New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-23
SOME FOOTBALL LESSONS.


The great game OF football between Yale and
Princeton in New-liaven on saturday .o'eu
several things which some experienced coaches
and players have been slow 10 admit. TO start
with n dem oustrated conclusvely that straight
open football may be as effective as II Is ihteF'
estIng 10 spectators In this particular the les
son OF the tie game AT Cambridge was reinforced
by the unexpected triumph over Princeton, and
the fact that style OF play which mas so huch
n recommend It, aside from its winning quail
ties. is strongly advocated by the members ana
managers Of the team that has made so extraor-
binary an exhibition OF the force and hnish
which can be given to raw material IL sure 10
have great influence in leading other colleges
10 adopt a similar view 1t Is not less out more
obvious ms the season ends that heavy mass
plays ought to be abandoned and that the game
would be improved thereby.
Another fact which has always been acknowl
edged but too seldom acted on was made espe-
cially conspicuous on Saturday. namely. that 10
be sound in wind and limb ought to be reckoned
an indispensable qualification for every player
in an important game. cripple Is detrlment
TO the team he plays on, no matter how great
his skill and experience may be The Yale
youn csters overwhelmed the veterans or Prince
ton chiefly because they were In perfect phys
cal condition. They went into the game III TO
whip their weight In wildcats. and every one
Of them came out OF the tremendous conflict
without strain. Doubtless there was some
good luck in that. but there was more good
Judgment and commonsense. 1t Is not peril
ncnt answer TO say that hard game develops
unexpected weaknesses. for. in the first place,
1t Is the business Of trainer not 70 be de
celved. and. in the second place, there Is nj
WAYS a competent substitute in good bodily
condition to take the place OF disabled player
Baird. Of Princeton, for example at his best Is
in the very first class, but he stayed In Satur
days game far too long. He showed splendid
pluck In returning 10 the combat after success
slve INJURIES but he showed bad judgment
nevertheless. Toward the last he was source
not OF strength but OF weakness 10 his team
| and he would have exhibited higher moral cour-
age by retiring. An oArsman who pulls race
| through 10 the end whatever happens is en-
| titled 10 unmlxed admiration, for he cannot he
| replaced; but when a football players valiant
| obstinacy keeps a better man out OF the game
| both he and his superior In authority are nj
| fault.
| And the fault Is n prevalent one. Every col
| lege has committed and suffered from H. IT is
| not improbable that every member OF the Yale
| team would have been loath to yield rs Baird
was II an accident had rendered him less
| CAPABLE than his substitutes, and the coaches
might have let him play on and run serious
| risk OF losing the game In consequence. Fur
| thermore though this is not likely to be con
| sdered IN the stress OF conflict, something Is
due to the feelings Of spectators, to whom the
evidences OF physical distress are not agreeable,
| the assertions OF those who liken football TO
bull-hghting TO the contrary Notwithstanding.
| The two requirements which ought to be recog
| nized by all college football authorities are open
| play and the exclusion or retirement from every
game Of every player whose physical condition
| Is below par.