New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-25
TUE FOOTBALL SEASON.

The beginning Of the football season finds
the conditions favorable 10 IN increase OF pop
ularity for a game which has many excellent
qualities 1t Is noticeable that 10 one of the
colleges which may always reasonably hope TO
turn out IA champion team is expressing strong
expectations of making an extraordinary record
this year Yale retains majority Of the eleven
whose steady progress through minor defeats
a wear ago was crowned by n final brilliant and
surprising victory over Prime eton but there are
several vacancies which it may not be easy 10
all. and thus far considerable solIcltude is felt
at New-Haven lest the right man for centre
should not appear Pennsylvania Is expected
to develop n strong and steady team but 10
claims Of invIncibillty have yet been made IN
behalf OF the Quakers; while at both Harvard
and Princeton some basis for what Is called
hard luck is said TO exist and some excuses FOR
anxiety have been deserted But OF course. II
Is impossible at this date 10 make any calculn-
lions which are not likely to be upset rs the
season advances. and there is no sufficient rea-
son for dependency in any quarter tnpromls-
ing material not infrequently develops In
highly satisfactory manner. as 1t did AT Yale
last year.
There are many causes for satisfaction in the
general situation OF football affairs. Two or
three years ago the game had fallen into n con
dtion OF dlsrepute for which much foolish talk
and some wapton misrepresentation did not
wholly account sharp rivalry had In several
Instances degcneratcd into ill-fccling. profes
sionallsm had done an unhappy work. the sport
monopollzed too much attention, matches on
outside grounds. and especially In New-iork.
had converted wholesome form Of athletic
competition into sensational and somewhat
demoralizing business. kcenness 10 win had led
to tricky and excessively rough play. and II
was evident that the game In order 10 survive
must be reformed. The most intelligent OBJ
servers OF facts aud tendencies were convinced
thai these evils were not lnscparable from the
game and the wise conduct Of the football au-
thorities has confirmed their view. Faults have
been corrected. intercollegiate contests have
been IN the main restricted 10 college grounds
the rules have been modified In the interest OF
fair and pleasurable sport and an amcable ana
generous spirit has been restored Last year
there was little TO complain or and all The IN
dcatioDs are that "A good record VIII DE I'm
proved this season. 1t has been deemed I'm
practicable 10 rule out mass plays ny Iofihai
agreement, and those who have gwen much
Impartial consideration 10 the question do not
believe that the mischief arising from close
formations Is so great as Is often supposed
Nevertheless the conviction that open play IL
more interesting and may be made not less Of
fectve Is spreading. and the change in THIS
respect already begun IS likely to continue.
There are some defects belonging rather 10
the generalship than the rules OF the game
which. in our opinion ought to be corrected
and concerning which we hope that experience
viii teach college football managers wisdom.
The Yale Princeton game OF last November FUR
nished for example. n complete demonstration
OF the fact that crlpples have no proper place
on football team. Yale won that famous vie
tory chiefly because the eleven went into the
game in perfect physical condition and with
corresponding ardor. The Princeton eleven
lost largely because II had spent lis force. AMI
men who were inferior NJ the last TO their sub
stitutes refused to be replaced. Ii was strik-
ing lesson, produced deep Impression mt the
time and ought not 10 be forgotten. The oh
stnate pluck OF disabled players has been dis
tressing TO spectators and costly TO many n
college team in years gone by. and 1t IL to be
hoped that such exhibitions OF suffering ana
inconvenience will never be repeated.