The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-16
FOOTBALL.
Princeton's Back Field Is still Weak, but
tho Line Is Fine One.

BACK flelu Is sui weak, but
tho Line Is IA Fine One.
| PRINCETON, Oct. 15.-In spite Of tho strsnu.
Gus efforts OF Princeton 8 coachers and the fact
| that the season ia already well under way. the
tigers still fail to show any signs Of rounding
into form and tho work on Osborne Field for
the past few days has been OF a dishearten-
Ing kind. Besides the slump in the team
play. the coachers have had an additional dis
couragement to face in the action OF the faculty
debarrinR all players who arc conditioned In
any subject from INDUCING in football. either
in match or practice games. until all deicien-
cles are removed. Fully one half oft prom
inent football men are under tho bnn OF the
faculty, and since no opportunity for them TO
redeem themselves will be allowed until the
regular conditional examinations on Nov l,
PrIncetons outlook for the minor matches is
not especially bright.
The completion OF this weeks work saw every
player OF any ability. whatsoever. thoroughly
tried out, and the field cleared OF all the worth
less material II the form shown by the
eleven in the practice and match games
last week may be taken as a criterion,
1t Is certain that PrincetonS all but fatal
weakness last year. an inefficient back
field. il again in evidence this season.
The backs without exception are slow and In
the game with Lafayette last Wednesday the
closed before the backs reached tho spot with
the ball. To overcome this weakness tho
ooachers have spent m unusual amount OF
time in drilling the men In starting.
The interference was deplorably slow In
forming. and. whenever tho tigers were cred
tied with any material gain on end runs 1t
Invariably came rs the result OF brilliant indl-
vidual play. When constant fumb bling was
added to the other mspays it was not sur
prisng that the coachers adopted drastic
measures. and. in spite Of the heat. sent tho
men through the hardest practice OF the year
Two sets OF backs were employed in the daily
line ups.
That the coachers have taken tho half back
problem seriously was shown BY the way they
they pressed every man who showed any OF the
requisite qualitie into service. Even the ends,
trial behind the line. Kelly made favorable
impression upon the coachers. and will I'M
donbtedlY receive their attention next week
The improvement in PrincstOn's limo pre-
seEts marked contrast to the discouraRing
showing OF the back field Although they have
been Handicapped by the loss OF the tackles
Hillehrand and Pell. on account OF injures
they have been forging ahead in their work
and Mt present give indications OF being one OF
Osborne Field. Mills. substitute guard on last
years. team; who was replaced by the fresh
man. Dana. last week. started in with rush
on Monday that swept tho younRster Oft
his feet But Dana has not thrown up the
sponge. and. since he is inferior to the sopho-
more In point OF experience only. he Is sure to
be heard from later
beginning, with the practice Monday the
coachers Will instruct the m en- in the methods
used to break up the guards back" formation
IN preparation for the game with the Pennsyl-
vania State College team