Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-10-31
THE FOOTBALL. SEASON.
Great Fall Campaign Is Now
 About to Open.
The Men Who Must Win or Lose for the "Big Four in the November Games = Changes in
 the Play.
TCopyright. 1897.

 skin armor stars and idols.
 And yet if the stars of a bygone foot ball era were to line up against mod ern varsity team they would have as little show of victory as a prep" school team against last years champions.
 It is through no fault of his own that the present football warrior fails to be- come public idol or to receive the adu- lation which was bestowed upon his predecessors. There is no doubt that he yearns for it any more than there is any doubt that he is better player and a more finished pupil in football science. He tackles harder runs as swiftly and is better aIl-round gen. eral. The fault is not with himself, but in the style of game which he is compelled to play
 With the ''close play" adopted now by all the big teams there is little oppor- tunity for any individual brillianey on the field The member of a varsity eleven is only factor in big machine. 'Team" work, interference, and even taekling, have been reduced to such a science that the only way man can distinguish himself or hope to reach the varsity is by making the most of the part he has to play in the machine.
 Although conditions make it we'll nigh impossible for the player of to- day to attain the personal notoriety which might have been his few years ago, there are a dozen or more men representing the four big football col leges this year who, in the eyes of the undergraduates and the coaches. are every inch as big heroes as the Nc Clungs, Heffelingers, Lakes and Lees. As compared with former years, the number of veterans who will take part in the big contest next month is low.
 Last June's commencement seriously deeimated the ranks of a number of eastern universities in which football forms an important factor of the fall term curriculum. Yale undoubtedly suffered most severely in the loss of veterans. Scarcely a man of the '96 eleven could be counted upon by Capt. Rodgers when he cast about for ma terial for his team. The old men were not champions to be sure, but man who has been through one football campaign increases in usefulness just as soldier does and is worth four promising recruits,
 Of the New Haven men who wore varsity caps and sweaters last year only six returned this fall and reported for play. They were Rodgers, Cham berlin, Benjamin, Hine, Chadwick and Gonnor Of this number only frae- tion will be chosen for this falls eleven. Benjamin was not a strong man last fall. his work was ragged and far below the Yale standard. If he makes the team and plays in the varsity games scheduled he will have 10 show an amaz- ing improvement in form, and ii is the almost unanimous belief that he is not up to the work. As guard last year Chadwick never displayed any remark able strength or cunning. Guards at New Haven, however, are measured by high standard. Heffelfinger and Morrison set pace in their time that few men could stand, and Chadwick's s mediocre play does not necessarily con- demn him. He will have another chance this year.
 Of She old '96 guard Rodgers is the only one who approaches star" caliber, and his strength is only revealed by contrasting it with the ordinary ma terial which surrounded him last fall. Under Brink Thorne's leadership two years ago he played a really brilliant game at tackle, and possibly he might have repeated his performance last year had he not been playing on team that was hopelessly beaten ten minutes after the play began. At any rate, Rodgers is captain this year and is doing his utmost to lead his warriors to victory.
 Though short on old timber, the sons of Eli are amazingly long on new and green stock. Youngsters with football aspirations have focked to New Haven in droves, and all of them are playing with a feroeity which only an oyerpowering desire "to varsity" could inspire. The eoaches-and there has seldom been a stronger array of them on Yale feld-have had diff culty in sorting out the most desirable material from the freshman supply.
 Cadwalader, who received his prepa- ration for Yale at Laurenceville, is looked upon by the experts as the bright particular star He is big, powerful giant, and as guard he has displayed marvellous strength and skill.
 It is likely that Gadwalader with Cut tina Nova Scotian heavy weight who has demonstrated his ability to play center-and Chadwick, will be selected to play the three center positions. De saulles, Sullivan and Ely are the candi- dates for quarterback, with the odds in favor of the last named if he recovers in time from an injury. Back of the line Kiefer has shown more than ordi- nary ability, and his interference has been the prettiest seen on Yale field this season. Corwin, Mcbride and Chamberlain also have been tried back of the rush line, and are the most prom ising ground gathers that the coaches have discovered. On the ends the