New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-10-21
ON COLLEGE GR[DIRONS.
WHAT THE GAMES SHOW.
Army and Nary Teams Strong
HmUqrd'S NezC Kick Formation.

The various football games on Saturday threw
unexpected light on the possibilities of the game
under the revised rules and sounded the death
knell for all time Of the big four" on the grid
iron. Yale Harvard, Princeton and Pennsylvania
no longer occupy the centre of the stage to the
partial exclusion Of Cornell Annapolis west
Point Brown and two three others notably
the Carlisle Indians. SWarthmore and PennsYl-
vania State The time has come for a general
broadening out of the field. The games on Sat
urday showed that Yale and Harvard had worthy
and powerful opponents in West Point and An
napolis. Yale played TO q tie and had
no excuses to offer, while Harvard beat the Navy
in a game that on the true merits Of the play
really tie at to o. Brown gave Pennsyl-
vana a battle royal and the Quakers had every
reason 10 be COntented with the II to score.
while Cornell. which has hopes of beating Prince
ton, defeated by Pennsylvania State, team
which has been forcing its way to the front in
the last few years. Princeton was the only one
Of the leading elevens that had comparatively
easy time in dsposing Of Washington and JEFF
ferson. The game as developed under the revised
rules Is largely responsible for the somewhat
order Of things Cornell, West Point, An
napOliS and Brown indicated last year that with
the Introduction Of more open play and the
abandonment to a large extent of the battering
ram tactics which brought the game into evil
ways they worthy of place in the front
rank: this year they have proved it. This means
greater interest and wider participation in what
is probably the most popular of all college
sports. The enormous crowds ut West Point,
Annapolis and Philadelphia Saturday en-
phasized this.
After the Harvard-Navy game was over on
Saturday-which by the way, the writer could
not help but feel 1t was privilege to see-the
impression uppermost in the mind was that either
the Navy team was wonderfully strong in the
defence or Harvard wofully weak in the offence.
1t must be left TO future games to decide this
all important question definitely, but the more
one thinks of the play the frmer the conviction
grows that the former was the case. and that
Harvard's attack, while needing much polishing
before the Yale game, Is varied enough and
strong enough TO be effective against any eleven
that is not exceptionally quick in solving the
plays and breaking them up. As a matter Of
fact, Harvard did not lose any prestige among
those who saw the game for what in sub
stance. if not In fact. tie game with Annapolis.
The backs were a little slow in starting and
there lacking at times the necessary con-
centration OF the attacking force, due largely TO
the resOurcefulness Of the Navy players but
otherwise the Crimson team was IN a forward
state of development for this time Of the season
and played good football, and, better yet. clean
football. There was little no loose handling Of
the ball, although Captain Douglas the Navy
halfback, punted time and again in the
hope that his speedy ends would be able to take
advantage Of a tumble 10 score a touchdown.
The Harvard ends-Bird and " PierCe-were
wonderfully speedy and were down under Burr's
well placed punts every time 20 fall on the ball
or throw the catcher in his tracks. The interior
ence strong and flaws could be found in
the defence, although ii was not so thoroughly
tested 1t might have been, in view Of the fact
that Annapolis depended largely a kicking
game. The change Of Captain Parker from
tire to guard has turned out well, as he has
braced up the left side Of the line. while Grant
ably fills his shoes In the pivotal position. The
latters passing was the best seen $50 far this
year Altogether, Harvard men can rest content
for the time being IN the thought that their uni
versity Will be well represented the gridiron
this year.