Wesleyan University - Olla Podrida Yearbook (Middletown, CT)

Page 33 text:

:1935: OLLA PODRI'J; FOOTBALL, 1934 Third row: Fillback. Daniels. W'right, Steve, Fcir. Gccr, Garbcr, Calder, Dunn, Blott, Harris. Second row: Bentley, Jennings. Bowers. J Burt, Cranstun, Eycrly, Eastman. Whitney. O'Lcary, Coultas. Craig. Huntress. First row: Jones. Mcrritt. Rowc, Johnson, Clerk. Erskine, Overton. Burton. Frost. OFFICERS Paul R. Eyerly - - - - - - Captain Richard Wright - - - - - Manager Jack L. Blott - - - - - - - Head Coach Norman I. Daniels Assistant Coach Dale W. Lash - - - - - - Assistant Coach VARSITY TEAM B. Burt P. F. Eastman K. G. Huntress W. H. Merritt, Ir. I. Burt I. M Erskine D. O. S. Jennings I. I. O'Leary I. K. Burton P. R. Eyerly R. W. Johnson R. S. Overton D. W. Coultas B. R. Frost I. A, Jones, Ir. E. C. Rowe R. W. Craig D. Harris, Ir. W. L. Klinger S. Wardwell I. F. Cranston H. N. Whitney W51

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El93$hh OLLA ?O' RIDA h HE 1934 football season has been quite disappointing from C! winning standpoint. Our team was in scoring positions in every game but we failed to make the most of them. On the other hand, our opponents took full advantage of our weak tack- ling, and utilized their scoring opportunities I am sure the boys teel OS I do: we hotve all learned c1 lot from our experiences this fall and we can proht in the future by our mistakes of the past season. To you Seniors who have played your last year for Wes- leyan, I commend you for your fine spirit of cooperation and wish you much happiness and success in your future enterprises. The real fighting spirit of the entire football squad; the ex- pression of loyalty by the Alumni, Faculty and Student Body at the stag party following the Rochester game; and the fine new athletic plant for which we all have reason to be proud, ctll come bine to give me a great deal of encouragement for the future. IACK BLOTT t241

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eIQBD: OLLA ?O' ?JDA HEN Wesleyan took stock of its football prospects for the fall of 1934 in September, it did not consider even ten lettera men and a brand new coach and assistant from Michigan a sound foundation for ex- travagant hopes. A very ob- vious lack of reserve materi- al and the difficulties natur- ally involved in learning a new system made an inter- ested student body gaze a bit ruefully toward Little R. R. EYERLY, Captain R. WRIGHT. Manager Three heights Still! under graduate support was not lacking and, in general, the season was looked forward to with interest and confidence. This interest was sustained all through a mediocre season. No one made the hasty mistake of blaming Coach Blott for the five defeats, and the three wins were accepted thankfully. The puntpass-and-prayer system cannot be put into effective use without adequate material. Next year, we hope, we shall have to depend less on prayer, for this year's was not answered. Wes- leyan was always outweighed, and the light eleven was badly battered by the usually greater reserve material of its opponents. After a preliminary training which was not helped by the lack of good football weather, the team took its new Michigan system to Schenectady, and used it a little tentatively against Union. The Garnet eleven was not con- vinced, however, and played most of its game far into Wesleyan territory. The Red line was weak and the backfield ineffectual. Only once was the team in scoring position. Iohnson had made several lengthy gains to put the ball on the Union 31 yard line, but a Garnet man intercepted a pass, and the prayers of the one Wesleyan rooter in all Schenectady were unavailing. Late in the fourth period Captain Dain of Union popped a ten-yard pass to the waiting Semerad. The latter carried it seven yards for the one touchdown. The kick was good and Wesleyan was beaten, 7-0. The dulness of the Wesleyan performance was not too dismaying. The team showed a lack of polish, as expected, and the tackling was not impres- sive. Poor field conditions did not help the showing. The team certainly would improve. The very next week saw a decided change The field at Connecticut was very muddy, but Wesleyan played much better The eleven, with Burton, tones, and Huntress outstanding, outplayed the Storrs team in every depart- ment, and thoroughly earned its 14-0 victory. A developing pass attack showed itself and the tackling and blocking were improved. After an early State threat in the first quarter, a series of smoothly varied running play and passes gave Huntress an opportunity to score in the second period. Burton place-kicked successfully. A few minutes later, Iones recovered a fumble, and after a run by Burton, Wesleyan was on the State 17 yard line. A pass to Johnson advanced the ball fifteen yards, and Huntress again scored a play later. The Statesmen tried hard in the third period to score, but an intercepted t261