There are those who hold that it portends good fortune for any football team to be universally rated as a minus quantity by the preseason prognosticators of the press. If there be any truth in this theory, then Yale's 1939 eleven should have, to say the least, a banner year.

At the start of last year's schedule sports scribes chose to minimize the loss of the mighty Clint Frank and predicted a better-than-average record for Ducky Pond's machine. The Elis went on to stagger through the most disastrous season in Yale annals, winning two out of eight games. Now the situation is reversed. With experts foretelling nothing but lean days for the Bulldog, there are few individuals in the vicinity of New Haven who give Yale a fifty-fifty chance of improving even on last year's performance.

Certainly the problem which most concerns the Blue coaching staff right now lies in the backfield. Not one member of the quartet which started against Harvard last fall is available. Had not Ray Anderson, a Junior, run afoul of scholastic ineligibility the outlook might be brighter. For Pond's chief need is what has come to be known since the invasion of Poland as a blitzkrieg back, and Anderson came near filling the bill in his brilliant appearances against Princeton and Harvard last Fall.

At present the first backfield is largely an unknown quantity, lacking both experience and the climax runner who is a prime essential to Greasy Neale's plan of attack. Running and passing will be divided between Hovey Seymour and Fred Burr. Seymour was the captain and standout player of last year's unusually inferior Freshman team. He has both power and speed, but whether he has the deceptive change of pace of a first class ball-carrier remains to be seen, Burr is a letterman, passes and runs well, but never really got under way last fall.

Hank Wood, a Senior, may turn out to be the surprise package in the form of a fine blocking back. Ineligible last year, he has been converted from the line where he played as a Sophomore. Harold Whiteman, a husky Junior and letterman, completes the regular quartet.

Tony Mott Unknown Quantity

Another unknown quantity who may turn out to be valuable is big Tony Mott who has returned after a two year interval. Mott played fullback in 1936 on Larry Kelley's eleven, was not in college the following year, and last Fall was pent up on the sidelines because of an early injury. Besides his ability in the kicker's role, he is invaluable on the defense.

On the forward wall the picture is more favorable for Emerson (Spike) Nelson, Yale's new line coach. It is enough to say that Captain Bill Stack, at center, looks to be as good as any pivot man in the Ivy League. Flanking him are a pair of Junior guards, Cape Burnam and Jim Dern, both of whom won their letters last year. This trio leaves little to be desired, and Bulldog enemies should find it difficult to avance far on this sector.

Brooks at Tackle

Bob Brooks, another Junior letterman, whose one-man Maginot Line almost halted Michigan last Fall, seems to be definitely in at one tackle post, but the other remains wide open. Pond is testing three men for this assignment, Seniors George Seabury and Cy Taylor, and Junior Jerry Knapp. So far there has been little to choose between them. Taylor is a veteran letterman, while Knapp was ineligible last Fall after starring on his Freshman team.

On the ends Ivy Williamson has plenty of material--none of it more than adequate. Joe Zilly, the only letterman, is a tall rangy Junior, especially adept at snaring passes in the old Kelley manner, and may be developed into a first-class end if he can overcome his weakness on the defense. Brownie Brinkley, another Senior, played well early last season but was forced to drop football. Al Bartholemy, a Sophomore, and Tom Lussen, another Senior, better noted for his pole-vaulting prowess, are due for plenty of active service.