The Washington herald., 1907-10-07
Leading CriticRevieWs Work
Done by Big Teams.
HARVARD TRYING OPEN GAME
Crimson seems Determined TO Drill
Wen I'm Handling the BAH in Order
10 Pull OF Forward Passes in the
Late Cames-Prirceton StiH Trying
10 Develop Line 10 Help Backs.
BY WALTER CAMP.

The FIRST interesting day OF the sea-
sons games occurred on Wednesday. DC
lober ., Tor on that day Yale and Har-
ward opened their season. and it was
possible 10 obtain more OF line on some
Of sba plays.
Harvard and Dartmouth both showed
"a descending ratio as far as scores are
concerned for the Reconsideration
games for the last three years show Us
follows: 1895. Harvard 16 Bowdoiu o.:
1906 Harvard 10, Bowdoin O. The Dart
mouth-Vermont games showed a similar
tendency. In 1875 Dartmouth won y 70 O..
1866. 10 @. and 1867. the game was tie.
Carlisle very nearly doubled her score Of
last year over Susquehanua.
The PenHsylvan-a-VIIan game. al
though not nearly as good as Pennsylva-
MAS victory two years ago, which was
. 20 G. was considerably better I'm its de
fensive play than the 1905 game, which
resulted in Pennsylvania favor - TO L.
as this year Penn won 16-Q Yale just
about kept up her standard with Wes-
leyan, her game Of 1913 being = 10 o;
1910. q 90 @. and this year, - 20 O.
But, putting aside the question Of scores
which may or not be deceiving, according
as the stronger team desires either prac-
tice on open field work OF scores by run
ming plays, the general character Of the
play gives a very good line on what the
coaches are starting out 10 obtain.
Harvard Takes Chances.
Harvard is looking for more freedom
in handling the bail. and both her prac-
tee and games indicate that the coaches
are making considerable progress in
teaching the men to take chances. At
New Haven the men are being taught
speed. and the back field already shows
results along this line.
At Pennsylvania they are working to-
ward increased steadiness, and by this to
avoid the horrible succession of heart
breaking ups and downs which came TO
the Red and Blue in - first month or
so of last season.
At Princeton a green line is being ham
mered into shape in front of an excellent
and veteran back field. If their schedule
is properly arranged. Princeton ought to
succeed in perfecying this Development;
but II in her early season games she
meets a veteran line that is heavy and
powerful il may result in giving her
backs too much 10 do and use them up
The schedule does not. with the exception
OF possibly the Cornell contest look as
though it contained any such mishap.
It is a bit early 10 even get a line on
the probabilities Of Cornell. but the
Ithacans must begin TO develop strength
and team game somewhere In the week
between October = and October 19. and
exhibit it in the Penn state game on the
latter date or they cannot possibly ex-
pect 10 do as we'll as they did in the first
half of the Princeton game last year
which comes a week later. Niagara is
not likely to give Cornell much to do. but
Colgate. on October 70, may. judging from
the scores of the last two years. The 1905
score was L to Il and 1906 TO 0.
Preparing for Navy.
Probably the least show is being made
and the hardest work performed up on
the Hudson at West Point Too great q
succession Of victories had brought about
its usual aftermath in the shape of too
great confidence. and West Point under
took a schedule in 1906 that was extreme.
This year they are making no such mis-
take. and more than that the defeat az
the hands of the Navy last year has in
spired them to greater and more cor
sistent planning than they have INDUCED
in for the last two or three years. They
have a good man in Forbes as coach. and
they have laid out their schedule With a
great deal OF judgment. They are really
much further advanced than anybody
supposes, and the first good line can be
had on them when they meet Yale on
October - I doubt il their games pre-
vious TO that viii expose very much of
their ability.
We shall have a chance to get very
decided opinion of annapolis when they
meet Vanderbilt on October L. for they
are likely to have their hands full on this
occasion, when it will be possible 70
see something OF what they carry over
from last years victory and experience
Brown may fairly be regarded as one
Of the danger points for anybody she
meets this season. With Mayhem, who
was q wonder last year, to do the
( startling things. and with the rest of the
/ team well balanced and strong. they are
| likely to come very fast in November
/ They were expected to do better against
/ Pennsylvania last year than did foI
/ Pennsylvania had been having early sea
/ son reverses and Brown was looked upon
as strong In 1903 Penn was able TO win
I out only by a score of S to G. but last
J year Pennsylvania had one Of her best