The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-24
SPORTING NEWS.
Simple Signals in Football Are
Best By Far.
Intricate Systems Likely TO Be-
fiddle the Players.
SPEED is NECESSARY.
Yost's Team Exemplifies This
Combination.
Cause of Michigan's Success on
the GridirOn.

Chicago, Oct. PA special writer in
the News says:
with equal teams would pick Wis
consin TO win from Michigan, because
the Badgers have fewer signals and
their plays are not so complicated, said
a football enthusiast today, discussing
the approaching contest between those
two teams. Under present conditions
however, Yost's men will win just as
sure as the teams line up on the field.
Simple signals for all plays. no matter
how complicated they may be, comDln-
ed with speed in carrying them into eX-
ecutiOn, are necessary for the greatest
success of an eleven when battling with
competitor of nearly equal strength
Coach Yost has just given his pupils
their permanent set of signals, which
will be used hereafter throughout the
season. In this list are 80 different plays.
including six different kinds of defense
for special plays that may be directed
against the Wolverine line. Such
mass of signals is almost impossible to
commit to memory without great labor
on the part OF the player, and cannot
be run through without a hitch without
long and constant practice. Yost is con-
stantly thinking. working over the
game however, and he keeps his pupils
in the same state of active thought over
the way to work out the plays. His own
spirit of urtiring energy is impaired to
the men, who respond with their great
est exertiO1s for their favorite coach.
Speed. an element so essential to the
success of every team, is the foundation
of the system of the wearers OF the
maize and blue. for YOSt understands
thoroughly that with so great number
of signals the system must be- as sim
pie as possible or the men could never
learn it well enough to run through the
formations smoothly. Consequently, to
keep the opposing teams from getting
on to the signals, they must be started
with great speed and carried into exc
cution before the enemy has chance,
should they haDpen to get next to
signal, to adopt any special defensive
fOrma ton that might stop the ground
gaining of the wolverines. 1t is simple
ity of the signals and the speed with
which the formations are executed that
makes Michigan the formidable team it
is and permits its heavy scoring.
Next to speed Yost believes in making
use of the members of his team in every
way possible for tho purpose of ground
gaining, and all his plays are formed with
the purpose of getting every man into
them with some effect He piles eight or
nine of his warriors against given point
of the defense and sends the remaining
two or three behind the opposing line to
help pull through the man with the ball
or destroy. if possible, some of the de-
<ense.
1t is the same thing in making. up his
defense. Yost openly states that he has
developed six kinds of defense for the
various attacks that may be directed at
his line. Capt. Weeks, who plays seccn-
dairy defense and full back, gives the sig
rails for the changes in the defensive for
nation of the Ann Arbor team, shifting
from one side of the line to the other, ac-
cording as he believes the attack of the
opponent will shift. The opposite end Of
the line is not drawn in close enough, nor
are enough men taken away from it 10
weaken it, so if fake is ATTEMPTED thert
are the end, defensive half and probably
the tackle to break up the interference for
the fake play and possibly to nip the man
with the ball. At any rate the little
boss is on hand to grapple with the mar
carrying the leather and down him before
a gain has been made
| The game Yosts men have yet to play
before they meet the Badgers is not
hard one. They ought to find the pupils
from the Ohio state university easy
/ Kings team will have a good practice
game against Kansas university and
should be in good condition to give the
Wolverines a taste of hard fighting sucf
| as they have not been used to since they
have been under Yost's care.