Omaha daily bee., 1899-09-24

tnese VIII ne practice until a degree OF per-
lection is attained,
The 1899 squad representing the University
OF Pennsylvania began its fall practice rather
earlier than any of the other big teams and
Coach Woodruff is putting his men through
a course Of systematic preparation. The
year opens with many of the old varsity"
players on the team and only about three
recruits will have to be added. The devel-
opment of a back field is the most important
problem which confronts the coaches for
Pennsy, and the fact that 1t remained so
long unsolved last season is asserted to
have been the fatal factor in the undoing
of the team. AS a matter of fact, the Penn
sylvanians, as well as all other foot ball
men, understand that the three men down
through the center of a team-center, quar-
ter and fullback-are the very nucleus and
stem upon which to build a good team. If
these three men are we'll settled in their
positions and trained and working together
the handspring of a foot ball mechanism is
in good order, and the rest Of the line and
the halfbacks can be more easily fitted in
their respective positions, without three
good men in these central positions, the
whole structure is likely to fall to pieces
with it's heavy limbs and hollow trunk. They
are the very stem of the foot ball tree.
Heavy losses hang over their slightest error
IN passing, catching and kicking.
There Is a decided degree OF activity
among the teams of the western colleges
and universities. Wisconsin starts off with
a decided advantage In her organization,
with but few vacancies to fill and plenty OF
material from which to make selections.
Fullback o'Dea, who has achieved a re-
markable record because of his kicking, is
said to be practicing on a new kick which
is described as follows:
The new kick is said to be a wonderful
demonstration of his ability to control the
pigskin. The ball, on leaving the kicker's
foot, receives a twist that produces an effect
similar to that caused by the twist which
a pitcher gives to a baseball in throwing
a drop curve-that is, after travelling a GER
tain distance in its flight, it abruptly loses
its forward motion and falls in an almost
straight line. When kicking against the
slightest wind, the ball, in falling to the
ground, comes back some distance toward
the kicker.
TN immense value OF this new method of
punting lis clearly evident. The cratic me.
tion Of the ball makes it almost impossible
for the opposing team accurately to Judge
where 1t will strike the ground, thus in
creasing the chances of a tumble. Old Wis
consln players who have been catchine
oDea's punts in practice for the last year
or two say that the new kick is most diff
cult to handle"
We have hardly yet got down to good,
nard systematic work." said Coach Whipple
OF the Omaha High School foot ball squad,
but before the end OF this week think
hnf fhn nreN avail - l.
Ing year will be agreed upon and then we
Will enter upon a course of systematic prac-
tlce, deciding upon our signals and special
plays. The team this year will be a strong
one. We have an abundance of good ma
ter1al TO select from. This much has been
proven beyond doubt in the hour practices
which we have been engaging in every aft
ernoon since school began.
There Is some doubt as to the existence
OF the scholastic league, composed of the
high schools of Omaha, Lincoln, Council
Bluffs and Red Oak, Ia, this year. There
seems to be a slight misunderstanding re-
garding a clause in the bylaws and until
this is settled we have not arranged a
schedule of games for the coming season.
However, we are assured of having an
abundance of opportunity to show our mettle
as a number of applications have been re-
ceived from outside teams for games. As
soon as the matter Of the league is decided
we will prepare a program for the seasons
games"
Yesterday a team composed OF some Of the
old players, filled out by the more promis-
ing candidates for admission to this years
team, went out to Hastings for a game with
Hastings college. The lineup was as fol-
lows: Estabrook, right end; WEIGH, right
tackle; ~Fradenburg, right guard; Whipple,
center. ROhnrts leff p1erd. En plahard LOTT
tackle; Gay, left end; Prichard, quarterback;
Tracy, left half; Butler, right half; Thomas.
full back; Randall, Clark and Seegrist, sub
stitutes.
Arrangements have already been completed
for a game at Tabor with Tabor college, Oc-
tober 2S, and with the Red Oak High school
at Red Oak on Thanksgiving.
While not yet fully organized, the foot ball
team of the Young Mems Christian ~associa-
tion this year promises to outshine all of its
predecessors. A number of the prospective
for admission to the team are put
ting in some diligent practice, and by the
latter part of the week the organization will
probably be effected and the captain Sc
lected. Among the men who seek a place on
or back OF the line are several who have
been members Of frst-class teams, and there
40 III III vi 9sdlidDlo lHdlclld
from which to select the eleven who are ex-
pected to carry the Young Mems Christian
association colors to many victories this fall.
Already several teams are writing for en-
gagements and the season will undoubtedly
be an interesting one. Manager Shallcross
OF the Bellevue college team has written de-
string to make arrangements for an early
game. George T. Jordan, manager Of the
University of South Dakota team, also writes
for "a game. Mr.. Jordan states: I'VE will
come to Omaha and play two games. one
with the Young Mems Christian association
and the other with any other team, for our
expenses and $780," He states that dates are
open after November 15. Mr.. Mayne, who
has been looking after the business affairs
OF the association team during the absence
of Physical Director Barnes, says that the
demands of the South Dakota team are a
trife excessive and he does not believe that
a game will be arranged, especially since
there are a number of other teams within
closer range of Omaha who are anxious to
fill all dates that remain vacant after the
usual games are arranged with the Omaha