New-York tribune., 1901-11-23
THE GRIDIRON,
HARVARD AGAINST YALE TO-DAY-CON
DITfON OF THE TEAMS
BIG FACTOR

Harvard and Yale face each. other for their
eannual game this afternoon on Soldiers Field
at Cambridge, and the thousands who will jour-
ney thither may count upon seeing desperate
contest between these traditional rivals. It is
doubtful if a victory over Princeton means quite
rs much either of these universities as de-
feat inflicted by one Of them upon the other.
rHarvard's team Gid not meet Princeton this
year. and has admittedly been trained exclusive
1y with a view to winning to-day's battle with
Yale. The Crimson players labor under the dis
advantage of not having had really hard game
in three weeks. for the Penn game nothing
but easy practice for the Cambridge men. Yale
on the other hand, goes this final contest
trained to the hour by OF actual fighting
against a determined and capable foe Condi-
ton will play large part in deciding the great
game. 1t is scarcely too much to say that 1t
fNil decide the result.
Harvard's players gave me the impression.
when saw them against Pennsylvania, Of being
an far from the best physical condition. The
men undoubtedly outweigh the Ellis, but, as
5udged by their appearance at Philadelphia,
they not nearly active alert The
big men of the line slow in getting into
plays and looked soft. Perhaps their condition
has been vastly improved since then. Support
of the Crimson may well hope that this is
the for upon it depends largely their chance
for victory
The Harvard coaches have been handicapped
From the start in their efforts to build up first
class team. Several men who were depended
upon did not return to college, and injuries have
made such first class material Devens. DAILY
and Robinson practically useless for varsity
use Eaton. too an experienced tackle, has been
kept out of the game by sickness The unfa-
vorable showing Of the Crimson team was
doubtless due in part to these causes. The
coaches worked hard and faithfully, how
ever, TO make Up for these misfortunes that
team has been developed sufficiently strong to
Justify the hope Of victory, particularly IN view
OF the withdrawal by Yale Of Glass The team
work has improved rapidly. and the big men IN
the line are understood to have been increasing
fheir activity.
There has developed In the last ten days, how
ever a tendency that BODIES i'll for the Harvard
team. and that is tendency toward "babying
the members of the team. If there one
danger that did not threaten the Cambridge
players it the danger Of overtraining. The
forwards. especially. looked two weeks ago as
sf they needed a hard course Of sprouts They
were decidedly the big side and were far
from showing agility in keeping with their
strength. Yet they were worked more and more
easily the critical day approached Even in
the Dartmouth game week ago few OF the
varsity team played more than one-half, and
some Of them did not play at all They will
meet a fighting team to-day. hard as nails
every of them. l. they go down before It
the policy Of McMasters, thus indicated viii
he discredited. If they able to meet II,
the other hand the trainer will be able TO
Silence his critics.
The condition and practice Of the Yale team
ere such as should fill with confidence every
Yale man WHO goes to Cambridge to-day or
who waits for the reports Of the game else
where. The eleven was rounded into good shape
for the Princeton game. came out Of that ordeal
scathless and has undoubtedly improved in
every particular in the last seven days. The
practice Yale Field has been fierce as it
could be made by the aid Of scrub eleven Of
uncommon strength, containing such players
Bloomer, Glass and other good ones. There has
been no "babying'' at New-Haven, and every
man Will 60 into to-day's game fit tc fight for
his life If need arise. II looks though Yale
would present to-day a team 10 per cent
stronger than that which defeated Princeton.
The result of to-day's match. the climax Of
the football season of 1901, is far from being
a foregone conclusion. It looks like Yale but
Harvard men are far from conceding the game.
The Crimson team is no mean antagonist 1t is
an average eleven from every point of view, and
can be relied upon TO hight every incn OF the
ground, and may surprise its most ardent
friends. THE UMPIRE.
ODDS on YALE IN THE STREET.