The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-11-27
COMMENTS ON THE GAME.
Yale Did Not Play the Game She Was
Capable Of

Yale Did Not Play the Game She Was
Capable Of.
In the clubs and hotels last evening
the one engrossing topic of conversation
was the game. In tieing Harvard
week ago Yale virtually scored VIC
tory. and had she won from Princeton
Saturday her position as leader in the
world of college athletics would virtu-
ally have been re-established. Not a
football enthusiast in the country but
feels the keenness Of the defeat which
| thus barred Yale from again regaining
her lost prestige.
The comments Of the coachers on the
game are rather curious. All say the
best team won, and then Immediately
turn around and pick apart the weak
points in its victory. Billy" Bull, the
famous Yale full-back, put 1t az plainly
as ANYBODY when he said that the Poes
were the luckiest family that ever play
ed football. Coach George Foster San
ford said that, although Yale man, he
could not but admit that the best team
won.
The saying that the best team won Is
an old one. and one often used by
coachers after defeat In this case It's
truth to the initiated spectator Of the
contest is not particularly plain. In
the first place, Poe's kick was not one
whit more lucky or more deserving of
praise than Sharpes, yet both were
practically deciding elements In the
score. In the next place, spectators OF
the game are asking, Why did not Nc
Bride punt out of danger there instead
of leaving an opening for Princeton?
This question is one that can only be
answered by the Yale captain himself.
Coachers have attempted to answer IN
his defense, but have succeeded poorly.
The fact remains that Yale's general
ship, which means Of course McBride's
suffers comparison with the
superb headwork shown in the Harvard
game. Yale, in fact, seemed continual
ly waking up to things during the whole
game and it seems as though Prince
toms first touchdown could have been
prevented had different tactics been
employed At the very beginning of
the game the Tigers seemed to pick out
Snitzer as a weak end and directed a
large part of their onslaughts against
him, never failing to make a large gain.
When Reiter made his sensational run
and brought the ball to Yale's one-yard
line Snitzer was not to be seen, being
literally boxed in by Princeton men, and
Mcbride himself was the only player |
who appeared to be alive to the fact |
that the play was going around that |
end
Throughout the entire game Yale fall |
ed to play with the aggressiveness that |
was demanded by the Princeton style
of play, And with many 1T is the opinion |
that had she done so the result would |
have been different in every way.
The Yale players were certainly In |
good physical condition or they could |
not have stood the terrific onslaughts /
Of the Tigers, and amid the pangs Of
defeat she can rejoice in the possession
Of a good trainer. 1t was certainly not |
Jim Robinson's fault that the eleven
lid not play with the same alertness as,
In the Harvard game, and their failing
to do so must be laid to some other |
cause. But more surprising than this
sven is the fumbing of the Yale backs
and the way in which they failed to
play together. In their last practice
such perfection was shown in this that
1othing but admiration for their work
was heard on all sides. In the game,
however, Mcbride, as much as any one
Use, was an offender in this respect and
his many mistakes in this respect Gull
minated in that last fatal tumble which
gave Poe the chance he desired.
Taken all in all. the Yale eleven did
rot play the game 1T was capable Of,
md it is all the more to be lamented in
rev Of their splendid work previous.
t is particularly unfortunate for Nc
Bride, who has shown himself one Of
he most conscientious captains Yale
las ever had.
The eleven broke training Immediate
Y after the game. An election Of cap
ain for next year will be made within
hort time. Gordon Brown Is almost
ertain to be chosen.