Grown gray in football service
now, McMillin sends the Hoosiers
into action against Maryland.
They'll play a whale Of q game,
those Conference boys. They've
got to play whale Of q game =.
for that kind of a coach.
"why wasn't Riley Smith in.
cluded in the list Of backfield
aces printed in Thursdays
Times?"
A reader Of this space writes
concerning the ace Of the Crimson
Tide. A thoroughly reasonable
question for any fan to ask.
Riley Smith belongs on any all.
star team, even UP to the ALI
America outfits which viii come.
Rates at Top
Weighing 210 pounds, fast.
strong. a good kicker, a fine passer
and one Of the greatest blockers
in the country, Smith rates at
the top. Smiths station in the
Alabama backfield is designated
as No. 8. He is the back nearest
to the center in the Notre Dame
box and is the key man in the
play. Wherever the ball goes you
will find Smith ahead Of it, clear.
ing the way for the carrier.
This position calls for rugged
power and unflinching courage.
The player holding down that
position has to be able to take
punishment and deal it out in car
load lots. The fact that Alabama
has slipped from the champion.
ship class this year does not dim
the prestige Of Smith, nor detract
from his ability in the slightest.
The East is going to see
Alvin "Bo" McMillin's five-man
backfield tomorrow up at Balti-
more. Football critics think that
McMillin is head Of his time
with this bit of gridiron strategy
Designating his five inside
linemen-the tackles. guards and
center, McMillin pulls his ends
and backs behind the line. AS
the play develops, one Of the
men. an end or q back, steps to
the line. there is an interval OF
one beat and the ball moves.
Harman's Scalp In Peril
They're having lots Of fun with
a sorry situation at University Of
Pennsylvania. The QuakerS
started the season with more
than q fair chance to go through
undefeated. They led Prince
ton only to blow: they had Yale
licked until something happened.
They smothered Columbia and
everything looked bit better.
But now there seems only one
out, and that's an out for Harvey
Harman. His scalp is In the
process of being lifted.
Harman, incidentally. has won
the respect of the boys who are
close to the center Of action by
telling the varsity squad just
what was expected. He told the
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