New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-02
IN THE FOOTBALL FIELD.
FEATURES OF THE sEAsoN-THE I'M
poRTANcE OF COACHING.

a,,o,s caused by the two different games. Per-
hans the most important point-because II was
the point on which the life Of the game de-
aaa q, some coeges-is that Of roughness
~ lack OF roughness. that has characterized the
.aoscr.s games In this column week ago an
error was committed when the statement was
I'D that not a single man disqualified in
me ysle-Prnceton game on the 22d one man.
r.sa,carttn Of Princeton. was disqualified for
unnecessary roughness in the middle Of the sec
- hsN But Rosengarten's sugging so
O,,Irkiv stopped by his disqualification. and his
use WAS So good an example OF its kind that
4, only seemed 10 bring out more prominently
tho fact that that game was played in the clean
ast manner that has been seen the Manhattan
rYeld in many day. ROsengarten's play was In
srrong contrast 10 that Of the other Princeton
nisvers and the Yale men. The game was
rough as all football games. or any other per-
sonal contact games. will always be. But there
was conspicuous absence of unnecessary
roughness all through the match Rosengarten
was not disqualified to serve as an example 10
the rest Of the team. or as check In any rough
play that might be going on. He was disquail-
fed because he broke the rules. And in break
ing the rules he made himself conspicuous by
contrast with the rest of the team
This same absence Of rough play on the part
OF whole team was marked feature OF the
Harvard Pennsylvania game. and Of the Prince
ton-Harvard game There was no unnecessary
roughness in the Cornell games with Harvard
and Princeton. In fact. the year has been singu-
larlv free from a feature Of football which has
made the game a by-word with newspapers here
tofore. and with large class OF people who knew
1t from observation or from hearsay. If one
year Of the sport has accomplished this change,
and il the charge becomes permanent. then this
season Of 1895 has done 7 great deal for the
game 1t was evident that the Yale eleven and
IT'S coachers had learned good lesson from the
unfortunate experiences with Harvard over the
roughnesS Of the Springfield game in 1874 ana
n has been as evident that Harvard men realize
that they had something 10 learn from that eA-
perience also. Brewers action at princeton IN
refusing TO take advantage OF what was evil
IDENTIFY mistake OF Princetons man. Baird. in
forgetting rules made less than q week before
was an instance Of the desire of Harvard to err
rather. on that side than on the other The rules
against mass plays have done something TO
lessen the roughness in the game also partly be-
cause the men are not filed up In as heaVy
masses as before. and palt because there III
not so much close play where pushing and hit
ting are neither necessary nor so covered UP
that an umpire cannot see them.
This question Of the rules is. however one Of
the blots on the season Of 1895. That Harvard.
Yale. Princeton. Pennsylvania and Cornell should
ever have allowed two distinct set of rules to be
made for the game is. as has already Deen
stated in this column. a great mistake 1t injured
the work Of me season. II made it far more
difficult to arrange games II hampered the
players themselves. since except In the case OF
Yale all the teams had to make some sort OF
compromises in order 10 play outside the particu-
lar little league wherein they had made their
original rules There is admirable chance
again now for the University Athletic Club 10
take I'D the question Of next years rules ana
call together representatives from the nan dozen
prominent colleges and suggest 10 them that 'heE
meet under the auspices Of the club, and es-
tablsh set of playing rules for 1896 Sucn an
Invitation would undoubtedly be accepted by
olio ipx-- tod n attend
that such a club fathered would be accepted by
the football community AT large all over 'he
United States In fact any one and every one
would be glad TO have some such responsible
body take the matter in charge and settle FOR
the present at any rate the question as 70 VINO Is
10 take the initiative in such matters
Ons Of the chief points OF the season was
Ysle's play in the Yale Princeton game. because
the skill with which the game was run from
beginning 10 end Of a kind that makes
football worth playing and worth studying II
seems simple enough after having seen the
game TO describe Yales system Of play, and yet
one should remember that Yale began the sea
son with weak team. that she played no nIst-
class eleven until she met pm teton anu 'hd'
with the exception Of the two halfbacks ana the
quarter Yale was Outciassvd In individual play
ers by the Princeton men The secret OF lag a5s
success was superior generaship on the neld
which is practically the same as saying superior
coaching To a critic Of the game the two sys-
football science Princeton had the stronger line
and at times could force Yale yard by yard over
more than half the length of the field: but the
skill Of the NewHaven team was MANIFESTED III
their capacity 10 use their strength when II was
most needed, to cover weak points by PLAYING a
game they played well. and. most important OF
all by PLAYING scoring plays only when there
was distinct chance Of scoring. Princeton ne
ouently on down in the middle OF the neld
played her 'turtleback' or twist pays Sne
would make six yards or more In three downs
and then continue the plays time after
time The plays were well executed. put no
good eleven in the world ca fail to get the run
~ such nlavs when they constantly repeated.
and consequently Yale several times succeeded
in breaking up the play before Princeton got 10
the 25-yard line
Yale on the other hand had the admirable
nolicv If kicking primarily when in the middle OF
the field This gave the ball TO Princeton some
where near her own line II became iaIe 5
,olicv then 10 do Of two things: Either 10
hold Princeton down on the three down RUE
or 70 block a kick In the first case the ball.
~ The play succeeded. became Yale's on the 20
ward line perhaps. In the second, If the kick
,rere blocked there was the chance at least Of
occurring II But In any case the ball once be-
coming Wales on the 20 or 25-yard line. or nearer
her stvle Of play changed at once Here was :.
chance to score. "Turtlebacks' ana tWlsters
-yore IN order They were played apparently iii
esouences which gave opportunity for quick
,naDpy plav and the position was near enough
L. Princeton's goal 10 prevent princeton Io',
retttng the knack Of the play before they had
crossed the line. In game between Two such
comnaratively even teams each eleven Is pIdc-
1.calIy sure Of getting on the other zo-yafu me
once or twice in a game ana II IS 10Y lhest oc,
casions that Yale played TINS year. lhf Sclei..
and ground-gaining power OF me team VIZ
sa-rsd for these rare occasions. Her men :
strength was not wasted in the centre OF tne
field The idea was 10 punt into the eneinS , W.
rltory. and then endeavor 10 Keep nm ''' end
ratber than to work into that territory ,s ahu
bane 70 reach the goal line In time Ihis
!'-'~|o - fr,m a team that actually
s,roneer so far as the physical strength OF me
tnd,vidual men went. II only goes 10 SNOW .na a
rascbirr ie the secret Of successful foo'bai an
,be studv Of how TO run a game on the heIu j
l.. -