The New York herald., 1876-12-18
FOOTBALL.
THE PRESENT SEASON AND IrS PRosPEcTs-
OUR COLLEGE TEAMs-GRATIFYINo PROGRESS

THE PREsENr SEASON AND ITS PRosPECTs-
OUR COLLEGE TEAMs-GRATIFYINo PROGRESS
OF THE GAME IN THIS COUNTRY.
Weeks ago frosts aud storms swept away the last
vcstiges OF base ball and other summer games leaving
alone combat the sharper and cooler weather Of
tho last departing autumn and early winter. That
game is football and though the hercabouts IL
Short owing the usual severity OF December there
has been encouraging progress In tho sport In this
country. Tho last three years afford convincing
proof that SO far AZ outdoor games are concerned
there are many advantages by football over
the majority OF our summer pastmes. II yields in
popular favor to other open air amusement. savo
only whom the ice king binds the lakes and rivers IN
chains OF iron and gives skaters days weeks Of ex
hlaratng enjoyment In the prosecution OF the health
lest and most graceful OF exercises Football beaets
fulness and freedom OF limb. q strength Of lung,
quckness OF eye and presence OF mind which are
not only very serviceable to tho individual
possessing them, but arc likewise valuable TO
the people that point TO them az qualities
characteristic OF their race good football player
uses his head as we'll his feet He exercises great
judgment, and In addition to the physical exertion
which he has to undergo needs no inconsidcrable
amount Of nerve and temper. Practice brings about
these admirable qualities, 1t docs spirit OF
discipline and feeling OF intcrdcpendence which every
football team must cultivate to be ordinarily success
iuL Football Is better than medicine for the dyspep
tic and the sufferer from close application bust
moss. ana while we note gratifying growth Of the
pastimo It is TO be regretted that our young men
generally do not take to IT, even as they do to base
ball
AMERICAN FOOTBALL TEAMS.
The frst russet leaves OF autumn mark the com
mencement OF the football season In England, and
most OF the large public schools and the London and
provincial clubs open the campaign in the middle OF
October. Then there nearly six months which they
devote TO the cricket OF the winter months. and
the thousands Of the votares OF the game have lack
of occupation until the sunshine Of April brings
ball from the obscurityof the closet
the tall goal posts to give place to wicket
To that extent which colder weather will per-
init tho well-wishers of this pastime in the Mid
die and Eastern States hope the example OF
our English cousins will be initiated by the
schoolboys and college lads and young generally
OF those sections Already the teams OF Harvard.
Yale, Columbia ana Princeton colleges. together with
that Of the Stevens Institute are In harness. while notes
Of morry preparation come piping along from the Uni
versity Of Pcnnsylvana, College OF the City OF Now
York. and Cornell and Tufts colleges or these the
Harvard boys hold good lead. Their playing is far
above the American standard thanks to the Rugby
rules which hcy have adopted and the precepts ncul
visit 70 Montreal and defeat of the United Canadian
team, and their victory the crack players OF Nc
Gill University, events which the college is proud
of and which, for such early PERIOD show the
to be in good FORM
Tho strong organization at Yale bids fair osc
It's prestige this season, owing to the restraints
posed by the faculty of the college They have decreed
that the club must not accept challenges 70 play Of
New Haven, and as but few OF the leading will
care to fight out games in the City OF Elms, and not
havo q chance OF meeting their opponents on
homo grounds, chances OF important struggles
with the Yale boys are not promising. This
order seems particularly annoying 10 the club when
they reflect that during the past the base ball
nine ,of tho college permitted TO absent them
selves Now Haven overy Saturday they had games
TO play elsewhere hope Is expressed by the foot
ball club that the order may DO modified will in
fuse spirit and earnestness into promising team All
lovers OF the game heartily the wish, It
were more than pity did the season pass without
the usual homo and home matches between Harvard
and Yale.
Rugby Union rules concerned, and tts team gives
evidence OF becoming no mean opponents Plenty Of
energy has already been shown by them, and they will
try hard mako warm for those that against
them, as besides being timely apportioned they have
among their number those who show their heels to
most players The Princeton team contempatcs visit.
ing Columbia, Yale and Harvard, and tho prediction Is
ventursd 4 they carry out the proposed programme
ihoy will not return empty handed. Tuns
College annually turns out strong and
magnificent texln. Many OF the students beng
sung advanced studies they possess the strength and
sol,dity IRON which good players use made. In past
that hailed from ruiss .aan rom si thor other on.
poncnts and when sney met prolonged u cheer
ing attcsted thu brianoy OF their Efforts The
OF the college organizations In almost daily praC.
ticc, and n,hor matches have been decided.
RUGSr VI. COLLEGE RULES
While Harvard, Yale and Princeton pay the Rugby
Union, or amcnded Rugby rules the majority OF the
teams governed In their contests by the "Coege
peculiar aud there isn't player a ten that has
correct conception OF what they are. There Is the
opnion seemingly among the teams that recognize the
ASSOCIATION rules that anybody can do anything they
please with the ball except run with II. Batting
knocking With the hand IS allowed, and player is
never ''on side " Tho last provision Is essentially
wrong. All English rules provide that play cannot DO
made when player Is ''on side," or not behind the
ciously adhered 10 than any other II Is wise and
fair provision, and should DO universally adopted.
Many other faults exist in the association rules, and
10 make the game more popular all the teams should
sdopt The regulations which govern the playing OF
Harvard Yale and Princeton rules in almost universal
recognition in England.
With the general adoption Of the Rugby rules the
game would oecome t more popm,sr man % ever ~ AMER
would take some part in their decision. All the teams
being governed by rules alike there would DO mure
brilliant players and practice ~ attain proficiency
would be generally rcsorted TO- The absence OF
nrsI class dropkicks or sure place-kicks in many
teams que The want Of practice. Even hours
u week set apart Tor "punt about" would have
dcrul making good kicks, and in nlso teach
ing men TO pick up the bali quickly when II comes
them The next. apd perhaps OF the greatest,
iccts much vi tho play of last season WAS the want
Of following up aud from this root springs The other
defcicncics-not passing on, not playing together
not having ball down when It is held IL the
wards'' would follow up properly there would be no
necessity for any who has made his run 10 hang
to ball when II Is coAred (ueid) waiting Tor his
own men to come up to him. II the following up was
as is ought be men would pass the ball from
ono to another and work II down 70
their adversArics' goal line. In fact, follow
log up IL the most important duty Of
a forward and II members OF clubs would practise IL
moro there would be half much done At the end
OF u match a prcscnt-after hour OF game
with -. Jery for himself and the bali Tor all u
II Is important that all teams shoulo look 10 their
forward play. Improvement in this department is