New-York tribune., 1907-11-18
ON COLLEGE GRID[R0NS.
YALE'S STRONG ELEVEN.
Value Of the Forscard Poss-LittIe
Hone for HWUGrd.

which brought about victory over princeton
fresh in mind feels disposed to pronounce
g the best team ever developed at New Haven
This may be unfair to other great eIeVens al
Yale-aud there have been many-but memory
fails TO recall that any Yale team ever iaceu
such fearful odds and rose to the occasion Win
such uniinching courage and determination 10
do as this particular Yale eleven. Many teams
are disposed to accept defeat too quickly; they
will 90 Oh fighting to the bitter end bat without
the force 10 show their real ability. Fortu-
nately for the wearers of the Blue. the Yale
eleven was made of Sterner stuff The men had
the ability and simply could not be discour-
aged There were A number Of incidents on
Saturday which appealed strongly to the writer
as showing the reserve power resourcefulness
and even balance of the Yale eleven, but none
more so than which occurred toward the
middle of the second half when Yale was
penalized fifteen yards for holding on touch-
down play which robbed her for the moment
of a well earned victory. The eleven and the
Yale hosts showed true sportsmanship by ac-
cepting the decision without mur1nur Of dis
approval. There was no wrangling with the
umpire there was no grabbing off and throwing
down of head pieces TO show feelings strained
to the breaking point but instead a quick ac-
cepfance Of the inevitable so keenly disappoint-
ing and discouraging as it must have BEEN be
fore the crowd could fairly realize what had
baupened the men were lined up determined TO
make ND that lost ground and to regain that
touchdown as quickly possible. That they
did so TO their greater credit, for 1t was a
hard blow at a critical time, and they rose
above it. word must be said for Princeton
and Princeton spirit, too. at this crisis in the
game There was naturally q wild outburst
when il was seen that the touchdown was not
allowed, but it quickly subsidized, as the Tigers
were too generous to gloat over the i'll luck Of
an enemy. A Princeton man who sat next to
the writer remarked THAT certainly hard
luck for Yale" and it is safe TO say hundreds
of others made the same remark in all sim
cerity.
The game on Saturday had its lessons and
proved once more that the football rule makers
legislated even better than they knew when they
undertook the difficult task of revision, with the
purpose to build up and improve and not destroy
the greatest of all intercollegiate sports. OF the
thousands who watched the game on Saturday
few there could have been who did not leave the
field stimulated and refreshed by the wonder
fully clean but desperately fought and sensa-
tional battle. The ball could be followed every
moment; the plays, varied and resourceful, could
be understood because they could be seen; the
strategy Of the game, with which no other sport
can compare could be appreciated and en-
loved. The throng which watched the struggle
knew not one dull moment and this throng and
the thousands that gathered around other grid
irons on Saturday attested the popularity and
widespread interest in a sport which many would
have abolished two years ago. and which Coum-
hia did abolish. To those who saved the game
CaDtain Pierce. of West Point; Walter Camp of
Vale: Bill Reid Of Harvard: Professor Fine, Of
Princeton: Professor Dennis, Of Cornell, and
others who played leading part-let all thanks
le given.
1t is hoped that there will be little tink-
oriag with the rules this winter. Some criti-
csm has been directed against the rule for
the forward pass this season. 1t has been
asserted that it is useless and ineffective against
a perfected defence. It was not ineffective on
Saturday. Yale's second touchdown, which
Just as a year ago 1t gave victory to Yale over
Harvard. Even if it not used TO any ap-
precfable extent it would serve its purpose in
openhng up the game, play is greater
feared and defence for it weakens the line and
makes plays possible which otherwise would
have to be discarded. It said early in the
season that the rule would lead to in
discriminate use of the forward pass. This has
not proved TO be the case, It's value lies in
using IL Just often enough to keep the opponents
fearful even If it does not prove to be a safe
and reliable ground gamer. Yale used 1t to ad-
vantage in fake placement kick formation,
which, by the way, should not have fooled the
TIGERS as the Yale freshmen used 1t against the
Princeton cubs the week before. The forward
pass has come to stay. There should be no
necessity 20 argue for its retention.
Princeton failed in her purpose on Saturday,
and to her the football season of 1907 is more
or less Of a failure, but Princeton spirit rose
superior TO Encouragement and defeat in a way
that VIII never be forgotten by those who saw
the Tigers stand in their places when the game
was over and hope was dead and sing their in
spring hymn. Princeton men have good cause
to be proud Of the eleven II beaten by
Cornell and Yale, but II was beaten by wonder
fully strong teams, If any consolation can be
got from this Captain Mccormick and Dillon
and Wister and Harlan have few, If any, equals
on the football gridiron to-day while Brown
and Phillips did their part in a conspicuous
way. The passing Of both Phillips Of Prince
ton and Congdon, of Yale, on Saturday was re-
nlarkably accurate, by the way, and deserved
more attention than it got in the various stories
of the game. The Princeton team was well
coached and well trained, and it played game
that was deserving of high praise. There was
Rome weakness in the line in the second half
but any team would have looked weak in trying
- varied and forcefu.
Vale has won the football championship of
1907 TO all intents and purposes, even with the
Harvard game to be played Saturday.
"What will that team do 10 HarVard?' was the
self-answered question asked hundreds of times
by those going home from New Haven Sat-
urday night. 1t is hardly probable that an
other stunning surprise is in store. If Harvard
IS not doomed 10 defeat at Cambridge on Sat
urday then Tad Jones will have lost his cum
ming Coy wiz have lost his legs and Captain Big
low, Brides, Alcott and Congdon, who played so
well against Princeton TO say nothing OF the
rest Of the men, win have lost knowledge of the
football they have learned this year. OF course
Harvard victory is possible, but highly i'm
probable after the crushing defeats at the hands
OF the Carlisle Indians and Dartmouth on Sic
cessive Saturdays. For once the football line
seems straight and clear and in the parlance
Of the turf Yale is ! to 5 shot If Harvard
can accomplish where Princeton failed the foot
ball critics. who have been having a bardo-