New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-24
FORM OF THEFOOTBALL MEN

FORM OF THE FOOTBALL MEN
COMMENTS ON THE LEADING TEAMS BY
AN EXPERT OBSERVER.
Gradually az 1t may seem to have taken place
nevertheless the game OF football has materially
changed during TIE last few years. All the games
this year have been played on evenor scores. Each
individual match has therefore been more closely
and evenly contested. and hence there may ne sup
posed TO be harder fought matches this year thsn
ever before Yet in the midst OF this Increased
because more equal rivalry. the whole question o.
"slugying," or disqualification for unfair tactics.
seems to have sunk OF sight. one no longer
reads OF the number OF men disqualified, because
men are no longer resortng 10 questionable meth
DDS OF play. Injuries there are and always VIII be.
because the game is AZ best rough and hard on the
body at times but there no longer Injuries
caused by play carried FOR the purpose OF hurt
Ing q man and thus getting him out of the game
Neither IL the discussion which stirred up the
athletic world much few years ago-the ques'
ton OF eigibility-in any ones mouth to-day We
seem 10 have passed both these stages on the
road TO good and ceanly sport II was only four
five years ago that many newspaper was con-
dcmn.ng the game n bestai!zng influence.
whereas to-day there Is not one which feels 1t Its
duty or believes II good journalism 70 mention the
matter. The games this season have been quite
have any football matches outside
years. For instance. the Professionalism game
OF the toughest sort, and yet there has been
little complaint OF unfair or ugly play. mani
testify because there was none All this shows tina;
the great game is settling into It's place n manly
sport. n, for gentlemen and healthy for mind and
body. without any necessity for meanness con-
nected In any way with the securing OF victory.
II IL ono OF the most ourag!ns things In these
days OF remarkable growth in outdoor sports that
each and every game, including. as some would
say even" football Is nearer tho point OF being
played for iis sports sake than ever before
In this country. College athletics. at all events.
are cleaner and purer than they have ever been
before and as football is primarily a college game
II is showing thai influence and that progress bet
ter than most sports.
The progress OF football so far Is encouraging.
Only a short month OF the season has gone, and
yet the games played by Harvard. Yale. Princeton
ard Pennsylvania which have usually been
sldered practice games 10 prepare the big elevens
TO meet one another. have been closely contested
matches. the result OF each being far moro uncer-
tain until each game over than ever before
yale has played seen games In the course OF
which her highest p points. made
sgains, Williams. and during which she has been
scored against twice TO an extent in each
that has not happened IN years a Yale football
Brown crossed Yaie's line many times as
Yale crossed hers. and only lost by ls 10 "A be-
cause she did not Kick her goals. and yesterday
the North American Indian played Yale and scored
points - Nale's IA score. by the way, that
really should read 10 ls for one decision In the
middle OF the game was as astounding as Il was
unfair
1t should no, ne understood by this that Yale is
Playing much poorer football this year than
last. In the first place II only required that one
should see the Indian game yesterday TO discover
that Yale and does play az times fast football
and. In the second place. one may be sure that
Yale Is not going 10 turn out poor eleven because
FOR year Princeton has beaten her Yates line
Is weak in team play ~ present. especially on the
LEFT. where guard and tackle do play sufficiently
well together 10 prevent holes from occurring a,
times Mos; o. the gains made BY the Indians were
made through LETT guard and tackle hole. and the
time the Indians crossed Yae's goal ns was
through large and careless hole in the same
place. The centre and right OF the lire are strong
and compact. and in quick plays or SUGGESTIONS OF
plays these four men work well together Left
end. Hazen Is an extremely clever player. who does
not yet know how TO rush with the man next him.
but this difficulty IS one which be corrected.
and only corrected playing the same men together
often and teaching them the value OF team play.
Back OF the line Yale is strong in the fuback.
Mcbride and left half. Keller. Mcbride IL steady
man. well fitted for the position left-rooted kick
and long punter His tacklins Is good AZ
times. but apt TO be weak when he appears 10
have a good chance and easy work ahead OF him.
II he can put on some more weight He is light
place Indeed. this seems be q
fault Of the team rs whole: out o helfer, once
should make a valuable man back OF the line, even
IN Ms Sh weight }np b ne s he e Yas
eleven Is not as might be supposed from Its scores
his season weaker man ast year or sne wear r
wanting, but tae individual is clean and clever,
ponderous eleven that Will push Others down the
field by short and heavy mass plays there are dis
tlnct possibilities OF strong swift team II the
coaching can bring the men up To the proper point
Harvard on the other hand. has very heavy
eleven made up from large supply OF material
few OF the men being already well-known players
but several being uncertain quantities. AS whole
the team IL full OF weight and strength and In a
condition which. with good coaching will admit Of
high order OF team play. The men will never be |
quick enough. however. TO make a distinctly fast
eleven The work OF the Harvard men must he, as
indeed II IL. organized use OF strength applied TO
weak points in the opposing teams lines. and
centrated on certain points. Cameron Forbes. who |
Is coaching the eleven. while never a great player
himself. has proved that he knows how TO teach |
others 10 play by the manner In which he has |
coached freshmen and class elevens to victory He |
holds 10 conservative methods OF play. and values |
team play and the constant practice OF the same !
men in the same places day after day, and with |
the munincent material which Harvard has this
year there should be winning eleven turned out |
10 meet Yale. The have not been scored |
against as yet. which shows greater steadiness on
the part OF this years team than has been evident
In Harvard elsvens for the last four i've years.
In the line the men play we'll together. keeping a
close formation and defending well at all times
With such weight as the centre men carry, they
can push for short distances at almost any time,
and the team Is strong. therefore In defending
plny on its own fve or ten yard line. and often
effective in scoring when II has the ball In
spending position Of its opponents field
The offensive play as whole. however. Is poor.
partly because the men in the line and to a GER
taIn bac q N f.
ting under way and partly because no quarterback
played this season has succeeded In getting up any
speed in n series OF plays. There times when \
four or 1--WE plays carried through In quick success
sion will win ground OF the greatest Importance.
Az such times slow plays. no matter how well |
executed. are OF little account Harvard has not |
yet acquired this swift play. OF course. 1t only