New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-11
HINTS FROM BROWN.
Taco of Her Captains Gire Their
Vie7cS of the Game.

Archie" Webb. captain Of the Brown University
football team Of 1863. says: II appreciate the
act that the game is not interesting from the
oint Of view Of the spectator as it might be, for
his reason: Coaches of late have almost entirely
devoted their tine TO mass plays plays through
falkie, guard or centre and have made very little
IF end running. Thus q spectator who does not
keep closely up with the play IS puzzled at what
being done. He cannot easily distinguish the
-uccessve stages OF complicated mass play as he
Gould II end running were resorted to more. He
.erlaps sees the ball snapped back but the play is
close that he cannot often tell who carries the
All, OF where the play is directed. He only the
inca in action and the clash Of offence and defence
The average man who watches football game
has slight knowledge OF the tactics Of the game.
He cannot appreciate in very great degree the
perfect working OF mass play. He wishes 10 see
"a dart from the scrimmsge. the ball tucked
nicely under his arm. and on each play make many
Zines his distance Coaches IN the last few years,
however. have been content with the backs making
swo three yards each play-just steady, hard
football with nothing sensational. AS far as
can see, popularity In the game would be increased
4 the play were open-if teams used end runs more
seem to me tat there are any ny Fo6tbai should be
PLAYED by men Of muscle and Drawn, and never by
less OF their physical condition It is very seldom
that players college teams are dangerously
hurt Most Of the so-caed football fatalities oc
cur in preparatory schools. where proper care is
Al college I DO not know Of single man who has
been hurt seriously that a slight muscle
oruise a strained knee tendon. OF course, such
strains ard bruises are dlsagreeable. but as foI
danger I don't believe there is any, II, as 7 said
before. the in condition"
Schwinn. Browns captain Of this year, in speak
ing Of changes IN the which would increase II:
popularity. suggests the requiring of greater dis
+ance in four downs which would cause the de-
reloprent OF good kickers. Il think says he
that the popularity Of football might possibly be
Increased II q open game were played. But
me present style Of play does not admit Of enc
runs. The safest wav 10 gain the distance Is
through the line-mass plays on some spot in the
opponents Nne, near the centre. or through tbs
sackle. II z greater distance made the re-
Quirement kicking game would be developed, and
through this style e pIav the game might appea
those who cannot understand mass plays. 1t is
easily that in the near future football viii
become q game Of kicking the offence, and team:
the defence will depend on their ability to hold
THE old fashioned STYLE Of football, where only
four men are behind the line at one time, Nigh
fncrease SITS popularity: hut It Is probable that II
resorting 70 such methods the chances of ground
gaining in a game between teams of very nearly
equal weight would be a minimum, and con
sinusl kicking would be the outcome
About football harming students who devote
themselves to ii, should say that there is harm
q IS true that unless players are hardened 10 re
ceive knocks. and unless their condition is almos
perfect the game might do them injury but tn
only WAY know Of 10 prevent danger is to hav
+he training OF the players carefully watched
have the diet well regulated. In playing foot
ball condition counts for great deal. and if play
IN condition the danger is nil