New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-27
FOOTBALL.
THE BACK FIELD UNSETTLED
HARVARD's ANXIETY OVER COMING
THE LINE IN GOOD SHADE

THE LINE IN GOOD SHAPE
Cambridge Mass oct. 2s (speciaD -whs, -.
Lewis instructed the Harvard second eleven -
TO play guards back" on Monday and enc,,.. 80"
them by giving them the names Of The 90,
Quaker guards ard using such expression ., .r
#. Hare" Good work. McCracken"' the re,,.,
ton Of Harvard's hard games 70 come s',aa"Ns
became vivid IN ten days Harvard ana -
vania will play their championship game ana
Saturday next far arder although less lrs,o,.-.
game will be played between Harvard Ana -.
Indians. The frank statement Is that H,rvsrs
fears the Indians. but only as one strong s,s. =,
ways fears an equally strong opponent Tho e.,
confidence that the Cambridge men Will VII
though by a small margin Their Inc can 80
the indiana offence. and their backs are cal,,is,.s
to make end runs which viii score On their or,o
nents.
The practice Of the last few days has shown tia,
the Harvard back field is not developing 81 a..
a. the Inc and for the obvious reason ttat ~.
three backs have not yet been selected. a can.
stantiy changing lot Of backs means lack OF ORE.
cision IN the Interference, lack % unity ana .
team work The coaches arc still in doubt vyte,b.
Kendall is better than Warren. or n they are m,
IN doubt. making mistake by not putting n.
best man IN the practices. In order 70 swing him
In with the others. Warren IL a. good a groura
gamer as Kendall. and moreover. has the lastln,,
~ interference. which Kendall entirely lacks Ra
gardlng the candidates for the other haifback roe
ton Il is Sun harder 70 express preferences sawln
Gerasch and Parker are Individually fine pavsr,
but the trouble is that each possesses good point,
the others lack Sawln has been kicking well untn
the last few days Ills chances Tor making TIA
team are slight Il his kicking dogencrates Taa
choice between Parker and Gierasch Is az enlsma
bur the former should have the advantage tarousa
experience. Reid is Just beginning % play reg..
larry. and his absence has also unset led The sts,s
OF affairs back OF the line. II now seems that IA
also has competitor IN Ellis. who his lately bear
p.unsng the line with terrific force Ellis can keep
his feet after clearing the line. but Reid cannot
yet the question Ia whether he could do f against
strong team At any rate. Reid must pay last
football 70 regain his old position from Els ana
he has. OF course. the benefit ~ experience Ellis
has overcome his early fault Of fumb.ng. For
these various reasons the Harvard back nfll Is u
an unsettled state which IS dangerous a. this tina
Of the one thing is certain. that the quality
Of the material is 50 excellent that, 10 matter WHO
require long time % weld them into unit
The line. on the other hand Is 81 q frst class
state OF development and works as unit Donald
and Burnett quickly accorded themselves WIKI The
old system which was familiar % them and ara
pla wing steady and progressive football Nth thA
exception OF right tackle, the line Is CHOSEN and
Lawrence and Merriman trying for right tackle
Eaton is hardly up 70 last years form, and has "a
Lawrence. on the contrary has steadily improved
this season, UNTIL now he undoubtedly ranks above
Eaton Little opportunity has been given 70 iuies
Of Merriman's powers. but with careful coaching
he should be q coming man.
The announcement OF secret practice on Tuesday
came as q surprise. for never before has Il been
deemed necessary In preparation for the Indians
a noticeable feature Of this years practices la
been an unusual absence Of coaches. compared WITH
the ten fifteen who were out daily last year
No more than five graduates have been out tsgy
this fall. and g. g. Waters has hardly beer out A.
all. His presence IS especially needed az present
70 put more life into the men and 20 strengthen
the tackles.