New-York tribune., 1906-11-05
ION COLLEGE GRIDlR0NS.
Nesc Game Meeting Scith More
FAVOR as Season AdUances.

II Is plain that coaches, players and
spectators grow moro familiar with football as
played under the revised code they grow more
enthusiastic While some critics still un-
willing to declare themselves. the consensus OK
opinion is strongly in favor OF the new game.
which has to a large extent all the advantages
OF the old with many novel and attractive feat
ures. The various games on Saturday confirmed
the opinion. which so many formed the week be-
fore. that the rules are acceptable In the main
and that the sport. which was threatened with
dissolution year ago, has not only been saved
but placed a frrner and more substantial
basis than ever before Some changes and nodi-
hcations can still be made to good advantage.
notably in the 10-yard rule. which neutralizes TO
such large extent possession OF the ball, so
necessary for scoring purposes inside the 25-yard
line. but it may not be wise to make any changes
for another year at least, set OF rules which
have met with general favor in such a snort
time is worthy of being tried out to an extent
not possible IN one season. The game snould
be allowed TO grow and develop slowly under
the new lines laid down, and those who are COM
planning are deserving Of little consideration. II
was the purpose OF the football rules committee
to build I'D and not to tear down. and 1T has sue
ceeded beyond the hopes Of those most loyal 10
the sport No amount OF tinkering will help
to advance should not be backward in express
ing them but they should also be willing TO wait
patiently for the present rules to be thoroughly
thrashsd out before forcing them. Rome was
not built In q day. The new football cannot be
perfected in a single season The game as now
played is open and clean. and oristles with oppor-
tunities for spectacular situations and strategic
moves So much has been accomplished and so
much good"
1t has been demonstrated since the opening Oh
the season that a good punter and reasonably
sure drop kicker are more essential under the
revised code than ever before. Kicking Is now
depended on as a means OF advancing tne oan'
whereas in the old game kicking was only re-
sorted to when all other means failed 1t FOL
lows that clean handling of the ball is Of vital
importance. as emphasized IN the 1ae-
West Point game on Saturday and in the Penn
syIvania-CarIisle Indian game the week before.
The Yale backs showed remarkable weakness IN
handling punts, and this was largely RESPONSE
BILE for the battle being waged In the Blue terri
tory so much of the time. As has already oeeh
pointed out, Pennsylvania was not outplayeo
by the Indians, except in this particular, put
loose handling Of the ball cost the game 10 the
score Of "a to 6. A mun by Eddie Dillon rnaos
Il possible for Cornell to score against Prince
ton, and other instances could be cited Inc
new game has opened the way 10 a sclentlno
were quick to grasp the possibilities Of the on
side and quarterback kicks and realized the ne
cessity of building up a proper derence are tne
ones which will have the best record wnen tno
season is over. Princeton has been coached
from the start in kicking game and the hand
ling OF punts; Yale, West Point ana harvard
are working diligently along the same lines.
while Pennsylvania all too late, has awakened
to the necessity Of drilling the backs to handle
punts as baseball outdelder Is drilled TO eaten
fly balls Loose handling Of the ball led TO scor-
iDg winning
games on occasions under the old rules but the
opportunities are far greater now and must be
guarded against
An interesting theory. and, IL tenahle. OF the
utmost Importance to the football situation. has
been advanced by the Yale coaches. who say 1t
is easier to teach school team the new game
than it Is to coach the varsity IN the radical
variation OF the modern method OF attack II
is exceedingly hard TO break the veterans into
the forward pass and the other new plays per-
mitted by the new rules 1t is the old story that
you cannot teach old dogs new tricks On the
other hand it has been found that preparatory
school teams. and even freshman elevens, take
more readily to the new style Of play. as they
have nothing to unlearn. UnlearntnS old foot
ball and taking up with radical fundamentals
brim with difficulties. Hence. say the Yale
men, give the new football chance. Let It
grow--and do not imagine for one moment that
anything that IS worth while can grow In one
season. The new game will bear fruit only when
varsity gridirons.
West Point has lost two games this year IN the
last minute Of play, and the eleven was deserv-
ing OF better things. Yale. although outplayed
to large extent by the soldiers on Saturday.
pulled out victory by Quickness IN seizing an
opportunity. Yale suffered in comparison with
the Army team, however, did Harvard the
week before, but 1t must not be forgotten that
both Yale and Harvard are working up to games
two and three weeks off. when the rough edges
villa be smoothed off. Comparative scores are OF
little value as a rule but Yale appears to be
stronger than Harvard. taking the West Point
games a line Yales play was disappointing
on Saturday. but a change for the better can be
looked for, as the eleven from now on. barring
accidents will be drilled as team, as the
coaches have practically agreed on the lineup
after two weeks OF experimenting in an effort TO
get the strongest combination. Roome at full
back was sadly missed, although Veeder showed
himself to be excellent punter. Tad Jones
proved disappointment. and Dimes handled the
team to better advantage in the second half. and
may be the final choice for quarterback. The
defence at the expense. perhaps. of forceful
attack, although the men seemed TO be all at
sea when IL came to stopping the well executed
forward passes Of the Army. II Yale hopes to
defeat Princeton this fault must be remedied as
the Tigers have developed the forward pass
has no other eleven in the country. From now on
the Yale coaches undoubtedly will work to weld
the team together and develop an offence, which
was SADLY lacking against West Point. There
is time enough.
Harvard showed some Improvement against
Brown on Saturday. but there Is much TO be
done If Yale is to be conquered on November "a
III the absence of Captain Foster and two of
the best ends the eleven could not present its
full strength against the Providence team, which.
by the way, showed decided Improvement over