Clemson at Alabama

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  The Birmingham age-herald, Birmingham, Ala., October 17, 1909, page 1

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  POLLARD AGAIN UPSETS THE DOPE CLEMSON LOSES Pratt Kicked Goal from Place ment from Forty-ninth Yard Line ALABAMA’S SQUAD WAS FULL OF FIGHT Clemson Was outeeneraled Complete ly and Adopted Punting Attack, at Which They Were Out classed-2o,ooo People. Alabama won from Clemson yesterday afternoon, to 0. Derrill Pratt, in the early minutes of the first half, from a little mound on the forty-ninth yard line, kicked the pig skin exactly half way between the goal posts. The kick was phenomenal. 1t was spec tacular. Considering the distance through which the ball was driven, it is believed that the performance broke all previous southern association records. Pratt, too, by magnificent punting prob ably saved the day for Alabama. for Clemson gained more ground by means of straight forward tactics than did Ala bama. The visitors had two powerful ends, and a strong and heavy line. For Alabama to gain the impossible had to be attempted. In the beginning 1t looked dark for Ala bama. After Pratts kickoff the visitors rushed the ball with leaps and bounds toward Alabama’s goal. But an on-side kick was received by Pratt, and the ball returned to Clemsons territory. Then IOllOWCQ lllo MIN IL QAeN~S Alabama Goal Endangered. In the second half Alabama’s thin red line” was steadier, and repeatedly the heavier men from Clemson were foiled and often held for downs The visitors had but one opportunity to score. This was towards the conclusion of the second half. White, behind splendid interior ence, dived between Alabama’s left tackle and left end, and ploughed his way toward the Crimson-White goal for % yards. He planted the ball on Alabama’s eight yard line. The Alabama supporters held their. breath while the heavy visitors prepared for the first plunge 1t was met how ever. by the Alabamians and the chargers were hurled back for loss. Again the visitors prepared for attack. The assault this time was directed against the other side of the line. 1t was the first. The plucky little squad from Tuscaloosa flew at the throats of the Clemson boys like bull terriers and shook them to pieces. | And time was called. | AS a result of the game, DR.. Pollard, Alabamas coach, has completely upset the dope” He came to Birmingham Qf the press reports are considered criterions) a beaten man. Clemson was heavy while his team was light. Glenn sons record was splendid, while Alabama had made no record. But those who. predicted an Alabama downfall failed to figure in the fighting spirit of the Alabama squad. They failed to figure in the fact that DR.. Pollard Is the best coach whose teams have played regularly In Birmingham. They forgot to figure in the fact that the Alabama boys come prepared with more tricks and more weird plays and formations than any other team. They failed to figure In the fact that Alabama, since the coming OF DR.. Pollard, has scored an almost UNI paralleed number of consecutive VIC tories in Birmingham. People here have stopped figuring on an Alabama defeat. They never count DR.. Pollard “out,” It matters not the verdict of the dope” CIemson’s Fear Deadly. Clemson has a heavy team and a fast team The South Carolinians are well coached But they were outgeneraled. They allowed themselves to be led from the form of attack which might have won for them. and to resort to punting tactics at which they were outclassed. This is the secret. Had they ploughed Alabamas line continually and chased around Alabama’s ends continually, they might have won. But they were afraid to run the risk of losing the ball on downs at any distance from the posts from where there was chance of Pratt kicking field goal. And they punted and punted again. And Pratt outpunted them. The fight there ! fore, was generally in Clemson’s terri tory, and had not Alabama fumbled one

Public-domain newspapers from the Library of Congress’s Chronicling America, found through the American Stories dataset (Dell and Harvard, CC BY 4.0). The text is the machine reading of the page, mistakes and all.

Alabama leads 14–⁠4 in 18 meetings, counting the 15 since this game.