Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-03
MASS PLAY MADE 1908 A DULL YEAR
Good Kickers Will Always Be at Premium in
Spite of the Change Made in
Scoring Points,
PART I.
Bv John B. Foster. .

Bv John B. Foster.
Twinges of frost in the air, sharpness
20 the wind that was dulled when the
August sun beat In hot waves upon the
earth and a certain briskness in the at
mosphere are forerunnerS of the foot ball
season.
Barely will bats and balls have been
laid aside. together with flannel uniforms
and thickly padded gloves, when the jer-
seys and the moleskins, which make up
the more modern foot ball costume, will
have been donned. and the youthful aspir-
ants for national or local favor will be-
gin their daily toll practicing punting and
falling on the ball in the most convenient
lot that is covered with velvety sur
face of turf.
More foot fall is regularly scheduled to
be played this year than the United States
ever saw. Localities where the game has
been popular will be treated to more
of it than they have seen in the past, and
localities where foot ball has been little
played or has never been played will have
opportunity to see it this year.
Looking over an extended schedule
which contains far more contestants than
the important events which are 10 be
played by the larger universities ana
the preparatory schools, 1t is the I'M
preston OF the writer that foot ball is
surely 20 per cent stronger this season
by reason of its greater abundance.
Schools which never have tried the
game before will enter into 1t In a small
way Schools which have tried 1t as
an experiment will proceed on the same
lines in which they began. Probably they
will be better off than they were last
year. Sections where foot ball has been
slow of growth are curious to know
something of the sport, and the increase
of games in the middle west and south
is very marked.
Popularity Increases In South.
AS the south has shown a greater in
clination to take part In all kinds OF
sports which interest the American pub
lie. 1t is not strange that foot ball should
demand attention. and judging by the
criticism which has been passed on the
game, and by the laudation which it
has received in most quarters OF the
south, it promises to be sport which Will
commend very large clientele 1t Is
game with elements which appear 10 the
Its strategy is alluring. its opportuni-
ties to perform personal feats of daring
and skill are many, and to the atnlete
who can excel in running ana blocking
there is no end to the possibilities which
it affords under suitable coaching, to
delight friends of the participants In the
game.
In this connection attention is called to
beginners, particularly to the younger
schools, which are likely to take up the
sport Of their own accord, not to at
tempt to play without a measure of thor
ough instruction from teachers OF ex-
perience.
Much harm Is done by making an eff
fort to play foot ball without knowing
it's rudimentary principles. Where play
ers have not been schooled In the game
they are inclined to accept 1t as con-
test between boys in which the stronger
Is likely to be the survivor. That is not
the aim of foot ball 1t is scientific
outdoor game, which, without proper
guidance, is as bad as base ball would
be If there were not elder brothers to
bring up the younger in the manner In
which they should go, and instruct them
wisely so that their enjoyment shall be
the keener.
Wherever it is possible boys of a tender
age should be given a thorough physical
examination before they are permitted to
undertake the game. Too young boys
should not be permitted to play it under
any circumstances, and no boy with an
organic affection of any part of the sys
tenn should be allowed on the foot ball
field. ne pastime is for the strong and
not for the weak.
Foot Ball in 1908 Disappointing.
Speaking purely from the standpoint of
of foot ball as played by the more i'm
portant elevens in 1908 was hardly of the
type that had been desired.
No little dissatisfaction was expressed.
after the season was finally completed,
that the stronger teams had not made
more OF the game Even those who do
not pretend to have a thorough knoWl-
edge of the lntricacies of the sport and
-Who nave not read its rules and laws
with the studiousness of coach, whose
future depends upon his ability to teach,
quite frequently expressed themselves
ooth curing the season and after It's COM
pietlon as to their regret that the games
mad not been more keenly exciting
Ihat TINS was due to overcaution and
TOO much defensive play on the part of
the contestants is assured. AS a matter
OF fact, this was caused because those
VINO had the development of the new
game In hand, which proceeded. of
course. Immediately after the changes In
the Tu!es, Sprang their new theories In
some abundance and then Immediately
set about 10 find plans which would cir
Cumvent them.
The reason behind this is the same bogie
man "hch nied the hearts Of the coaches
under The cid system-lCss of the ball.
american foot ball steadily retrOgraded
because 80 per cent Of the Coaches would
not be convinced that it might be posi-
PIE for a team occasionally TO lose the
Dali and still continue to Play good
game. and barely had the new game been
able 20 get u good start when all atten-
ton was centered TO devise methods which
should nullify the excellent results that
had been achieved by an effort to make
the game OF en-.
There was disposition in 1903 on al
most all Of the varsity eIevens with a
notable exception in Pennsylvania, not to
advance in perfec ion with the open for
nations which had given such unqualified
pleasure to the public in the year pre-
cedng.
Wanted Their Touchdowns.
Yale, Harvard and Princeton, particu-
larry the former were possessed OF the
idea that their greatest glory was to be
obtained in making their strongest ad
yances through the line. 1t is true that in
the final game of the season for Princeton
the Tigers did open their attack against
Yale and pay with variety of forma
lions which had not been expected by
those who had seen their prior contests.
Yet the year through there seemed to be
lacking Pre- ress in carrying out the gen.
eral system OF play which had been out
lined IN 1907, and there was corresponding
d.sapi ointment on the part of the sp eta
tors when they attended the prel!m nary
nes and saw little save the pounding OF
tiIe line, which had been the universal and
IN st objectiC nable method Of attack und er
the old rules.
Pennsylvania was unquestionably an ex-
cepticn to this theory. and in the weekly
intervals in which he Ouakers played
their contests were full Of the effort to
advance the ball BY some method VARYING