The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-10-02
COLLEGE FOOT BALL
LARGE DEARTH OF LINEMiSE
HAS BEEN MADE AP-
- PARENT
RUSHERS MUST BE TRAINED

Half Racks May BE Found Ready
Made, but Linemen Must Be
Dressed Up and Furnished
Princeton Has Lost Most of Her
Old Players-YaIe's New Team
the dewey" of College Clubs.
NEW YORK, Oct. Harry Beech
er's summing up of the college football
situation is that it is too early to specu-
late on the chances of the different
teams, but the little practice that they
have had has shown one important
fact-the large dearth of linemen. Half
backs or full backs are plentiful. but
the heavy fast men to occupy positions
In the center of the line are sadly lack
ing. This simply proves the statement
that rusher is the hardest position
in the line to make. He does not come
naturally to his duties, but must be
trained and educated up to the stand
ard or whatever college he may be at.
There is a certain glory to the POSI-
ton or half back, or d man back of
the line, which causes youngsters TO
try for such position. Their dreams
Of running hundred yards to a touch
down, of waving flags and vociferous
cheers especially catch a boy who in
tends to enter into this sport This Is
perhaps the reason that the colleges
receive every year decided influx OF
runners and like players who hope 10
reach fame through the hero-line Of
long runs and pretty lodges. The hare
work and unapparent effectiveness oil
rusher does not appeal to their
hungry consideration. What is the use
OF being tackle and being MENTIONED
only once in newspaper, while a half
back with his wonderful course is fol-
lowed in flaming letters?
1t is trulsn among the coaches and
experts in football that half backs Of
ten appear ready made, while the line
men must be dressed up and Furnished
to gain position within the standard.
The question of team play rises into
such Importance in the rush line that
it necessarily talzNs more time to effect
perfect play in that position than that
Of back of the line. 1t Is really a Ques-
ton of seven men working against four.
and mathematics requires a decided ex.
actness In it's results.
The first few weeks of football prac-
tice Is the most important of the year.
Notwithstanding that the public think
differently. A mistake in the governing
of a football team means the loss Of
a championship frequently, and this
period in the practice Of team is no,
ordinarily considered important
PRINCETON'S NEW MEN.
Princeton holds the UNIQUE and UNI
usual position of having lost the most
Of her old men. Her beefy center In
the line has disappeared, and what will
take its place depends entirely upon
her captain, Hildebrand. In addition
to this loss her O11aPt ND bor n,
have chased the pigsl1in for the last
time. Whether this Is a benefit or
loss is open to opinion. Certain 1t Is
that her team of last year wore a sor-
ny look in their contest against the
blue. In my judgment she will give
a better account Of herself with new
men and new methods than occurred
last season at New Haven. Nassau has
one Of the best football machines in
the country. You turn the crank and
there they are. They live, eat and sleep
football down there in that little Jersey
town. They have. good advisers and
are not afraid to play the game in
fierce way, and plush and silk are NOT
common goods at the home of old
Nassau. i
Sister Harvard, she who wears the
bonnet of Deland and has been styled
the Hasty Pudding club, still continues
to demand a position In the football
record. Every year she gains the best
material in the country, and every year
she just misses winning the flag. Fun
ny, isn't 1t? There can be but one re-
mark to be made on such an occurrence
and that is she has the wrong system.
This year fair Harvard has but two
linemen left, and as it looks must
build her team around her captain,
Dtbblee. She could build 1t around no
better man In the country but wheth-
1r14 III
with good, Manipulating men Is a. ques-
ton that even her graduates doubt The
time has gone by when Harvard men
can read reports about their football
team without discount 1t can be the
finest in the country and not win. Why
it Is, perhaps, they could tell, but they
won't. The fact remains that Harvard
university, getting as she does the
finest material in the country, still
loses, and any sane man must believe
that this Is due to mismana cement and
poor captainship. What this year will
present is merely a matter of specula-
ton. Those who wear red neckties ann
crimson handkerchiefs still hope for
the best.
YALE, THE DEWEY.
Yale, that New Haven Dewey, that
has one old player left and turns out
winning team, that has an eleven
considered the champions Of the coun-
try and then improves it, the football
haven that can take defeat as medi-
cine to induce success, is still in the
arena. Last fall was a great year for
the sons Of Eli in football No old
men, no stars, coach untried, and vet
the eleven was all right How did II
happen, and why is it that the blue
puts on the gridiron every year q team.
while 1t may lose now and then. vet
as a general rule leads the list? There
Is only one answer-system in manage
ment and good coaching There are a.
great many nations in this world known
for certain peculiarities, but it is safe
to say that Yale college could take a
man from any Of these countries and
turn him into a football player. There
is an instinct, pigskin instinct, that
movers around the air Of that Connec-
ticut town which seems to distinguish
the noes and yeas in a good football
player. Beyond that the advisers in
command are men who make few mis-
takes in placing the players In the
right positions and in seeing where
a n fcs crf,D