Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-09-25
{Copyright, 1881

OF football teams are beginning to
round up their men and casting about
to find out what material is left from
last season to start in with as a nu-
cleus for this years eleven. Most of
. the, 1ig .Gvversities and colleges
are in the habit of indulgiIg in a lit
| tie preliminary practice before the
fall term begins. In fact, it has been
| the practice in former years at some
institutions to send the men during
| the season to the seashore or the
| mountains. This was an expense that
could only be, incurred by the more
wealthy teams and by universal
| agreement has been abandoned. This
! decision was reached after a confer
ence last winter at Brown university
which was attended by all the eastern
colleges except Yale.
| How many-of the thousands who an
| nually witness the games between the
Dig teams OF the country think Of the
| hard work that has been undergone
| by the players before they were fitted
| to take part In championship con-
test? Most people know that they
have to train, but few are aware that
the process of getting into condition
which every candidate must go
| through is precisely the same as that
undergone by a pugilist preparing for
a prizefight, except that the boxer
does not have to endure the harden
ing process" with which every foot
ball player ends up his course of train
ing.
yyicit to h
the present time would disclose from
dozen to so men engaged in what is
known as the preliminary work-that
is, kicking the pigskin in all sorts of
ways and falling on the ball when in
motion on the ground. This business
and work by themselves. AS a gener-
Every one who has seen a game knows
what a difficult matter it is to fall ac-
curately on the hard earth and clutch
the egg shaped object in its erratic
movements, especially when the
ground is at all muddy and the ball
consequently slippery.
The backs practice punting, drop
and place kicking and catching the
ball, while the forwards get in line
is often kept up for several weeks
al rule, the old men from last years
team will be collected, and the fresh
men with the best regulations from
the preparatory schools or others who
show special aptitude to fill in the va
cancies make up the first team,
which is destined, after many shiftings
and changes, so much so that some
times not a member of the original
lot remains, to develop into the varsity
eleven.
Another batch is chosen from among
the remaining candidates to act as the
scrub team, which is used during
the whole season. as a trial horse for
the varsity. AS men prove themselves
too valuable for the scrub they are
taken on the varsity side in place of
others dropped because of inefficiency
Or accidents.
After awhile system CT signals is
evolved by means of which the quar-
ter back can tell the eleven what the
next play is to be during the progress
of a game without letting their oppo-
nents know their projected move be-
forehand. These signals are assidu-
ously practiced by the players until
they have the various combinations of
the often complex matter down to per-
lection.
When the season has got under way,
training table is established Great
is the Joy Of a Woodworking and appre-
heEsive aspirant for the right to wear
the coveted initial ON his sweater when
he is told by the captain that he has
been transferred to that table, for then
he knows one Of the greatest obstacles
in his upward path has been surmount-
ed. All that remains for him Is to
work hard at his position and perfect
himself so that other envious candi-
dates may not overhaul him in the
struggle and relegate him 10 compare
tive Cbscurity once more.
When a man shows that he Is spec
tally fitted for a certain position, he is
given coaching to perfect his play by
an expert at that place, one maybe who
has distinguished himself in univers-
ity annals as the best man Of his year
at that particular position on the
eleven.
AS the season advances graduates
who have been stars at foot ball in for
mer years are seen acting as coaches
in aid of the captain and his staff.
Sometimes they do it out of pure love
At other times a captain who finds
that his full back is not developing as
fast as he would wish, may send an
urgent letter asking former famous
player in that position to come and i'm
part some of his knowledge and skill
to his successor.
1t is generally found at the end of
the season that each team has paid
especial attention to perfecting itself
in some particular play Harvard, for
instance, has for many years been verv
strong in defensive work. She has to
a certain extent neglected the offensive
part of the game, and it is her weak
ness in that position of the tactics of
foot ball that has been in some degree
responsible for her failure to win many
contests in recent years
Again, last season Cornell and the
Carlisle Indians, realizing that they
We're lighter than many Of the big,
heefy elevens they would find them
selves encountering during the season,