New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-14
YALE-PRINCET0N TO-DAY.
CLOSE GAME EXPECTED.
Both Teams Weak at Ccntre-De
Witt Eepected to Score.

decided its championship. Twenty-seven thou
sand spectators viii see the game and Il there
were more seats they would he filed. So strong
hold has the game taken on the affections Of
sic public that the matches between the big
universities are always certain to be attended by
tens Of thousands. while hundreds Of thousands
elsewhere. many OF whom never saw Cambridge
or New-HaVen or Princeton eagerly watch the
hilieiiu boards But there is good reason for say
i7c that to-day's match excites more interest
ro only among the football laity hut among the
rartisauS 81 the sport. than any contest between
Two eieN ems IN many years Various causes con-
tribute 10 this result. The first is that the
ieanls seem to he evenly matched indeed weak
ness in one department being offset by corre-
sronding strength in another. Both elevens are
Ynauifestly strong ones Princeton especially is
believed 10 have developed the most efficient
combination that has worn the Orange and
Black for years. The Tigers have allowed no
opponent to cross their goal line in the whole
season. and are Justly proud OF the feat while
Yale has met no opposition capable of forcing
her 10 extend herself That she will have 70 DO
her best to-day is certain. VIII that best be
enough win? That is what tens Of thou
SANDS are asking themselves this morning.
Careful analysis Of the strength and weakness
a each eleven leads inevits bly, TO the conclusion
that the result OF the match was never more IN
certain A goal from the field such as De Witt
is capable u achieving. bad pass. muffed
punt or q mistaken signsl-any one of these pos
sibilities may mean the game and the cham
pionship. What complexities the task OF pick
ing the winner is the fact that a number Of
PLAYS entirely new 10 the game practically
certain TO he brought out. Both the Yale and
Princeton coaches have been working hard on
them for weeks. and have been drilling them
.to their charges IN secret practice for the last
month.
have 81 on authority Of one OF the Yale
coaches that the New-Haven eleven has num-
her 81 new combinations up its sleeve. One OF
them viii undoubtedly be the rapid substitution
OF line players for backs, and vice versa This
trick was successfully tried by the Carlisle IN
dams against Harvard. and it is idle TO suppose
that either Yale or Princeton has overlooked It
IN fact both teams must to-day play new
style OF football. made necessary by the change
n the rules. Yale especially must show a great
contrast TO her former style OF play. For sew
eral years she has been the highest exponent OF
the heavy. crashing, pile driving style OF game
which last year she brought 10 fits greatest per
fecr,on. All that she must abandon. She viii
almost certainly show fast back field and an
end running game. What heavy line bucking
she does she will Co. for the most part, with her
forwards Hogan Kinney and Boomer are great
ground gamers at this style OF play, though
Bloorner has such q bad shoulder that be must
he handled tenderly. II is even possible that
Bloomer will not be IN shape 70 play, though
the coaches insist that he will
Strangely enough the weakest point on each
team, snnesrs to be al and around centre. For
Yale. Roraback has never been Satisfactory he
Is sluggish both on offence and defence. and I'M
certain in his passing. Yale is right IN expect
ing this position TO be consistently assaulted
F2atchelder and Boomer. provided Bloou1er Is
himself viii bolster him up admirably. how
ever ard at the last moment Morton may be
substituted in HIS place There is no question
that Kinney and Hogan VIII outplay Reed and
Cooney. though Reed is reliable veteran and
Cooney has been coming Up rapidly. It would
not he surprising TO see Yale direct most OF her
line attacks through the tackles However, she
has q little the better Of the argument on paper
81 centre and guard. for Princeton. too, has had
her troubles here De Witt has been frantically
trying 10 brace UP the middle OF his line He
himself may he counted on TO be tower OF
strength but the weakness OF his immediate
colleagues is shown by the fact that no one
save the coaches knows who viii play the other
guard and centre. II lies between Barney.
Bradley Short and Dillon, none OF whom are all
thar could he desired.
one Of the almost certain results OF the new
rules will be the increased importance Of the
end positions. An end capable of promptly
confusing interference that tries 10 circle him
and NJ protecting the interference OF his own
hacks from injury is indispensable. Here both
Yale and Princeton are exceedingly strong.
Davis ana Henry are veterans Of many bruising
contests on the other hand. in Rafferty, and
Sheylin Yale has a pair quite equal IL not
superior. 70 the Tigers. against whom they viii
60 Il is sure that the four best ends in the
country viii face each other this afternoon on
Yale Field. The struggle between them alone
win he cutie worth the journey 20 New-Haven-
All four know the game from the ground up.
follow the ball as a hound follows a fox. get
Up under punts with the speed Of the wind and
a-e fierce and unerring at tackling A runner
There is little to choose between them.
But. 50 far as now appears, with the ends
50 evenly balanced. to-d3y's match will be won
hv tho best back field. Superiority at line buck
ing and power I'm the line. though important
Wiz nor count more than - per cent 50 much
- u 1892 because. owing 20 the rule which
reduces tho weight % attacks on the line. the
defensive team can always oppose superior
weight 10 such attacks. Consequently. the team
thai combines the shrewdest generalship and
tho fastest. best organized haclIfield ought to
b. returned champion OF 1893 tonight
Coming 10 the vital position Of quarterback.
s-ap Judgment would hold Yale TO be stronger
En- that position Certainly. the Rockwell Of
1872 played football that few quarterbacks ever
sxceued. He seems. however. not TO be quite
~ ~ his old form He does not run punts back
81 wei and has not been catching well. for
this reason he has been shifted from the last
line ~ defence But the red headed youth Is as
greet team general as ever. He runs his plays
~ uncrringIy al lightning speed, and seems TO