Evening star., 1909-09-12
BIC SIX PRACTICE
IN DEAD EARNEST
Yale Better Equipped for Foot
Ball Season Than Other
Colleges.
By Edward r. Bushnell.

Before another week has passed every
member of the Big Six''-that sextet of
universities whose efforts on the intercol-
legiate gridiron almost eclipse the doings
of the rest of the eastern world, Harvard,
Yale, Princeton, Pennsylvania. Cornell
and Dartmouth-will have started it's sea-
sons practice in dead earnest. With most
of them September - is the date set for
tha first report of candidates. But if the
truth were always published it would be
found that practically every one of these
universities had its foot ball candidates
already at work.
There seems to be an idea abroad that
there is some disgrace connected with
the public announcement that work has
been done before the date mentioned.
This sentiment however, does not inter
fere with the actual practice. though it is
responsible for pretty thorough censor
ship of the foot ball news that filters
through from the seats of learning. OF
the six universities mentioned Pennsyl-
vania is the only one whose practice mas
been reported to any extent. About
dozen of the Quaker candidates have been
spending a few days at seashore resort
near Philadelphia with Capt Miller The
same sort Of work has been done by most
OF the other uniyers ties, either during the
OF the Quakers to get an early start was
due to the fact that they took no pre-
liminary practice in the spring, as did
their rivals.
BY beginning their real practice sep
tember 15 or thereabouts all the teams
will have gotten fair start before their
foot ball practice is interfered with by
the opening of the scholastic year AS
practically all Of the teams begin their
schedules at about the same date, the
last Saturday OF Wednesday in Septem-
ber. each will have had virtually the same
preparation.
Yale Lucky, as Usual.
After an investigation of conditions at
the different universities one is impressed
with the fact that Yale is probably better
equipped than any of the other teams. This
hardly any of their 1908 veterans, only
four having graduated. This leaves the
Blue with an unusually fine nucleus and
with the excellent coaching which Yale is
sure to get the Ellis are certain to put up
a tremendous fight to win back the pre-
miership of the intercollegiate gridiron.
Just how rich Yale is in veteran material
is best told in a letter to the writer from
Edward H. Coy. the Yale captain. Among
other things he says:
From last years S eleven we have fifteen
veterans returning TO college. only four
having graduated. The returning vet
Grams include Goebel and Andrus. guards
Hobbs. Lilley and Brown. tackles; Logan,
Haines, Fitzpatrick and Naedle, ends of
great ability. At quarter we have three
first-class men, all of whom should profit
by their experience of last year. These
are Johnson, Corey and Bingham. The
backs include Murphy, DAILY, Philbin,
Field and myself. Last years freshman
team will give us several exceptionally
good line men in Paul. York. Parker.
Soree and Bronson. Vaughn and Savage
are exceptional ends. While Merritt and
Howe at quarter should push some of the
regulars. The same is true Of Kistler.
Evans, Brooks, Messenger and several of
the other backs"
Most Of Yale's captains have been hard
working fellows, but there Is none who
has made the reputation that Capt. Coy
has In this respect Coy started to work
Immediately after his election to the cap
taincy. He was probably actuated in this by
Yale's defeat by Harvard year ago and
his own wish to captain winning team
The first innovation he introduced was
winter practice for the line men. This
he followed up with an unusually severe
spring practice. Not content with even
this, he caused the distribution of about
thirty foot balls to promising candidates
from the 1908 freshman team and the re-
turning veterans. and instructed them to
keep in condition during the summer va
cation. Consequently 1t Is to be expected