Oakland Tribune from Oakland, California • Page 59

Wed Is Greatest (Srid Star? Twelve Famous American Football Coaches LecLby Pop Warner of Stanford University Constitute the Jury Jim Thorpe, the Indian player, selected as football's greatest star. fwlttl Ffili' ll Red -Grange, who tied teiih Jji wf W1l Hi fyfMfil 1.1 Ernie Neoers, Stanford ttar, for I half-back, George Wilson, was as great i lEHf.5'-' I Ifc il Likewise, he was a wonderful tackier I IS ml-1' "VSa if i pi TK I ll on defense. He- is fourth. "From all the data I have been able to gather, W. W.

Heffelfinger, the former Yale athlete, was in a class by himself as a lineman and has stood out 1JV lUl.at 'l r- kiSf3t- 'overt tne game, That Awards First Place to the Carlisle Indian, Jim Thorpe; Second Place a Tie Between Ernie Nevers and Red Grange, With George Gipp in Third Place ---'A Team in, Himself and Loved the Game, One of the Officials Says of the Player Who Finished at the Head of the List in the Voting; Adding, "And He Played Football Longer Than Any Other Topnotcher I Know" II I 1A for the last two decade as the perfect player, ne was fast, vicious and equally good on defense and offense. It was impossible for opposition to run plays on his side of the line. He is fifth choice." Thorpe is the first choice of Harry Stuhldreher. "Thorpe was a team in himself and btuhldreher re marked, "ne played football longer than- any other topnotcher I know and was as good in professional football as ho was in college. "George Gipp, my second pick, was by far Knute Rockne's greatest player at our school, Notre Dame.

'Rock' always said that. I'lljrive Red Grange third choice, Walter Heffelfinger fonrth and Ernie Nevers fifth." In selecting Thorpe for first place, Gil Dobie said "He was a big, powerful fellow, one of the strongest men who ever played football and could do all the heavy work required. He could do everything as well as everyone. I doubt if there is anyone who eould do all things as well as Thorpe. "Grange could go through the line and skirt the ends.

Nevers was a great back but wai not as good an open-field runner ns Thorpe. "I consider Pete nenry, of W. and .1., one of the greatest tackles the game has seen. He weighed 230 ponunds and was as active as any quick, small man. I give fifth place to Willie neston." Heinie Miller nnnios Thorpe, Hinkey of Yale, Stevensqn of the University of Pennsylvania, Walter Eckersall of Chicago, and Bob Higgins of Penn State, in the order named.

Tom Shevlin is Fred Dawson's first choice "for tho blazing fire that ho put into himself, and mates, coupled with smartness and prow ss." He gives Thorpe second and Red Grange third. His fourth choice is George Gipp, "who started Notre Dame's climb to the top." His fifth pick is Ted Coy, "a terrible threat in the backfield, who punted like a mortar cannon, end over end. There never was a harder ball-carrier than Coy and he was jool and deadly on defense." Hugo Bezdek names his selections as follows Walter Eckersall, Jim Thorpe, Bemis Pierce, Glenn Killinger and Harry Wilson. H. gives honorable mention to Tommy Sheldon and Red Grange.

Wilmer Crowell picked Thorpe for first place instantly, but thought over his other selections for two weeks. Finally, he gave Torn Shevlin secpnd place, George Gipp third, Vincent Stevenson fourth and Pete Henrj fifth. "I wanted plenty of time," he said "because I've seen plenty, of football players." (Oopjrlfht, 1931, for Th IBIBUNZ) GERALDINE (Continued from preceding page) because of the kinship. How strange that I eVer thought a mouse dumb. l'ou have an artistic nature, M.

and love beauty. So do but I have learned to see beauty as other than physical. The "beauty of the sunrise o'er the hills" charms the esthetic sense. Wo see the handwork of the Creator in the perfect form of a flower, but it is that which is hidden from the natural eye that has tho greater value. Yon say you see in the face of tho happy expectant mother just a love for her man.

I see reflected there the divine beauty of a Madonna. You see in the misshapen figure a tragedy a physical beauty marred. I see the house from whioh has emerged a soul triumphant, to carry on the plan of life. You may also see in the shriveled hands of the aged mother a tragedy. Certainly the physical beanty is marred, bnt oh, I see here a beautiful, unselfish devotion, love in its greatest fulfillment For, after all, my friend, love beauty is of the soul, which lasts after mere physics! beauty bat lost its lustre," on into eternity.

M. C. WHAT JIM THORPE COULD DO was a team in himself, loved the game, played longer than any other topnotcher I know, and was as good in professional football as he was in college," one of the judges said. Another judge said: "He was a big. powerful fellow, one of the strongest men who ever played football and could do all the heavy work required.

