The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-25

veloped on this coast, but the advance since its
practical Inauguration five years ago shows
what can be done here and opens up the posi-
bilities.
Coaches from the East were necessary for US
five years ago and will continue to be so until
the game is on level with the Eastern play.
1t is the only way that we can get good foot
ing. Afterward we can draw upon our alumni
for instruction.
1t is difficult to compare the Eastern and the
Western games, because they are so different
Our game is about what the Eastern game was
three or four years ago, except that the men in
the East work harder than we do. There a
player works all the time as hard as he can;
here he exerts himself just enough to defend
his particular position.
All Fasteners are surprised at the great de-
velopment OF the game on the coast ana from
the reports of those competent to draw COM
PARSONS we need bow in respect only to "the
big four"-Yale, Harvard, Princeton and Penn
sylvania Kennedy, for several years fullback
on the Stanford team and now graduate stu
dent al Harvard, asserts that he is confident
that the team that defeated the University of
Chicago at Los Angeles last New Years could
"wipe up the earth" with this seasons Har-
ward Varsity.
Kennedy was asked to play fullback on the
Boston Athletic Association eleven, which is
one OF the strongest teams in America, but he
declined.
Athletic teams are not satisfactory to college
men, because they play anybody they wish to
by making him an honorary member. They
do not train so well as college players, for they
are usually different type of men. and are not
together so as to be controlled, as candidates
for varsities are
The athletic club players on this coast have
in the main been much above the standard
and the methods associated with Eastern clubs.
and that fact has helped to keep the game in
the far West clean and free from the ruinous
faint of professionalism.
The Butte eleven is the nearest approach to
a professional football team, and its policy
must have a bad effect upon the game. A very
rich man has taken great interest in the Mon
tana team, with the result that he and other
enthusiasts have secured several good players
from other States by offering them employ
ment in or about Butte.
Such work can and will be kept out of college
teams. A few colleges hired men this year,
but that will not last long when so much objec-
ton is raised on every hand.
The campus would be the ideal place for all
college games, but it would not be neutral
ground, and for that reason it is impossible to
have the play where one team will have the ad-
vantage OF the home grounds Then there is
the financial question. The match must come
off where the most people can attend 1t, for OF
all the branches of college athletics football
alone pays. The surplus from the annual
game must maintain baseball, track athletics
and other branches of sports. 1t is legiti-
mate means of defraying athletic expenses.
Tours, however, are not very desirable.
1t is too hard work to travel ana train, and
the element of fun is greatly reduced when a
me- has to subject himself to such experience
while he is not in Fl physical condition.
The University of California and Stanford
play much the same style of game, and natur-
ally, for both have been coached by Yale men
only. California often has more star players
and less substantial team material and team
play than Stanford.
Good team work and plain football can &C.
complish much against fine individual play
ers and trick plays. That is exemplifed in
Yale's record against Harvard. Harvard has
| just as good material as Yale at the opening OF
| the college year, but about month before the
big game the team begins to try all sorts of new
trick plays to the neglect of substantial foot
ball, and the result is that Yale wins by play
| ing the game that in the long run is most eff
! fective.
The small number of preparatory schools on
| this coasts responsible for general Ignorance
| college. Belmont, San Mateo and the Oakland
! High School are practically the only places
where football is learned. In the East five out
of six of the candidates for the varsity have
! had from two to four years experience when
they enter college. Here, and particularly at
| Stanford, as was shown in the intercollegiate
freshman matches, we deal with men new to
| the game.
The California Varsity ought to have no adj
vantage over the Stanford Varsity, notwith-
! standing the preliminary knowledge OF football
possessed by many of her freshmen and the
! average greater size of natives of this State.
! Stanford draws good deal of material from
! the East. Whether it is due to the equable
| climate or to some otner cause. California men
| seem less nervous, slower than their Eastern
brothers, and they do not play SO plucky or
! gritty game.
| At Harvard freshman is not eligible to the
varsity and 1t is wise regulation. In the first
place most men on entering college are toe
| young to endure the vigorous training and
| nervous strain. In the next place the rule eff
fectivelv prevents men being brought to col
lege simply to play football. No enthusiasts
are going to pay mans college expenses for s
whole year before his services are available tC
| the team.
No man ought to play on his college team
after the completion of his regular under
| graduate course of four years, and the fouryea1
rule is intended to meet that end.
The incre sed thousands that attended thu
big match each Thanksgiving in San Fran
cisco, no matter what the weather, attest tx
the growing popularity OF the sport on THU
coast. 1t remains with the players themselve!