What was one of Coach Horween's most constant and perplexing problems last fall seems to be reasonably well solved this year. To be without quarter-backs who have had experience and possess a thorough knowledge of the game is an almost insuperable disadvantage to any team, however good it may be in other departments; and by the same token to have a staff of capable quarterbacks is an asset which cannot be overestimated.

Whether or not the men who are now calling signals on the first University elevens will stand the test of intercollegiate competition remains to be seen; only one of them, E. T. Putnam '30, has ever directed a Crimson team in an intercollegiate contest, and that was two years ago. But all of them have records or show signs of promise such as to lead even the most pessimistic of Crimson supporters to hope for great things.

Putnam is at present the leading candidate for the pilot position. He prepared for college at Milton where he directed the team in his senior year. Coming to Harvard with an excellent reputation to uphold, he fully lived up to expectations by capably piloting his team throughout the season. In addition to filling the quarterback post, he was the high scorer of the team, counting in five games four touchdowns and one field goal. In his Sophomore year Putnam began the season in suspicious fashion. His wise selection of plays combined with a certain degree of daring were largely responsible for a close victory over Dartmouth. Shortly after this however, an injury incapacitated him for the remainder of the season, and scholastic difficulties prevented him from playing last fall. Whether or not he can regain his pristine form after a year's lay-off is the big question which now confronts Coach Horween and his assistants with regard to Putnam.

George Crawford ocC. and T. W. Gilligan '31, are the other leading contenders for the quarterback position. Crawford has been playing with the ineligibles for the past three years and it is a question with him even more than with Putnam as to whether he can regain the form which made him a star performer on his St. Mark's and Freshman elevens. Crawford is at present out with an injury, but he will doubtless see much service in the directing role before the season is over.

Gilligan is perhaps better fitted as a halfback than as a quarterback, but the fact that he has had much experience as a pilot combined with the fact that good halfback material is plentiful this fall has led Coach Horween to keep him calling signals at least up until now. Gilligan directed a strong Exeter team through an entire season and starred on last year's first year aggregation. His ability as a ball carrier should make him a valuable asset in the Crimson attack this fall.

The rest of the quarterback squad is made up of Summer Putnam '31, younger brother of E. T. Putnam, and D. M. Greeley '31, both promising youngsters who with sufficient seasoning may develop into useful reserve pilots before the end of the year.