He could do everything as well as' anyone. I doubt if there is anyone who could do all things as well as Thorpe. Grange could go through the line and skirt the ends. Nevers was a great back but was not as good an open field runner as Thorpe." "Jim Thorpe, Carlisle's great ail-American under Pop Warner, was a great kicker, excelling not only in punting but also in drop-kicking and place-kicking," still another of the judges observed. "He was a threat in every department of offensive line play, being an excellent smashing, plunging player.

He was one of the fastest big men the football game has known. In addition to his offensive ability, Thorpe was one of the greatest defensive players in the history of the game." By C. WILLIAM DUNCAN THE SCORE Jim Thorpe, Carlisle 49 Ernie Nevers, Stanford 1 8 Red Grange, Illinois 18 George Gipp, Notre Dame ..12 Tom Shevlin. Yale 10 Walter Eckersall, Chicago ..10 Ted Coy, Yale 9 Willie Heston. Michigan.

7 W. W. Heffelfinger. Yale. 6 Vincent Stevenson, U.

of P. 5 Frank Hinkey, Yale 5 Eddie Mahan, Harvard, 4 Truxlon Hare, U. of 4 Ed Glass, Yale 4 Benny Friedman, Michigan 4 Pete Henry. W. and 3 Bcmis Pierce, Carlisle 3 Jake Slagle, Princeton 2 Bronko Nagurski, Minn.

2 Glenn Killinger, Penn St. 2 George Wilson, U. of W. 2 H. Wilson.

Penn 1 Boh, Higgins, Penn State 1 them. Coy eould do everything run, kick and pass. He won the Princeton game in 1907 single-handed and the Harvard game, in 1909. "The second-best man I have evr seen was Truxtun Hare, a great defensive guard and a wonderful interferes George Gipp would be third, Jack Slagle fourth and Tom Shevlin fifth. I never saw Thorpe" or Heffelfinger play." HE HE is the way Buhe Hollinbery picks them: "I select Ernio Nevers, the great Stanford fullback, as the foremost football player of all time.

Because of his alround ability, determination and fighting spirit, he has been unex-eeed through the years. "Nevers is a wonderful offensive fullback and a wonderful defensive full as well. He is un excellent pr jser and kicker and often acted as his term's quarterback. He is a born learler with an exceptionally fine personality. I pick Nevers first in preference to Jim Thorpe because Thorpe was never such an inspiration to his team as Ernie.

"Jim Thorpe, the Carlisle athlete, was probably the greatest all-round football player that ever lived, but be ranks as my second eboice because he does not possess the qualities of Nevers, so necessary for a brilliant football player. "Benny Friedman Is third. Not only is Friedman one of the brainiest field generals that ever played football, but be is probably the game's best example of a perfect passer as well. Although these two asset were bis main forte, Benny was a general all-round good offensive and defensive player. "The University of Washington OFFICIALS Pop Warner Stanford Bob Zuppke Illinois Dick Hanley Northwestern Babe Hollingbery.

Wash. State Gil Dobie 'Cornell Chick Meehan New York U. Harry Stuhldrrher. Villanova Fred Dawson. Univ.

of Virginia Bill Roper Princeton Heinie Miller Temple Hugo Bezdek Penn State Wilmer Crowell and a marvel on defense. Krnie Nevers was a football player without a fault. "Jim Thorpe was the best man in his position I ever saw, the cleverest man for his weight I ever saw. Jim was as fast, shifty and clever as any lightweight back and yet was heavy enough to play the smashing game and be a power in the interference. "Thorpe was a great 7nnter and passer as well as a fine ball-carrier.

He was without superior as a safely man and could play any defensive backficld position. "Heffelfinger was an unusually large man but exceedingly fast on his feet, lie never met the player who was nearly his equal. Heffelfinger was powerful both defensively and offensively and was especially valuable on interference. "Willie Heston was a heavy, very fast back, who showed all the skill and elusiveness that is usually found in light ball-carriers. Heston had an ideal build for a halfback compactly put together but very fast for his weight.

"Frank Hinkey was probably the greatest field general in the history of football. Hinkey was also a wonderful wing man. It is claimed that in all his playing career at Yalo he never permitted a yard gain around his end. Better than any other, Hinkey exemplified the determined, fighting spirit so valuable in a football player." Dick Hanley gives Thorpe first place on the list. "You have asked me my opinion as to whom I consider th greatest football player of all time, with second, third, fourth and fifth choices," sal Mr.

Hanley. Walkr Eckersall, old Chicago University star, drew one first note, that of Hugo Bezdek, a teammate of three decades ago. cellent defensive work, and in addition, had that rare ability of being able to lend a team successfully. "Heston, of Michigan, should be listed with these individuals, as might Crowley anil Gipp of Notre Dnme. Both had every attribute of football player, but one must limit one's selection somewhere." Bob Zuppke gives first, place to his own star of a few years ago, Red Grange, lie gave second place to Heston, third to Thorpe, fourth to Eckersall and fifth 'o Nevers.

