Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1897-11-23
THE FOOTBALL SEASON.
Great Fan Campaign Is Now
About to Open.
The Men who Must Win or Lose for
the "Dig -Four" in the November
Games - Changes in
the Play.
LConvrirht. 1s971

WnlCn pfCniScu SuCh u utdftn OF more
skin armor stars and idols.
And yet if the stars of bygone foot
ball era were to line up against mOo-
ern varsity team they would have as
little show of victory as prep" school
team against last years champions
1t is through no faHlt 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 a better all-round gen
eral. The fault rs 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 shere is little 'oppor-
tunity for any individual briiliancy on
the field. The member OF varsity
eleven is only a factor in a big machine.
"Team'' work, Interference, and even
tackling, have ibeen reduced TO such a
science that the only way a 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.a few years
ago, there are dozen or more men
representing the four big football cob
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
namber of veterans who will take part
ia the big contest next month is low.
Last JUne's commencement seriously
decimated the ranks of 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 5een through 'one football
campaign increases in usefulness just
as a 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
Common. OF this number only a frac-
tion viii be chosen for thisfall's eleven.
Ben amin was not 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 to show an amaz-
ing improvement in form, and it 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
a high standard. Heffelfnger and
Morrison set pace in their time that
few men could stand, and Chadwick's
mediocre play does not necessarily con-
denim him. He will have another chance
this year.
OF the 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 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
md green stock. Youngsters with
football aspira tions have hoclled to
New Haven in droves, and all of them
re playing with a ferocity which only
IN overpowering desire Ito varsity"
ould inspire. The coaches-and there
las seldom been a stronger array OF
hem on a Yale field-haye had diff
ulty in sorting out the most desirable
Material from the freshman supply.
Cadwalader, who received his prepa-
alton for Yale at Laurenceville. is
ooked upon by the experts as the
right particular star, He is a big,
'owerful giant, and as guard he has
isplayed marvellous strength and skill.
1t is likely that Cadwalader, with Cut
ina Nova Scoti.n heavy weight who
as demonstrated his ability to play
enter-and Chadwick, will be selected
D play the three center positions. De
aulles, Sullivan and Ely are the candi-
ates for quarterback, with the odds
4 favor of the last named il he RECEIVERS
l time from an injury. Back of the c
ne kiefer has shown more than ordi- Q
airy ability, and his interference has 4
cen the prettiest seen on Yale field q
his season. Corwin, Mcbride and I
hamberlain also have been tried back
the rush line, and are the most prom \
ing ground gamers that the coaches \
ave dieaOvara1 In apde