Spring Football

The indoor cage of the Gymnasium is a busy place these days, with varsity football practice for an hour at 1.30 and 4.30, the varsity baseball squad getting in its licks between sessions, and the freshman diamond squad working out at night.

Coach Blaik and his three assistants, Harry Ellinger, Andy Gustafson and Joe Donchess, have a squad of well over 100 candidates working on the fundamentals of the new gridiron system which is expected to blossom forth in Hanover next fall. After a period of personal interviews with each and every candidate during the first ten days of March, daily indoor sessions were begun in the wings of the gym. To date, the candidates have worked entirely in groups, Head Coach Blaik and Gustafson directing the backs, Ellinger handling the linemen, and Donchess supervising the ends. For a brief while at the end of each hour session, the whole squad gets together for practice on quick starts and cadence.

Only the most elementary of fundamentals have so far been taken up, but Coach Blaik plans to have his candidates working in team units before the spring recess. Correct positions, running form, blocking, and ball-handling have come in for a good deal of attention, and some work on cutting and forward passing has been given to the backfield candidates. Coach Donchess has about go ends in his charge, Coach Ellinger is working with approximately 50 linemen, and Coach Gustafson has about 50 backs under his eye.

Spring practice will be transferred to Memorial Field just as soon as the ground is dry enough for use. It will continue throughout the month of April and possibly well into May.