The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-09-26
WATTS WHOLE SEASON
FOR ONE CHANCE
PERSEVERANCE, OF kENNARD IN
MASTERING DROP KICK WINS
FOR HARVARD.

"Bin' Reid. Jr.-ex- fuIlback and
football coach--telis many interesting
and enlightening stories of football
strategy in the October American
Magazine. One story he tells is as fol-
lows:
When Victor Kennard of Harvard
kicked the drop kick which won the
Harvard Yale game last year many
people called it luck. That drop kick
was really started early in the spring
of 1908, when kennard, in anticipa-
ton of just some situation as this. be-
gan To school himself into master OF
drop kicking.
An during July. August and Sep
TENDER he practiced. studying the de-
tail of the kick, and perfecttns the
fundamentals. He had someone pass
the ball to him, SO as to increase his
speed and accuracy in handling it, and
in quiekening up his foot work. for
speed Is essential in drop kicking.
Then in the evening he took the ball
home with him and made detailed
study Of the art of dropping it so that
it would rebound accurately and al
the right distance from his foot He
standing against wall and swinging
his leg alongside of it in an effort 10
develop an absolutely straight and ac-
curate leg drive. When he returned to
college he had 50 far mastered these
details that on one occasion he kicked
81 successive goals from within his
limits. and at another %. To be sure,
this was not done Under pressure.
"kennard was given three opportu-
mites To try for goals in regular games
The first chance came in the opening
game of the season-that with low
doin. in which he failed of an easy
goal His second try was in the
Springfield Training school game, at
a distance of 81 yards. and he made
it. His third try, which came in the
Indian game. at a distance of 45 yards.
and from Il point close TO the side
tines. Vas failure. only, however
because the ball did not have the nee
essary carry The direction was
good. but the kick fell five yards
short Nothing further developed un-
til the team went to Pennington, and
then Haughtnn told kennard that il
had been decided that in case Harvard
got the ball inside of fale's 25-yara
line with the third down and more
than two to gain. that he was to be
given chance 10 drop kick.
'kennard told Snurse that il he
were called on for Il kicS he did not
wish the pass delayed any longer than
was absolutely necessary for him to
get his position and allow the protect
i've backs 10 get theirs. Nothing MAS
said to the rest of the team about ii,
but every detail Mas carefully worked
out, rehearsed and perfected. II was
decided that in order 10 save every
fraction of a second and thereby make
the surprise of the Yale team the
greater. upon going on the field Ken
nard should walk backward into his
kicking position in order that he might
keep Nourse always in line with the
middle point oT the cross bar. making
unnecessary any further adjustment
except that of distance. Then. that
there might be no visible sign by
which any yiglIanr Eli might surmise
what was about To happen. kennard
and Sourse agreed upon 4 private sig
nal for the passing of the ball 4
slight movement of two fingers it was.
and preparation was complete.
Then came the Yale game. Ken
nard. sitting on the side lines. saw
i5-yard line. he saw Harvard rally.
take the hall away from Yale and then
start on a steady advance towards