The Savannah morning news., 1904-11-19
BELIEVED THE CHARLESTON TEAM
WILL BEST THE COLLEGIANs.
GREAT INTEREST IN THE
HARVARD-YALE CONTEST.
FEW PEOPLE BELIEVE STORIES
SENT OUT FROM HARVARD.

SEAAASOh NA1pGChN AasA-A AAe
students Showed Great Enthus-
iasm Over Return of Their strong
Team-Game VIII Close the East
ern Football Season and Decide
the Championship, the Claims OF
Pennsylvania NOtwithstanding.
Local interest centers to-day in the
gridiron battle between Charleston and
the South Carolina College, which
takes place at Charleston this after
noon.
So far Charleston's schedule has
been unusually light. and the real
strength OF the team has not yet been
tested. The result of a contest with
Well coached and perfectly condi-
toned team will be watched with in
terest.
During the last two weeks the
CharleStonians have spared no effort
to get in the pink of condition for to-
days game, as well as to tune up for
the New Years contest. 1t is believed
here that Charleston will win, The
team has been practicing every after
noon for the last ten days at $3.50
o'clock. a most decided advantage
over the light practices at irregular
intervals enjoyed by the team here.
In the East it is up to Harvard. If
the Cambridge College cannot stop
Yale the football championship will
rest with Eli at least until next fall.
At the last moment Harvard, like
others of the colleges, is giving vent
to the usual Shrek about her crippled
team. Harvard writer's tell the wide
world that the scrub is consistently
scoring against the varsity: that the
varsity line goes down before the saw
age attacks of the second eleven like
bowling pins. 1t is claimed that the
Harvard backs tumble the ball at ev-
cry possible opportunity. The entire
work of the team. from all accounts,
consists of off-side plays, fumbling and
foolishness.
In the opinion of most critics this is
the best indication in the world that
Harvard will face Yale with a great
team. The better team one of these
big colleges has the more the coaches
and players try to disguise the fact by
spreading discouraging reports.
If the Harvard varsity was one
quarter as weak and inefficient as they
say it is the second eleven would be
substituted bodily for the big game.
Don't Worry About Harvard.
This preliminary game of bluff that
is practiced annually by college teams
has become a regularly accepted part
of the game. If one of the colleges
should ever chance to send out word
that her athletes were in great form,
fit to wipe up the earth with their riv-
ais, every man who had intended to
place a wager on the team would
copper his bet. 1t would be taken as
sure indication that there was some
thing wrong, and that the coaches
were trying to bolster up the courage
of the men and bluff the other fell
lows.
Did you notice what the Yale Grip
pies did to Princeton? Before the
game reports were sent out that Ows-
ley and Bloomer could not play.
Boomers dislocated shoulder was said
to be in such bad shape that he fell
down in a faint every time any one
touched him. Owsley's knee, accord
ing to the Yale wall had been twisted
in all directions until it squeaked like
the joints of the Tin Woodman. Then
Shevlin-poor Toml-he was allowed by
the doctors to go down to Princeton
under proper care anc look at the
game.
Bloomer shared with Hogan and
Leavenworth and Rockwell the honors
OF the game. He bucked like a steam
engine with the safety valve tied down.
He was as immune from injury as a
bulldog In poultry show.
Poor crippled Owsley made the first
long run of the game. He SKINNED
over the ground with the swiftness of
a hawks shadow.
Shevlin played his position all
through without a elf Ara
III wager. instead of retiring to the
hospital, he ate two big porterhouse
steaks and a mince pie.
Don't worry about Harvard.
Chance For GrIdiron Work.
Some folks complain that football is
getting machine-lilke at the expense Of
individual skill and quick wittedness.
put there have been numerous and
conspicuous cases of individual quick
ness and alertness playing a big part
IN the result Of games. Most con-
spicuous of these were the kicking of
the ball along the ground after a fun
bic by Mettler and Hammond of West
Point In the Princeton game, and by
Ihorp OF Columbia in the Cornell
game. No amount of team drill could
have provided for those plays. They
were the result OF instantaneous think
ing, and show that a football PLAYER
is not altogether an inanimate part of
machine. They also open up new
possibilities in the kicking game: not
the stereotyped punting, but kicking
along the ground. The kick along the
ground by the center is another varia-
tion OF this kick. Grounders in foot
ball may come to be elaborated until
they are as important as punts The
play used by Holy Cross against Har-
ward was another departure from cut
and-dried methods-a man running
with the ball bouncing 1t on the
ground, when about to be tackled, 10
team mate. II is risky, Of course.
and forward pass must be avoided :
but there are times when 1t pays 10
take chances.
The West Point habit OF doing the
unexpected was strilkingly illustrated
in the navy game a year ago. Hackett
caught a punt and started up the
field. He hurdled the first two mid
dies who came for him. The third
man in his way Strengthened up 10
reach him In case he again hurdled
Noting the position OF the navy man,
Hackett suddenly crouched and dived
into his opponents legs. The latter
was taken Off his guard, and Hackett
scrambling to his feet. resumed his on
rush. In the Princeton game that
West Pointers several times almost
got loose in scrimmages by rolling
over the ground like a barrel.
Usual Hard Luck Tale.
The Harvard Varsity eleven. with
four substitutes IN the lineup. gave
the sorriest exhibition Of football this