The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1895-02-01
FOOTBALL.


for foot ball. During the winter a
committee consisting of DR.. w. A.
Brooks, Harvard Walter Camp, Yale
Alexander Moffat, Princeton Paul
J. Dashiell, Lehigh and John G. Bell,
Pennsylvania, met in New York and
drafted revision of the rules, which,
1t was supposed, would do away with
the dangerous features of the game
and also prevent brutality. Flying
wedges aud mass plays were abolish
ed; opening plays were limited to an
actual kick of ten yards into the op
ponents' territory the full back was
protected by being allowed to signal
for free catch, and tries for goal from
the field were encouraged the flying
interference of I8o, was legislated
against, new rule providing that not
more than three men should start be
tore the ball was put into play. 1t was
soon predicted, however, that little
change would be effected in the man
ner of playing the game.
The larger teams went into training
even earlier than usual. Pennsyl.
vania's team being taken to Broad
water in September. Much interest
was felt as to the outcome of the sea-
son and as to the novel methods of
play to be derived from the new rules.
1t was expected that Harvard and
Pennsylvania would develop the most
original plays, but it was also felt that
Mr.. Camp, having been active in the
committee, his well known tactical
genius would probably provide strong
and original methods for Yale. During
the early part of the season the usual
difficulties in arranging dates were
experienced. Princeton was desirous
of playing Harvard, but as Yale had
declined to meet Pennsylvania, Har-
ward did not wish to arrange a longer
schedule than her chief rival. After
many delays, the date for the Prince
ton-Pennsylvania game was fixed for
November 10th, at the Trenton State
Fair Grounds.
The first games showed that the
knowledge of football was spreading
among the smaller colleges. Williams
scored touchdown on Yale, and
Brown on Harvard, and the Princeton
Cornell game on October goth was
won by the former by score of ony
I2 to 4. Cornell's success was follow
ed in week by the surprise of their
scoring I2 to Harvard's 22 on Man
haitian Field. On the same day West
Point kicked a goal from the field
against Yale. In the meantime, Penn
sylvana's substitute team had only
won from the Crescents by I8 to 10
in Brooklyn on October goth, and on
October 26th the University of Vir
ginia scored 6 to Pennsylvania's ID.
Up TO the time of the Crescent game,
Pennsylvania had shown the best form
of all the colleges, but at this period,
with several men injured or stale, her
work fell off. After the game with
Lafayette, on October 3Ist, when
Pennsylvania's whole team played
very sluggishly, it seemed certain that
Princeton would win the game on
November roth. The Pennsylvania
men were at once pronounced to be
overtrained and were given respite
A few days before the Princeton game
they were taken to the Delaware
Water Gap, whence they only return
cd on the morning Of the game,
A crowd Of at least 1000 people
made the journey to Trenton to see
the contest, which was rendered more
interesting from the assertions that if
Princeton won she would decline to
play Pennsylvania in future and thus
bring about league between Har-
ward, Yale, and Princeton. The odds
before the game were two to one
against Pennsylvania, and the result
was a complete surprise. Critics had
predicted that Pennsylvanias line
would be weak, and unable to assist
her backs, and that Princeton, though
she had lost King and Ballet, would
ofsaR pcclllnsy, ,vania's centre at will.
Princeton, however, was outclassed IN
every department, and after fast and
fierce game was beaten IL to Q. 1t
was admitted that but for mistake
of the referee Pennsylvania's score
would havs been larger. The victory
was largely due to the strategy en-
ployed by George Woodruff, the Penn
sylvania coach, and to his new tactics,
a completely novel and unexpected
| r 4 IL L.
being exhibited by Pennsylvania. The
new interference, based on the privi
lege afforded By the new rules. Of
starting three men before the ball
was but in play, consisted of keeping
only FIVE men in the line, and drop
ping back the guards to form tam
dem interference with one of the
backs. Tie play was wholly in Prince
toms territory, and every man on