New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-15
HARVARD STILL CONFIDENT.
BELIEF THAT THE POOR PLAYING IN THE
DARTMOUTH GAME WAS NO CRI-
TERION OF THE GRIM
SONS ABILITY.


Cambridge. Mass. Nov. Il Special. The game
with Dartmouth last Saturday. in which Harvard
scored only eleven points. is not regarded by those
Harvard men who in the position to know as
Indicative OF the real strength Of the Crimson
team or "a significant In considering the pros
poets against Yale next Saturday. except that 1t
has changed the betting The team played real
football in the first two minutes against Dart
mouth and then made no more efforts to score
beyond the time that Sawin shook himself loose
for touchdown from the thirty five yard line. In
the second half Harvard kicked at every oppor-
tunity TO save the backs from chances Of injury In
running the ball And moreover, the team had
been Instructed to play with care. 10 save itself;
and the wisdom Of this slippery, dangerous
field is seen when IL Is noted that there was not a
single injury Certain critics saw these deficiencies
in the Dartmouth game. and Immediately stated
that the Harvard team was overturned. that the
kicking and headwork were poor. and that the
fumbling was liable 10 lose the big game.
What kind Of team will Harvard have against
Yale on Saturday, This question be
answered with a limited degree of accuracy, with
out comparing the eleven with Yale's making
predictions such a great uncertainty as the re-
a football game. The only real. valid com
plant OF the Harvard football pessimist is FUN
bling Il Is true that an abominably muddy field
can account for the majority OF the twenty-six
fumbles last Saturday. six Of which resulted in the
loss of the ball to Dartmouth. But II cannot ac-
count for all especially since there little OF no
fumlllng AZ all in the wet game at NewHaven last
fall The Harvard players fumbled miserably all
last week IN the signal practice, in the practice
games and in catching kicks But this fault. 1t Is
beeved will be reduced to minimum this week
1t is significant that when the team played hard
IN the Dartmouth game and when it struck hard
propositions In The secret practice games there
was absolutely no fumblng. DAILY has been FUN
bling kicks but there is little doubt that he Will be
accurate next SATURDAY. The Harvard team this
year seems 70 be constituted like the man OF great
ability who tackles unimportant tasks with mar
ference but who is invincible when tnere Is d
great and almost impossible task 10 DO Inc eieNen
has grit and determination and ability, ana tnese
features will be called into play against 1aie.
And IL will be possible TO use them, because lhe
Harvard team will go the field in superb phys
ical condition No will be allowed 70 play
who is injured. . -. - -
Harvard team is overturned is absolutely wrong,
IN spite OF appearances The players are nara anu
strong winded. and well conditioned 10 the
point Of actual freshness Poor heauwork IN the
back field will hardly exist next SATURDAY ana eN-
ised last Saturday only because Fincke was IN tne
lineup He could not liven up the team. ana coulu
moi work with the other backs as Daily docs.
Days only danger is that ne may want to eaten hI
All Inc hunts in the back field or 10 carry the pan
himself al critical times Hallowelis kicking was
on the whole satisfactory, but he cannot equa!
Mcbride and Harvard men must accept TINS ue-
fciencv extraordinarily next Saturday:
Harvard will have strong a defence against
Yale as against Pennsylvania, although Inodlned 10
suit Yale's attack. Lawrence and Donald are as