Atlanta Daily World

Monday, December 11, 1939

SIAC LEADS

Florida Intersectional Record Superb
As SIAC Leads Other Loops: Ky. State Schedule Problem Regrettable Thing

Where is the best colored football played? Is it in the Southwest as Frank A. Young, Chicago Defender sports editor, contends? Does it happen to be in the CIAA, Midwest, or SIAC as partisan coaches, players, and fans hold?

For a particular year, the balance of power may be in one or the other of the four major loops. But make no mistake—the SIAC has it all over the other loops on long-term performance and, of course, the only irrefutable yardstick is inter-conference or intersectional play.

Thanks to Tuskegee a decade and a half ago through a period almost ten years from that time, the SIAC got off to a running start. In recent years, Florida has done most to establish dominance of this loop in play against outside rivals.

Here are some of the results accumulated by Tuskegee which inflated Dixie prestige:

YEAR 'KEGEE OPPONENT

Over the nine year period listed before Florida took over the role of whipping boss of the SIAC, Tuskegee's interconference losses were only four in number: Wilberforce 15-6 in 1931 and 13-0 in 1934; Wiley 13-0 in 1933 and 18-7 in 1935. Now let's look at things where Florida took the reins:

YEAR FLORIDA OPPONENTS

Tuskegee and Florida have led the way in play against outside opposition, but other major SIAC clubs (Morris Brown, Alabama Morehouse, LeMoyne Xavier) have excellent intersectional records.

Tuskegee, even in her somewhat lean years now in cycle, manages to score some pretty important victories. Such a performance was her 12-6 upset of Wilberforce in Soldier Field when the Green Wave failed to beware the Ides of October.

Figures presented here, in part are not intended to substantiate the claim of the SIAC's long range superiority. Such an exhaustive bit of statistical proof would be too voluminous for publishing a single issue. But the fact is, this loop has been a tough one for a long time.

Morgan and Va. State have been the big whipping bosses in the CIAA in recent years and the latter has been quite active in interconference play. Toughest of all nuts for SIAC teams, in fact, has been Va. State who is ahead of the teams of this loop three to two in the five games she has played with them in recent years. She has beaten S. C. State once, Morris Brown twice, and boasts losses to Florida and Morris Brown.

Langston, Wiley and Texas College have done most of the long-term mauling in the Southwest, with Southern and Ark. State especially tough in recent years. Prairie View has been alternately hot and cold.

In the Midwest Ky. State and Wilberforce have set the pace yearly, but West Virginia and Tenn State have been rugged hurdles for all comers. Ky. State is well ahead of all outside opposition except Langston who's one up. Florida and Texas with whom she's tied a game-all. She's five up on Tuskegee, two up on Morris Brown, and betters Wiley two to one.

This year, the SIAC has the best intersectional record with 11 victories, 7 defeats, and 2 ties. Next is the Midwestern loop with 5 wins, 4 losses, and 2 ties. The Southwest boasts 5 wins, 5 losses and the CIAA is behind with only one win, two losses and two ties. J. C. Smith bagged the lone CIAA win over major outside competition by nosing out Tenn. State 3-0.

The SIAC's eleven victims were Va. State, Wilberforce, Wiley, West Virginia, Ark. State, Southern, Lincoln (Mo.), N. C. State, Alcorn and Claflin. Teams that bagged decisions from the SIAC were Tenn. State, Southern, Wiley, Langston (2), Ark. State and Wilberforce.