LINING THEM UP

The following article is the first of a series to be written by the Crimson football editor on the various candidates who will struggle for berths on the University eleven this fall. The present article deals with the centers.

CENTERS 1.

After the initial cut of the 1929 campaign there are four men left to fight it out for the pivot position on the Crimson gridiron machine. They are B.H. Ticknor '31. J.H. Gildea '31, C.F. Richards '31, and C.C. Cunningham '32.

Of these four Ticknor seems to be reasonably assured of the assignment in the first few games at least. He played center in practically every game last fall and showed himself to be one of the most consistently brilliant performers on what is generally considered the most powerful Harvard line in recent years. The only weak point in his performances was to be found in his snapping back which gradually improved as the season wore on. This fault was quite natural inasmuch as last season was Ticknor's first attempt at snapping back. His previous experience has been in the backfield a position from which he captained his Freshman eleven. It was his outstanding ability at backing up the line defensively that led the coaches last fall to believe that he would make a good center and their judgment was soon justified. Ticknor stands 6 feet two and weighs 185 pounds. He prepared for college at Milton where he starred as a fullback for several years, captaining the team in his senior year.

Gildea was center on his Freshman eleven and seemed slated for the first team job last year when he was laid up by an injury which kept him inactive for most of the season. If he can shake the jinx, it seems probable that he will see much service on the front line this fall. He is not very large, but his scrappiness makes up for what he lacks in weight and height.

Cunningham was center on last year's undefeated Freshman team and with a bit of seasoning in intercollegiate competition should blossom out into a first rate pivot man. He has had a good deal of experience in the middle of the line, having played there for Milton before entering college.

Richards is more of an unknown quantity than his rivals, having had little experience in big games. He was kept on the first squad all last year and broke into a few games on which occasions he gave promise of turning into a valuable reserve man.

The centers are in the hands of line coaches R.J. Dunne and C.J. Hubbard '24, with probable occasional assistance from last year's center coach B.W. Clark '23. The latter will be unable to devote all of his time to the team but he will unquestionably be on hand with helpful suggestions from time to time.