TANKS HAVE MATERIAL FOR GREATEST TEAM IN HISTORY
COACH PRESNELL AND OTHER WESTERN STARS READY FOR YEAR’S TASK
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Work of Shaping Big Red Team Will Be Started At Once; Newcomers Pleased
With the arrival Saturday noon of Glenn Emory Presnell, all-American halfback of Nebraska University and coach of the Ironton Tanks for the coming football season, the Big Red prospects began to brighten perceptibly and there is indication that there will be a continuance of the roseate hue throughout the preparatory and preliminary campaign to shape the Terrible Tankers into the most formidable pigskinning machine in the entire Ohio valley.
Presnell was accompanied by Evard Lee, one of the greatest end men that the Nebraska institution ever turned out, and Lloyd Grow, husky center and guard of the varsity at Lincoln. “Jake” Fort, all-Missouri halfback, noted far and wide for his blocking ability, was in the Covered Wagon that rolled in here from Lincoln at about noon hour Saturday.
The boys all looked over their coaching locations, visiting the buildings where they are to dispense knowledge to the budding hopes of the city and county and then Coach Presnell snapped his charges into their football togs for a workout to get their stiffness of the long overland automobile trip out of their bones. They repaired to the park and indulged in a work out that drew a crowd of fans.
With Coach Presnell on the ground the work of shaping the club will be speedily carried on. The other candidates will report in a few hours and the machine will be perfected before thrown into actual combat against some of the stellar outfits on the books as opposition for the Big Red.
The fans were well pleased with the appearance of the western athletes and believe that they will form the nucleus of the most powerful grid weapon that the Tanks ever wielded. Lee is a rangy, fast, powerful flank man who can be depended upon to guard the end to which he is assigned and his speed would seem poison for the foemen attempting to run back punts. Dick Alvis, the red-headed end of last season, is one of the greatest the folks here have seen in action and will prove a worthy mate of the already noted Lee.
Presnell is a powerful erected young man and has all the zip and pop that is needed to make a great backfield leader. He will impart that interest and enthusiasm to the fans and it is believed that the folks generally will rally behind the club as they did in the good old days and there is a certainty that the guarantee list will be the largest that was ever made up in spite of the fact that the old panic seems to have overtaken most of us. The committee in charge of things will be circulating within a few days and they have plenty of sales talk with which to interest the folks.
“Poney” Smith, All-Southern halfback, of Mercer College, and “Little-Bit” Pearce, All-Southern tackle, of Mercer also, will arrive here today or Monday and will be ready to hop into their grid togs to assist Coach Presnell in his efforts to give the valley its wonder team.
There seems to be a little uncertainty as to where Kermy Frecka, flashy Tank halfback of the past several years, will land. He may, by reason of the conditions of his work at Portsmouth, be forced to accept a playing post with the river city outfit. The Tanks are hopeful of landing him and believe that he will eventually strut a Red uniform.
“Shorty” Davies, skipper of the Ironton High athletic department, has been working hard with his charges and he looks to be in the condition that will make him one of the greatest seasons in tri-state football history. “Shorty” will be in the pink when he goes into the opening skirmish and that spells plenty of trouble for the opposition. His work with the high school team is strenuous and has put him on a fine edge for his work with the Tankers.
Paul Kemerer and John Moore, linemen, both West Virginia Wesleyan products, are on hand and will indulge in the first practice sessions. Kemerer proved a brilliant man in the last year machine and should do even better this fall. Dana Lough, West Virginia tackle, will report this week. Big Bill Brooks, Link Delong, Diner Barron, Andy Andrews, Bailey, et al, of the local talent, will be induced to make their early appearance and get primed for action early.
Deb Rowan, of Ohio State, fullback, will be here today or Monday. Deb has kept in wonderful condition this summer and looks fit to take up his line-bucking activities on a few minutes notice.
Manager McMahon has received word that Paul Bockor, of Detroit University, will arrive for a tryout this week and will be accompanied by Murphy, one of the most brilliant ball carriers ever produced at the school. Murphy will be a vigorous candidate for the halfback post and expects to crowd the others for a berth.
The manager has not yet definitely decided upon the opening date or with whom the opening game will be staged. However the major games of the schedule have been arranged and the preliminary heats will be carded as quickly as possible. Two games with Ashland and Portsmouth, the home and home variety, afford the highlights of a great schedule. Both the neighboring cities have plunged into the game with a determination to give the fans victories over the Tanks and are building with that as their goal.
The Nebraska contingent is well pleased with the outlook. They have received encouraging reports from Bill Bronson, quarterback, who preceded them and they are anxious to begin their workouts. The Ironton fans have already made them “town boys” and they have accepted the nomination. This team would seem to be in line for the greatest support that a Tank machine ever received both from the fans and from the business interest behind the club.
Manager Nick McMahon is still busy lining up talent and hopes to have an array of candidates on hand that will furnish a real task for the coach in the selection of his team.
The practice sessions will be regular henceforth and should draw large gatherings to the park to watch the proceedings.
Ironton Sunday Tribune
September 2, 1928
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