On account of the hard game last Saturday at Annapolis, the men who played there were excused from practice yesterday. The work for the rest of the squad was short, as little could be accomplished in the heavy rain. The backs practiced handling a wet ball and ran off a few formations.

The University team had its first hard game Saturday with the Naval Academy, and has come to the more serious part of its schedule. The three games before the annual contest with Yale all promise to be close, and the team will have a real try-out. At present the line from tackle to tackle looks permanent. Crowley is practically a fixture at right end, and Browne is doing well at the opposite position. Houston, who has been laid up the greater part of the season, is getting into shape again, and should show up well from now on. R. Brown, Cutting and Harding are all good men. The backfield is not so certain. Cutler will probably remain at quarterback, and Corbett and White should have no trouble in holding their positions. Leslie and Long, their respective substitutes, are both fast halfbacks and valuable men. The third back is the most difficult to pick. Smith, who played regularly until the injury to his side, will soon be in shape again. Forchheimer, who at present is also out with a bad knee, is the next man. At present these two men are fairly close, Smith perhaps having the advantage. Forchheimer has improved rapidly during his short experience in the backfield. Gray and Kennard who filled the position in the last game are the other candidates.

The present standing of the team is even harder to estimate. There is still much to be done in improving the offensive work and in developing the ends.