Evening star., 1939-08-04
1erps' Mentor Keep,
Chart on Players
Characteristics
Gridironers' SoIicitude
During His Illness
Touches Veteran
BY BURTON HAWKINS.

If any University of Maryland
football player has developed pink
toothbrush, halitoSis or hangnail,
chances are Coach Frank Dobson
has the facts etched on an intriguing
chart which tabulates the individ-
ual mental and physical attributes
and faults of his squad.
From leadership qualities to tack
ling, from classroom conduct to per-
sonality, Dobson has graded his
hopefuls. He knows what they can
and what they can't accomplish.
He knows who is selfish and who
isn't, and that is an important item
to the genial Dolby
One of the not so many persons
who have been kissed by a Rocky
Mountain tick and lived to tell
about it, Dobson is recuperating in
Indiana. Before he vacated this
sector, though, he paused to peek
into Maryland's 1899 gridiron
propects.
Dolby isn't a conclusion jumper
Those boys on his squad who are
capable of expanding in football
sense are presented every oppor-
tunity to do so. But, by the same
token, there is no lost motion in
determining a players prospects.
At key positions, for instance,
Dobson has installed George Law
renee at right guard and Milton
Lumsden at fullback. Why? Well,
for one reason they are adjudged
capable of handling those assign
ments. but equally important they
are, in his opinion, unself1sh.
Make 1t Easy for Backs.
Those boys actually will do more
work than anybody else" informs
Dobson, but they won't receive
credit for it. When halfback picks
up or 10 yards it chiefly will be
because those lads have fulfilled
their assignments.
THE halfback, though, is going
to receive the headlines. Lawrence
and Lumsden comparatively will go
unnoticed They will be much more
important to the club than the
halfback who gobbles up that yard
age, but they'll be appreciated only
by the minority"
Baseball teaches you to play the
percentages" says the former first
baseman of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Seven of every 10 plays are run
to the right, simply for the rea-
son there are few players who run
as we'll to their left as to their
right"
1t isn't exactly surprise then
when Dobson informs you Francis
Beamer will play right end on Of
fense and shift to left end on de-
fense. Hight Tackle Bob Brown on
offense will be Left Tackle Bob
Brown on defense. The combina-
ton of Beamer and Brown figure to
halt the majority of plays directed
at the left side of Maryland's line, or
at least more than any other COM
bination.
There will be boy on the Terps'
starting team who is calculated to
play less time than his so-called
understudy on the second team.
Dobson has discovered the boy on
the first team is a better player
when he considers himself starter.
The boy on the second team plays
just as effectively if inserted as a
substitute.
Plans Experiments.
Dobson already has mapped his
preseason drills. After weighing
the possibilities of his performers he
has decided to experiment with sew
eral players, shifting them to spots
where they may capitalize on their
aggressiveness and speed and incur
a minimum of damage due to lack of
leadership or diagnostic ability.
The wiry, gray-haired guy, in
brief, knows his players far better
perhaps than they know themselves.
Because he knows their flaws as well
as their shining points he doesn't
demand the impossible. He simply
makes the best of his rather limited
material.
Much of that is accomplished
through the medium OF psychology.
Dobson can be firm without being
harsh. His fatherly philosophy and
understanding have stamped him as
one of the more highly regarded
coaches in the industry.
How highly his players regard him
was indicated during his illness.
when Dolby actually was scrapping
for his life. From every member of
last years squad came letters, tele-
grams and flowers. He's no senti-
mentalist, but he was touched deeply
by the shower of well wishing.
1T was one of the finest things I
can ever hope for" says the Mary
land mentor Those moments in
life can't be bought"