The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-11-05

toe artist Of such ability, HE yer,
wisely starts 90 make the ongide kick
prominent Feature o. his ofrense.
II. on the other hand. no skilled
Iplace-b ooter Is obtafnable, stress Is laid
on the development OF the forward
PASS And ia nine cases out OF ten
this latter plan Of campaign has to be
followed. IT is for this reason. and no
either that the onside kick has fallen
by the wayside, 30 to speak, while the
other phase OF new football"--th
forward pass has prospered.
Tigers Showed Slsill.
At the present time there are two
prominent elevens who work the onside
kick with any degree OF accuracy.
Princeton and Fordham. Moreover.
when 1t is realized that ends, fast and
shifty on their feet and skilled hand
lers OF the bail, are absolute necessities
In working. the play, it's stunted growth
Is easier to comprehend.
It certainly looks ais though the Jam
gletown. coaches seized upon the on
side kick as their own, almost imne-
diately after it's adoption BY the code
pensioners during the winter OF 1905
O6. During the autumn OF the latter
year considerable time was expended
on the development OF the play. with
place booter like Eddie Harlan to
count on. the Princeton coaches be-
lieved they could make a success of
the play. Favorable progress was
made during the 1905 season. while
other coaches were franticaziv ravine
about the inability OF their charges to
handle the forward pass.
It was not until the following year.
however, that the Tigers efforts began
to yield results. The Carlisle Indian
game at the Polo grounds that season,
showed what was to be expected. The
orange and black backs would dash
across the field, and then Harlan would
stop suddenly and boot the leather
back across the gridfron.
The waiting Princeton ends would
scoop up the leather and rornp away
for big gains. The times that the play
was used were crowned with success.
and gave the sharps an inkling of what
was to be expected later in the sea-
son.
onside Kick Puzzled Yale.
And then came the Yale game. and
again Harlan demonstrated the effect
lveness Of the play His quick kicks
did a great deal toward making possi-
BILE McCormick's terrific line breaking.
With the graduation Of Harlan. il was
thought that Princeton would give up
the play. Who, after witnessing the
Tigers early season orgies of 1908,
Imagined that the Yale game would
show a wonderful exhibition OF the
onside kic.1 on the part of the Mas
sau combination? But such was the
case.
Time and again during the first half
of that game the Ellis defense fioun-
Tered around helplessly, while onside |
kick, after onside kick shot over the |
senter of the line, yielding good gains.
Il was not until the Yale coaches
'ushed out Pop Corey from the side |
ines, with instructions to lay in close |
70 his line and catch the bah on the |
1y, that the play was broken UP.
And from the present signs, down in |
he jungle It looks as though the on
tide kick would again be featured. |
Coach Mccormick is constantly drill |
ng his most promising kicking half /
BACKS in the art OF dropping the ball /
exactly where they want it TO land, /
Ind results are beginning to show. |
Recently. against Virginia Polytechnic, /
ne play was worked successfully on /
In average Of once in every four at
empts. This percentage is profitable
4 the ends can cover fairly long
irives.
Quakers Lost Star Punter.
Last year the onside kick was a "a
yorite play In the University or Penn
ylvania's attack. "Bill Hollenback,
me of the greatest place punters who
'ver wore cleats. is no longer at
luakertown. Consequently the alpy
las apparently fallen into disuse. It
ook a man of Hollenback's kicking
Lbility to make it go. Alec Thayer
$ capable toe artist, however, and
developments along the line OF the
inside kick may be uncovered in
later games Just now
is the forward pass that is in the
imelight on Franklin Field.
When Swarthmore included O'Brien
n her lineup the Garnet had one of
he best onside kick ground gamers
,nown to the game. O'Brien's remark
BILE dropkiclSing ability had uncon-
ciously schooled him for the play.
'wartnmore's style was different from
diagonal kick OF 1907 In
hat the fullback and two halfbacks
an straight across field while Quar-
srback o'Brien dropped the ball
longside the fleeing trio. The play
yas a success.
Fordhann's success this autumn can
e attributed in no small degree to
he onside kick. One OF the Maroons'
against Cornell wa sdue
} the play. In McCafferty and Nc
arthy Fordham has a pair OF ends
Tho can cover the quick drives to per-
sction. Moreover, the Bronx kickers
re reliable. Several of the smaller
ollege teams have developed the paiy
, high dgree. However, they are
NV and far between. The ideal equip
lent, classy booter, and just as ca
able ends, is not generally found on
he same squad. The coach who has
lch Material considers himself fav-
ed son OF fortune.
III