New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-03
ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD.

The Yale eleven has shown some slight I'M
prover1ent in the last week and the men seem
TO be coming around into shape. Their offence
has improved more than their defence. and TINS
was the only thing that saved them from
actual defeat at the hands of the Boston Ath-
letic Association eleven week ago. The de-
fence in that game was so ragged that the
Boston Athletic Association pushed them down
the field time and again for considerable gains.
but when Yale did get the ball, they could
carry 1t out OF any danger for the moment with
their reasonably good offence. Their score of
0 TO with the boston Athletic Associa-
ton and the same score In the Princeton
Orange game have significance that may
not at first seem evident. Either the teams
this year have not the power of 'scorlng'-that
is to say. the particular kind Of skill and train
ing which teaches them how to carry the ball
over the line when they bring Ii up to the ten
ward line-or the defence OF the average football
team OF the class to which Orange and the Bos
ton Athletic Association belong Is better than
1t has been in past years Probably the reason
for the lack Of scores on both sides is due partly
to cause and partly to the other. but chiefly
to the latter Orange has a remarkable line
for n team made up of business men. The
teams close work the defensive is clean.
quick and vigorous. and 1t would take very
well trained eleven of good players TO make
any great score against them. The same Is
NAV be set down as one of the facts Of the year
that the teams commonly known as being In
the second class are showing far better sys-
TEN or team play, especially on the defensive,
than ever before. At the same time. Princeton
In the Orange game showed a great weakness
at the scoring point. Baird and Armstrong
fumbled once or twice when they might have
scored and Poe made a mistake in signals. for
his men mstook his signal once when a score
was almost certain.
This Increased efficiency on the part of second
class teams is one of the most encouraging things
in this somewhat discouraging year. 1t is proof
in the first place, Of increased interest IN the
game on the part of men who are out of college,
but who ar in most cases thorough amateurs,
though it must be confessed In passing that
some of the Orange are doubtful as to anna
teur laws. No sucn teams as the B. A. A. the
Orange and the Crescent elevens could possibly
be turned out unless football had taken a still
stronger hold the country than even this
year. and that in Itself is a source of congratu-
lation. No such teams could be found to hold
Yale and Princeton down unless the scientific
study OF the game was being taken up by grad
yates in way never known before. And If We
can Only see the college games kept within coll
lege bounds at the same time that post -grad,i-
ate games increase as they have Increased this
year. we shall begin to hope that football is be-
ginning to take its proper place as one of the
very best athletic trainers in general use among
men Of all ages except old age.
The Prlnceton-Harvard game unfortunately
cannot be discussed this week, as this department
goes TO press too early. But the Princeton Orange
game requires a word OF comment 1t was a most
interesting affair TO watch, though rather Insat-
isfactory from the Princeton point Of view Still
1t was good lesson for the Nassau team. from
which they learned good deal and by which they
prohte1 during all last week. princctons defence
was almost magnificent. Orange hardly made
twenty yards In the entire game. except on kicks
centre prevented any gains whatsoever In that
place throughout the game and the reader should
bear in mind that Stillman. Of the Yale team,
was the Orange centre against Galley while Oil
yer made guard for Orange as good as any
guard about any college team this year
Princeton had no fear at any time that her goal
might be threatened. but her own offensive play
poor all the way through The score OF
course. should have stood at least 6 to 0 In her
favor, and would have II the teams had played
ten minutes longer but had Princeton possessed
any such offence she did defence Orange
would have retired badly beaten. The Princeton
backs, however, did not succeed I'm gaining any
great amount OF ground. The reason for this was
In great part because neither Armstrong Baird
nor Suter could get very far at any time but
partly also because the rush line did not make
decent hole during ihe entire game This lack