New-York tribune., 1906-11-19
ON COLLEGE GRIDIR0NS.
Whdt the ReCised RuIes Haze Done
for FootbaU-COmment.

some cases, are deserving OF the thanks and
highest praise of the whole football world. The
rules were revised only after lorg hours OF hard
work and careful study. but results were OBJ
tained which have more than made up for the
time and labor expended. The game as played
under the new rules met with approval from the
beginning. but 1t left for the brilliant and
hard fought, yet clean and sportsmanlike, gamo
between Yale and Princeton Saturday to set
the seal and establish the fact and for all
that football can be played without that unnec-
essary roughness and piing UP of players in
close formation which threatened disruption, and
enjoyed TO degree by both players and onlook-
ers little dreamed of a year ago. 1t has been
said in this column before that the game has not
only been saved. but immeasureaby improved.
but it must be emphasized once more with the
remembrance OF Saturdays exposition OF the
rules fresh in mind. OF the twenty-e eight thou
sand persons who the Yale-Princeton game
not one there was. perhaps, who did not leave
the field invigorated ana well pleased with the
entertainment provided Stagnant. indeed was
the blood of those who at time during that
well fought and spectacular struggle did not
jump to their feet, carried away by elaton and
excitement. Not once was it necessary for the
squeamish ones 10 turn their eyes away from
some distressing sight not once was the right
eous ire aroused Of those who, enjoying the sport
for sports sake, cannot tolerate unfair methods.
The constant "Scrapping' between players on
the line Of scrimmage before the ball was put in
play was conspicuous by its absence. 1t hap
pened once. and the offending players side
promptly penaliZed five yards. This due to
separating the PLAYERS by the width of the ball
change that in itself has made for great good.
The players came of the game in excellent
condition TO all appearances, not utterly tagged
out and exhausted to dangerous degree and
crying from sheer weakness induced by disap
pOintment. There was no hammering away with
to the breaking point, and then
dragging them of the field send in fresh men
to the slaughter There was, in fact, little or
nothing TO call for unfavorable criticism. but
much that could be eXtolled. Such is football
as played under the new code.
From the point Of view OF the close student of
football the Yale-Princeton game had its short
corlings Some further revision OF the rules
may be necessary in time, from purely techni-
cal standpoint. to make scoring by rushing
possible. 1t has been pointed out in The Tribune
that q consistent advance OF the ball under the
10yard rule in three downs is little short of i'm
possible when two elevens fairly evenly
matched. Possession of the ball, the one i'm
portant feature of the old game is necessary for
scoring, but neither Yale nor Princeton could
keep possession long enough Saturday to
carry the ball over for touchdown. The Yale
eleven showed possibilities, however which lead
TO the conclusion that with one more down the
game could be improved without counting the
danger Of d return 10 the old battering ram
tactics and mass play formations There is
time enough TO make this change. however. after
immediate action. The critics learned some
thing else from Saturdays game. if they did
not already know it. A reasonably drop
kicker is absolutely essential to success Four
times Yale had victory in her grasp, and four
times hopes were shattered because Veeder and
1lSIO" were not equal 10 lne OCCASION II IS
safe to say that given the opportunities
Princeton could have beaten Yale, and Chicago,
Harvard ana the Carlisle Indians could have
beaten Princeton, through the drop kicking
ability Of Harlan, Eckersau. Newhall and
Libby. II is a difficult feat with the forwards
breaking through TO disconcert and under the
stress Of the moment, but not an impossible
one as was shown in many games on Saturday
alone. Eckersan kicked a goal from the field
for Chicago, Newt1aIl did the for Harvard
against Dartmouth while Libby scored no fewer
than three times for the Carlisle Indians against
Minnesota by clever drop kicks. The Yale
coaches have week TO prepare for the Harvard
ter advantage than in working long and hard
TO bring Veeder. Jones or Knox up TO the stand
ard in dropping goals from the field
With characteristic pluck. the Yale eleven
rose to the occasion on Saturday against Prince
ton like many Yale elevens have in the past.
Instead of a somewhat weak and disorganized
team, which the earlier gaines Indicated Yale
put eleven in the field which confounded the
critics and surprised her most enthusiastic fol-
lowers Little wonder that Hinkey and Owsley
spoke confidently Of victory. They had watched
the team in secret practice. and they knew
whereof they spoke. The glaring faults 50 con-
spicuous in the West Point and Brown games
had been eradicated. and Yale was Yale. There
was none OF that unsteadiness which has been a
vital fault in the offensive play and in its place
was a fast, accurate. aggressive attack and so
varied that the Tigers were hard pressed to
avert disaster. The defence, too, was wellnigh
fnvulnerable. against which the strong Princeton
offence split and made useless. If there
was a weak spot in the Yale line, Eddie Dillon
as cle~rer a field general donned the mole
skins, unable find It. The Tigers sur
pr1sed at their inability to advance the ball by
methods which proved effective against Cornell
Dartmouth and West Point, showed signs OF
nervousness by & loose handling of the ball
which utterly spoiled many otherwise well ex-
ecuted plays and neutralized that smooth force
toRs play this fall. There were signs of weak
on the defence in the Cornell game which Il
was thought had been overcome, but the weak
ness cropped out again Saturday and Yale
tearing the line TO pieces when the call Of
time saved Princeton from probable defeat Tha
season has ended for Princeton. and the end was
a grievous disappointment TO all wearers Of the
orange and black. The eleven q good one,
however. and well worthy OF the loyal support so
freely given
II the Princeton eleven has been overrated. as
some critics maintain. then Harvard has a good
chance TO defeat Yale Saturday. 1t is the
opinion Of the writer however, that Princeton
has had one OF the best eevens this year which
ever represented Old Nassau and that Yale. now,
that she has TO her full strength will be
more than match for Harvard when the two
teams line up against each other at New
Haven It is not meant by this that Har-
ward should prove easy foe, as the Crimson
eleven is strong and getting stronger every day.
but that the general outlook, judging from what
has been seen, favors Yale. The game against
Princeton was valuable lesson for the New
Haven players. The men came out of the struggle
IN gooo condition Roome. the great plunging
fuNpack VIII De available, and Veeder may i'm