New-York tribune., 1906-11-24

West Point g. Harvard O. Brown g. and YAls B.
Brown o. are the games which make a fair COM
partson possible and which leave little to choose
If Harvard has improved In the same ratio as
Yale. Judged by her game with Princeton Cap
tain Hill OF West Point has said that Harvard
was stronger extensively and Yale defenslvely;
the Brown coach has said much the same thing
and expressed a leaning to Harvard. All this
was before the Princton-Yale game. however.
and Yale showed such startling Improvement on
that occasion that opinions formed previous to
that are worth little nothing. Yales game
against Brown was fran in offence. and the men
showed tendency to raggedness and lack Of
football instinct and ability to diagnose plays.
Yales game against Princeton showed a strong
aggressive offence. a wellnigh invulnerabe de-
fence and an ability not only to solve the PLAYS
but TO take full advantage of Princeton's mis-
takes while making few herself. The eleven had
been welded together, and as such will face Har-
YARD with the valuable experience of the Prince
ton game TO aid Il.
Harvard's stock has been soaring since the
carlisle Indian game, when it plain to the
critics that the rough edges slowly but
surely wearing off. and that there was latent
strength in the eleven that needed only little
more development to place II a par with any
team that ever represented the Crimson w. T.
Held, the head coach, has said that the eleven
and this In itself means much, as Reid is an
able Judge. The Dartmouth game last Saturday
threw little light on the situation. as so many
substitutes took part but the practice Of the last
Few days has been Of kind to indicate that
the eleven has reached its top form. Harvard
has been strong extensively all the fali. and the
plays have been run off with sn.oothness and
precision which spells team play of the best.
A KICKING GAME LIKELY
It looks as If Yale was strong enough defen-
sively to stop any consistent advance of the
ball. however. so that 1t is quite likely to be a
kicking game with victory dependent on the
ability Of some players to drop goal from the
field or the Quickness Of one side or the other to
take advantage OF a misplay. Yale lost the
Princeton game because she did not have q rea-
sonably sure drop kicker. and IN this respect
Harvard seems to have a slight advantage, as
Newhan has shown marked ability, and will be
a constant menace to Yale when inside her 25-
yard line Veeder may rise to the occasion, how
ever. and redeem himself for his failures at
Princeton. The punting duel between Veeder, Of
Yale and Burr, Of Harvard. will alone be feat
ure of the game. Burr is probably the longest
punter of the season. and he gets off a ball
which is hard to handle. It Will be fatal, how
ever, If the Harvard ends cannot cover his punts.
Veeder gets good distances and places his punts
we'll, and is quite likely to hold his own, in spite
of the fact that Harvard is counting largely
on Burr gaining much valuable ground.
Knox is not all necessary to the Yale team,
but his absence will be sorely felt, as he ia the
best all round man in the backield. Latest
reports indicate that he may play part of the
ton game. and he is strong. dashing runner in
end plays and through a broken field Jones
showed disposition to tumble punts in the
Knox's place. With Knox out Roome the great
plunging fullback Morse and veeder will prob
ably make up the backheld. These all good
men. but Harvard can boast of three players
quite their equal in Wendell, Captain Foster
and Lincoln, while Newhall will probably out
shine Tad Jones at quarterback.
From tackle to tackle Harvard does not suffer
In comparison with Yale. Burr. Parker and
Kersburg are stars in their particular positions
and may outplay Erwin, Hockenberger and
Brides. to whom they will be opposed. Harvard
can boast Of good tackles in Osborne and Pierce.
but Yale is also strong with Biglow and Paige,
and no advantage be claimed. Starr has
developed into brilliant end for Harvard, but
Forbes will keep him busy every minute OF the
time while there is little to choose between Nc
Donald and Alcott, both OF whom may not last
out the game.
A large number Of prominent persons from
Boston. Philadelphia, Baltimore Washington
and this city will see the game. and the official
set or the Capitol will be represented by Secre-
tary of War Taft Congressman and Mrs. Mich
olas LonGworth, Senator Spooner of Wiscon-
sin; Theodore Roosevelt. jr., and many others.