The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-29

this careful plan by drawing back tackle
and sending heavy back into the line.
Thus the tackle, as used by Harvard:
Yale and Princeton, continued to be one or
the best ground gamers even in the field or
activity presumably closed to him by the
rules. The same statement is also true OF
the guard, who was drawn back by Penn
sylvania in the same manner. careful
consideration of these technical points
would seem to prove the new rules some
thing of a failure and that the proper legis-
lation is not yet.
Perhaps from the standpoint of straight
football the great disappointment of the
season was the deterioration of the defen-
sive systems of the big teams, especially in
the cases of Harvard Pennsylvania and
Cornell. From a high standard these teams
slowly but surely descended to a very low
one. In another department of defense, low
tackling and the ability to provide sure
second line to plug up openings, they were
lamentably weak right down to the end of
the best defense, but in both cases 1t has
been marred by miserable fumbling by the
backs, especially on caught punts In the
were largely retrieved as a result of close
following of the ball, and, all things consid-
cred, Princeton must be awarded the palm
for defensive work.
HIGH IN OFFENSE.
In offense nearly all the Eastern elevens
ranked high, the backs in most cases being
sure on their feet and very fast. Seldom
have Eastern teams proved so clever In the
kicking department of the game, De Witt
of Princeton, Mitchell and Bowman of
Yale, Reynolds of Pennsylvania, Bishop of
Columbia and Lemoyne of Harvard. lead
ing the procession. In the West, Eckersall,
of Chicago, was the star kicker
In the work of the big Eastern elevens,
considered as whole, there were many
in the science of the game by Columbia,
the clever use of the light, fast Carlisle In
dian team made by Glenn Warner. and the
steady advance, eliminating in the victory
over Harvard, made by Dartmouth.
Dartmouth. one of the seasons surprises,
profited by the acquisition of schoolboy
sought in vain. With good record back Of
the team, the victory over Harvard firmly
established Dartmouth as one Of the teams
of the year.
Harvard has gone through one of the
most disastrous seasons in her history, and
the cause is not far to seek. The eleven, full
of potential power and not lacking in stars,
at no time a unit: disaffection in the
ranks, coupled with their captains desire
for the center of the stage and difficulties
between Mr.. Cranston. the head coach and
able obstacle.
Yale began the season with many old
stars. ably handled by the customary host
looked to be unbeatable, but it tackled
Princeton and the primary cause of Yale's
defeat was fumbling.
Princeton record is spienuiu one. Leu
by their captain. De Witt, the team i'm
proved steadily up to the final game, and
the last few moments of play against Yale
found the Tigers stronger and fresher and
more determined than at the start.
Pennsylvania started the season with fine
material, but low tacklng was to them an
unknown quantity, their offense was anti
quated and their defense worse.
The leading teams in the West are not as
strong as last year. Michigans prestige was
somewhat dimmed by the tie game with
Minnesota. Chicago was beaten by Michi-
gan and Wisconsin lost to Minnesota. The
offensive work of the Westerners was ex-
tremely pretty, but it had fundamental
faults that smack of the football of a few
years ago. While very fast, the interference
was rather close and the backs ran fatally
high. The West neglected defensive playing
in order to build up brilliant attack. The
progress of the West in football cannot be
accurately determined until representative
elevens of the two sections meet on the grid
iron