The Washington herald., 1907-10-20

Boston, Oct 19.-Those who are in close
touch with the football situation at Har-
ward have seen "a great light" 1t is
a victory this year over the stalwart
Yale team, which has not met defeat at
the hands Of the Cambridge players since
1901.
When presented with facts showing the
status of affairs in the Crimson caup.
',ae must acknowledge there is founda-
ton for such presumption. Unlike other
lights. which have gone before. this one
does not look like q 'nare-up." but has
rather the intensity Of a steady fame.
Harvard certainly seems to have the foot
ball goods. and II she does win. her
undergraduates viii have 10 thank a
coaching star which had the nerve TO
tear away from traditions and adopt mod
ern methods Of development
The old type OF football machinery.
however intricate its construction and
ponderOus its movement, viii never beat
the direct and powerful action of the
new. This explains the Yale triumphs Of
the past two years. Harvards team in
lSC5 was, man for man. better than that
turned out at New Haven, but il played
ponderously, its formations were too SOL
der like-in other words. IL played old
fashioned close formation football, and
Yale won with new Wide-Open play. While
it could stick 10 the rails, the Cambridge
machine did great execution. but when
the Yale players threw it of the track
with a few up-to-date ideas that were
not taught in the New England univsr-
sity. Harvard pQunded around the field
vainly trying 10 get her bearings.
Forward Pass Won.
Yale won last year to o. the only
touchdown Of the game being directly
due 10 the forward pass-a brand new
play. The Els found that the Cambridge
players were their equals IN the so-calied
straight football and it soon developed
that the plugging game was all Har-
ward knew. Then il was that Veeder
sprang his long forward pass. and once
again the new system JTiUmphed over
the Old
But things are different on the old Har-
ward campus now. Social position is noe
a badge OF courage in the eyes OF Joshua
crane the new energetic coach. Big men.
Just because they are big. can no longer
make the varsity and gIOat over their
DlgneSs until some scrappy little half
backs OF a minor college walk all over
their features and the rangy fellows of
y ale make them wish there was not Sd
much Of themselves in the way.
The Harvard eleven in the field to-day
is, in delevOpment. weeks ahead of the
1895 team for the corresponding time last
year And what is specially gratifying
70 the undergraduate, it is playing new
football with vim. The forward pass.
onside kick, and other open formations
are steadily being improved and Nale's
"helter skelter' tactics. so dangerous ne-
cause they appear aimless are really a
part Of the eleven's stock in trade
one who is in close touch with Coach
Crane came down from Cambridge the
other day and said,
If the Harvard team does not make
good this year. il is unlikely th2t it ever
will The chances for a welln.gh perfect
team are better this fall than they navs
been for years
Trying Ont Players.
Harvard played twenty-0ns men against
Williams. trying out substitutes in every
position except right tackle. The score
Of Is 10 g does not show what a game the
Crimson team PLAYED. because il -ork'i
under the big handicap Of Williams know
ing its signals.
Coach Cranes bold stroke a few DAYS
ago in shifting Can't. Parker from center
10 left guard 70 suit certain ideas evolved
by himself and his assistants, was q
shock 10 some Of the members OF Har-
wards old football school Capt. Parker.
YOU know. was not even asked If he
would like to play the tackle position.
Crane also canfv-Eery near precipltat-rS
q scandal when he announced that there
would be less secret practice this year
than usual. and tab0Oed the custom OF
carving around a lot Of plays up the
sleeve" The open-bOOk policy was TOO
much for some Of the Old-umerS who re-
fused 10 get interested in a team which
was not going TO be mystery until the
Yale game turned IL into a d.sapq0iEt-
ment
The shifting OF Parker suggested other
changes. and Harvard now appears To
have in Grant. Parker. and Waldo Pierce
great center trio. Burr, in his new
place AT tackle, has shown remarkable
form. He can now be used TO far greater
advantage. The great punter has been
trained in a number Of plays worked out
with the object of conCealing the real
formation -Four men-Fish Hoar. Rob
inson. and Inches-are fighting for the
other tackle position, and it is pretty
even battle
Rivalry for Positions.
Two sets Of ends, Kennard and Mac
donald and Bird and Foster, are under
the watchful eye Of Coach Leary. The
second pair are youngsters who have
plenty Of speed and grit.
At the quarter back position Harvard
hoe two great players in NeWhau and
Starr. The rivalry between the pair is
very keen. and both are expert IN making
the forward pass.
Lockwood appears 10 be a fixture at left
haIfback. but there is a keen fight be-
tween Rand, Gilbert and Cutting for
right halfback. Gilbert has experience
and at times plays a brilliant game, but
he often becomes eTrdtiC in his passing
and Rand is used 10 replace him. Cut
ting. who came out only this last week,
has started of with a rush He Is not
only fast but very aggressive. Some per-
sons predict that with Coach DAILY 10
coax out the best in him. Cutting will be
in the first rank of the halfbacks before
the close of the season.
AppOllouio appears TO be the best full
back at Harvard. Brennan. Mason, and
Waterbury are striving for the position
Of first substitute.