Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-09-18
LIGHT MEN STAR
IN MODERN GAME
4. the New system or Football Better
Than the Oid2--What Walter Eck-
crsnu SAYS ON Subject

Us the present style Of football bet
ter than the old game? There are
many who have their likes and dis
likes for both games. and the only
way to come To- conclusion bon the
matter Is To- consider the quality Of
both styles Of play. While the old
game brought the popular college
pastime to me front. there Is little
doubt that the present game with It's
vast possibilities has the old style
game beaten.
There was little incentive for small
team to keep bucking up against a
stronger eleven, knowing beforehand
that ID would be beaten, and the only
thing in its mind was 20 hold the
score down as low as possible This
same thing happened year AFTER yeni,
and the weaker team was only tool
for the stronger eleven Go condition
itself for the bigger games which were
to come later in the season. In the
DAYS OF the old game men were SEE
lected for the squad and sent To the
training table II they were Of enor-
nous weight and had strength accord
ingly The present game places these
requirements on tho shelf and gives
everybody. no matter whether he is
strong. heavy or light a chance TO
make good.
In the old days the team that could
boast of an average OF l9O pounds OF
over was considered champion
while the team that Wins a cham
pionshlp NOWADAYS averages in the
neigh borhood Of 10 pounds. ana the
backdeld OF such an eleven is eN-
tremcIy light. while the center trio Is
composed OF the heaviest men.
The new game presents many posi-
bilities and coach who does not take
advantage Of these possibilities has
no business I'm the game. coach
nowadays must be resourccful He
must have inventive genius and use
his material to the best advantage.
He must look for some fast players.
He must look for players who are
adept in throwing and catching the
ball. and he must look for men who
can Withstand onslaughts on the mid
die OF the line. He must place his
men on the defense. where their
ability will be put 20 the best advan-
tage at the same time saving them
for their offensive qualities
There were many fundamental
plays under the old regime which any
football inclined person knew. and II
was no trick to make him proficient
in this style Of play. The old forma-
tions such as halfback straight in and
the ullback likewise, the tackle
around and the end around, are plays
that the college novice knew long be-
fore he struck college and which we're
drilled into his head In mechanical
form OF coaching.
UNDER NEW RULES
The plays under the new rules re-
quire man TO 60 on the held on his
own responsibility and meet an attack
on his own resources. In the old game
a team was taught how 20 meet an
attack and had a defense for every
play sprung by the opponents. They
were taught plays In a mechanical
manner. and II they did not gain they
were up against IT," The players had
no recourse to other plays. and they
had TO stay on the field and night the
best they could along the lines which
were taught them by the coach. "
the style of defense as laid down by
the coach did not successfully cope with
the opponents offense. the defensive
team was beaten and the size OF the
score only n question of time.
Under the present rules the players
are thrown upon their own responsible
ity. and 10 such and such a style of
defense does not meet an Offense sue
cessfully the players must evolve one
that viii. and this they must do with
out any help or advice from the coacn.
In this way the game becomes "A benefit
TO the players. and they are not wholly
responsible 30 the coach for their VIC
tories or defeats.
\ coach under the present rules
must be familiar with the possibilities
afforded by the new rules He must
realize that his plays must be strate-
gcally planned and not planned in a
haphazard manner, trusting to luck for
their ultimate outcome In other words
the coach must be a student Of the
game and must make plays accord
ing 20 the material from which he Will
have 10 pick his eleven. II he Is for
tunate enough IN having "a lot OF fast
active players with plenty Of nerve. he
Is IN a good position TO land cham
pionship for his college With this
sort OF materials he can evolve plays
of the most open nature and can be
reasonably sure of getting away with
the bis majority Of thom
SPECTATORS CAN SEE.
The old game. afforded little thought
for the coach There were the funaa-
mental old plays that We're In the cate
cory Of every teams signals, and II the
players were strong and heavy enough
there was never any doubt as TO their
ultimate outcome. Il was seldom that
two teams were matched evenly 10
weight and Drawn, and the various
plays permitted Of many injuries
which the new game has 10 a great
extent done away with.
Another good feature OF tho present
style OF play. and one that Is az great
Importance. Is the fact that spectators
have the opportunity of seeing the bail
an through contest, consequently
making the game more interesting 10
them. The old Rugby game, with rs
mass plays and quick charges into the
line. afforded little chance 10 the spec
tators of seeing The bail until the Of
hcers had untangled tho pile Of hu-
manity and the constant repetition Of
such plays became mOnotonous
kicker OF both the punt ana drop
was am absolute necessity In the old
style game, but he is OF vastly more
Importance under the new rules Many
games were won last year because GER
tain teams had men who could boot
the pigskin down the field 40 on 10 yards
and had ends 20 cover the kicks In
good shape. The field goal proposition
also has led many coaches to look for
"a man early la the season who shows
some promise OF becoming proficient la
this line A good field goal kicker is
most valuable asset On any team, ana
the art ~ kicking goals from the nold
can only be- learned after days or hard
practise This practise should be done
behind a scrimmage line. With an OPP
posing eleven hreaking through, en-
deavorlng a. block the attempt This
enables the kicker 10 gain confidence
ln himself. and in a great measure he
viii learn Just how much time to al
low himself without fear VI having his
kick blocked.