The morning call., 1893-10-22
COLLEGE ATHLETICS.
Football at BerkeIey-Why Henry's s
Record Was Not Allowed.

Record Was Not Allowed.
American college boys have been play
Ing football for seventeen years past and
to-day are the exponents of this game of
increasing popularity. Baseball has
passed from the college into professional
hands and is to-day decreasing In public
interest, but football has not and proba-
bly, never Will cease to be distinctively
college mans game.
The reason for the rapid and continu ed
increase in football during the last half
decade perhaps does not appear on the
surface. For many spectators the game
seems but british contest in which main
force and wkwardness give the victory.
And for but few is any real science OF ex-
aetness of play visible. This is due some
what the past few years to the de-
YeIopment and incessant use of the wedge
or mass plays which to the spectator ap-
lpear only as a mass of pushing, hauling
players, ending in an inextricable confu-
sion Of heads, legs, arms and other por-
tons OF numerous PROSTATE vertebrate
anatomies. And from present prospects
this will be the style of game this year.
The Berkeley team has played this game
for years past and will use it in the CON-
ing games, but will not depend upon il so
wholly as heretofore. Ransom and lay
lor behind the line will he USED for end
running. and as both are players who can
be relied upon TO gain ground, they will
probably be used frequently.
Taylor is without doubt one of the most
peculiar runners on the coast. With the
ball tucked away safely under his arm he
runs often directly through a crowd.
lodging and at times revolving out Of the
very arms of tackler HIS runs are sue
ceSSiODs of tacks, to use nautical phrase,
foh 5rHr H.,
made. But this style of running has made
him weak as a line bucker, as he stops
somewhat thus losing force just before he
strikes the line. Taylor's kick. too. is a
peculiar one; he gets peculiar swing of
the leg from the nip. McClung last year
first tried to change Taylor'S style of punt
ing, but later advised him TO go back 10 his
ola way, which is very effective. Ran
some is the best real halfback Berkeley
has had for years, and has not yet de-
yeloped sufficiently TO do his best work.
He is q hard man to bring down once he is
started, and frequently carries one or
more tacklers along several yards where
other men had gone down in their tracks.
AS punter Ransome is fully the equal of
Taylor. He is weak in tackling, however
and frequently allows runner 10 pass
him though but a couple Of yards away.
He does not enter into every play, either.
E. p. FotZ '94 and Archie B. Pierce have
been playing center on the varsity team
this past week, the latter vice his name
sake, joe" who is laid up. He plays
the position fairly well and will probably
play it against Heeley, the big 205-pound
center Of the Reliance Club team, at the
opening game of the season, Saturday
next, at the Piedmont grounds. Pierce is
steadier in passing the ball back, but not
nearly so active and aggressive as his
namesake, who is stronger offensive
player. Wilson '96 and Sherman '97 will
probably be the end players in next Satur-
days games. The former was substi-
tute end man last year. He is the surest
tackler on the team and splendid man
to break up interference. but Gnfortu-
nately is slow runner, too slow almost to
get down on long punts. His running is
improving somewhat, however. Sherman
is determined TO win a position on the
varsity eleven, and despite his light
weight-only 142 pounds-he is likely to
prove successful, especially now Hupp.
another promising end player, has given
up trying for the position, on account OF
pressure of college work. Sherman, low
himself. has the knack of making that
tackle beatific, right around the knees,
which inevitably brings a runner down.
Moreover he runs with fair degree of
swiftness. so that unless ''phenom" soon
appears Sherman Will 60 ON the team.
Easton anG Smith guards. Burr and
line men in next Saturdays game. All are
good men. yet none perfect or nearly so,
except Hunt. EastoD, tall and strong,
fails to reserve his energy until just the
time the ball goes into play. He wears
himself out in preliminary sQuabbling.
He tackles poorly and does not always
follow the ball closely. Smith is yet
novice at the game, but ore of promise.
He likes TO play guard much better than
center, for which he has been training
somewhat. and this should insure his max
ing better guard than center man. Burr
is tackling high and can't get over it. Yet
he is q strong man and a fast runner and
needs but TO tackle low and strike the line
with his head down to make fair CON-
panion for Hunt. Ii there is a more con-
scientious player on the team than Taylor
il is Hunt. The former is tired of football,
which he has played for years and con-
tinues to play, and play S his best, too, out
of pure love for his alma mater and his
reputa ton, and not for newspaper or other
notoriety. The same can be said of Hunt.
He would prefer 10 play behind the line in
mis- old position of balfback. Yet being
more needed on the line he has consented
to play there and leave to others the more
conspicuous, more be-heralded position Of
haliback. He as yet finds it difficult to
run with the ball from his new position,
and in striking the line finds he has less
momentum than when he used to cause
havoc in an opposing line from the half
backs position.
Captain Benson is hardly up to his last
years form, but is improving and the in
reference of himself and Taylor has
noticeably improved within the last week.
There being at present no other form of
athletic exercise Brick" Morse has re-
turned to the gridiron field and is playing
his old erratic untrustworthy game. at
times making almost brilliant runs and
kicks, and again blunders of the most rank
description and never whatever the play
sure that he will get or keep the ball Sc
curely. Brick would not be adverse TO
playing left halfback again this year but
bis hopes are none too rosy. Rhelnhart or
Humphreys will probably play the Other
halfback,s position in next Saturdays
game. The former. though unable to run
around the end, is fairly successful in going
through the line and can almost be de-
pended upon to make gain.