"Grange was the fastest of all the hacks and eould do everything else as well as run," said Zuppke. "Jfe could block, tackle, kick and throw. It happened that we did not use him as kicker, because wo had a superfine kicker in Britton. "No football player ever had as ninny great days us Grange or made ns long runs. His record proves this.

Many men are famous in football who did only once what Granj did innumerable times. "Grange is the only athlete I have seen in this branch of athletics who moved without one bit of lost motion. He played one vear behind a good line and two years behind rn average line. No player in history ever went up against such a keyed-up defense as Grange met; still he made good. "Grange played just as hard In practice and minor games as in the big games.

He was an ideal man for a team. He had the ability to run within himself." Chick Meehan places Thorpe first. He opined that the other four were very hard to pick, but gave second place to Glass of Ynl-, third to Coy of Ya, fourth to Grange of Illinois, and fifth to Friedman of Michigan. "The greatest football jdayer 1 have ever seen was Ted Coy of Yale," say Bill Rojmt. "There may have'lfeen greater players, but I have sever seen Ernie Neoers, Stanford's flashy backfield man, tuas given first place by Warner, although "Pop" coached both Neoers and Thorpe.

and second I have never hud the plrni-nre of seeing he said. "My first choice is Jim Thorpe, Carlisle's great All-America under Pop Warner. Evcryono who ever played 'against him or who ever watched him at the height, of his career admits candidly that he, does not know of ji single weakness this fellow had during his playing days, "lie was a great kicker, excelling not only in punting but also in drop-kicking and place-kicking. lie was a threat in every department of offensive line play, being an excellent smashing, plunging player, lie was tremendously fast, being one of the fastest big men the football game has known. In addition to his offensive ability, Thorpe was one of the greatest defensive players in the history of the game.

"Eddie Malum, a fine kicker, passer and runner and a great defensive man, would be my second choice, I would rate Ernie Nevers of Stanford third. He did not possess quite the speed that Mahan and Thorpe did, but he was a much 'better than average football player. was an excellent open-field runner and a better blanker than either of the first two mentioned. "I would place Uronko Nagurski of MinnVsota fourth. Never in all my life have I had -the opportunity to see an individual who possessed so much all-round ability as this man.

RANGE, of Illinois, and Eckersall would tie for fifth as I see it 1 ace Grange in thin position sol civ on the fact that he was probably the nest ojwn-field rimaer of the lot. Eckersall eould kick, ran, pass, do ex- THE passing of years has failed to erase from the menjories of experts the marvelous deeds of tli" Indian, Jim Thorpe, and today a jury of twelve confers upon him the coveted honor of "Football's Greatest Player." Twenty years have flitted by since the colorful back starred for the Carlisle Indians, but those who S8w him in action have not forgotten his brilliant runs, superb kicking and deadly tackling. i Six of the jury gave Thorpe first place, four placed him second and one third, giving him a total of 49 points and victory in this poll to determine the outstanding grid player of history. Ernie Nevers, Stanford, and Red Orange, Illinois, tied for second with 18 points each, revealing the wide gap between first and second places. George Gipp, Notre Dame, was third, while Tom Shevlin and Eckersall, Chicago, were tied for fourth with 10 points.

'Ted Coy, Yale, received nine points; Willie Heston, Michigan, seven W. W. Heffelfinger, Yale, six; Vincent Stevenson, University of Pennsylvania, five; Frank Hinkey, Yale, five, and a dozen other players received four points ox. less. The jury consists of the following head coaches: Pop Warner, Stanford; Bob Zuppke, Illinois; Dick Hanley," Northwestern Babe Hollingbery, Washington State; Gil Dobie, Cornell; Chick' Median, New York university; Harry Stuhldreher, Fred Dawson, University of Virginia; Bill Roper, formerly.

of Princeton; Heinie Miller, Temple; Hugo Bezdek, former head coach, now director of athletics, Perm State, and Wilmer Crowell, one of the nation's foremost officials. Five points were given for first place, four for second, three for third, two for fourth and one for fifth. I CONSIDER the opinions of Pop Warner most interesting of all those related today, as he picked Ernie Nevers, Stanford star, ahead of Jim Thorpe. Pop, as every football fan knows, cdached Thorpe, at Carlisle and Nevers at Stanford, Here is what he says about jt: "Ernie Nevers played his position by far the best of any player I ever saw. He had a wonderful physiqne was big and powerful and yet very active.

"Nevers was the mental type every coach likes to have on his football team. He was a fine punter, a fine forward passer, a great line plunger "The men whom I would list first r1.