The Washington times., 1904-09-18
Brilliant Football
Predicted by Experts
Straight Game Requires Speed and Attention
to Detail-HarVard and Princeton Bene-
fited-YaIe Handicapped.

With rare exceptions. and these for
the most part the disgruntled ones
whose advice has not been acted upon
by the rules committee. expert follow
ers Of American football predict a bril-
liant season on the gridiron. or. more
properly speaking. checkerboard, Of 1904.
These predictions are not the offspring
Of ebullient enthusiasm. but the result
Of careful study Of the new playing
regulations. as well as Of the systems IN
vogue at the big universities East and
West.
While it is possible that the extra time
allowed in which TO coach men I'm the
play Of individual positions may rob the
game Of spectacular runs made on
picked up fumbles, of sensational plays
resulting from blocked kicks and the
like. il is deemed more than proba BILE
that the spOrt-lOving public Will see
more finished teams-elevens whose ev-
cry potentiality has been developed and
whose finished work reduces accidental
victory in the big games 70 a minimum
Certain il is that the big college coach
es this year will work harder and iOnS-
er to perfect the niCeties Of individual
play. so painfully neglected Of late years
In the attempt to turn out an offensive
engine not to be stopped by mere flesh
perativc, and it is this, rather than the
attempt to open out the play for the
benefit of the uninitiated spectator. that
cheers the heart Of the oTd-timer. High
tackling, slovenly handling Of kicks,
crude blocking In the line-faults that
arose from the necessity OF teaching the
men fearfully and wonderfully cOmpli-
Gated plays and from unhealthy atten-
tion to the tackle back''-are doomed,
according 10 the best authorities.
The attitude OF nearly every prominent
coach may be summed up in the words
of one among their number. whose name
for obvious reasons, cannot be append
ed to his opinion.
Sure Handed Team.
Il shall try TO turn out" said he, "a
team better grounded in the rudiments
of the game than any OF it's opponents
1t Will be a 'sure-handed' team. II I
may coin the phrase. IT will be, above
all. alert, resourceful, and every man on
il will follow the ball like a beagle IL
will know its football primer forward.
backward and from the middle TO both
ends. The Offense Will be exceedingly
simple, but so near mechanical perfcc-
ton that il Will be second nature 10
the men The defense will be vicious
and quite as simple. Tricks do not win
big games. II / have time 10 use any
shall do 50, but they will be few. I
am not afraid Of any that may be
sprung on finished, straight football
team.
This does not mean that there will not
be full play for the inventively inclined
notably Glenn s. Warner. But II does
mean that what may be termed the life
principles of football VIII be nourished
as they were In the days when the bet
| ter team almost invariably won.
Briefly, before taking UP the posi-
! bilites Of the game, IL should be stated
that last years rule OF seven men in
line, operating between the 25-yard
lines. has been extended to cover the
entire field. Provision has been made,
however. TO permit OF a modified form
OF tackle back formation in which
the extra man must take UP his position
outside the extreme end OF the rush
line. In this respect the attack when
within what is known as striking dis
lance" is only slightly modified
Harvard and Princeton.
Considering the offense. Il would seem
that Princeton and Harvard should de-
rive the greatest benefit from the new
rules. Princeton's wide, swinging at
tack, I'm which the tackle frequently fig
ures, joining il from his position in the
line, would seem TO require no mcdifca-
ton. Throughout the era OF change IN
formations and trick plays the Tigers