Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-11-22
CAPT. COYS GREAT KICKING
GIVES OLD ELI THE GAME, 8 TO 0.
Yale Easily Wins the Big College Football
Event of the Season at Cambridge===Cap=
tain Coy Covers Himself With Glory
ByKicking Two Goals from the Field.

long time the only organized express
sion of the game was a sort of rush
between the two lower classes, until in
1S49 the Class of 1852. as Sophomorcs,
refused to play the Freshmen, appal-
entity acting under the influence of a
sudden @paSn of virtue. In tho Civil
War days the Yale faculty took Il
hand. It was the same old story even
thcn-the game was too rough. From
1850 to 1870 there was practically no
football at Yale, although Harvard
was kicking the bail about.
But il 1872 the Yale Football Associa-
ton was organized Samuel Elder was
one of the prime movers in tnls or
ganiZation. Another was David Schaff.
The game they played again rcsembled
association football more than ii did
Rugby union but the players, although
they could not pick up a pass if they
mutfcd it, or carry the ball, could bat
it in any direction with III" haHd, or
dribble it along with the foot. \ relic
of this old game still survives. In the
up-tC-Gate rule-book it is stated that
player may bat the ball in any lircc-
ton, except Ca more mOdern no ifica-
tom toward his opponents goal. No
Spectator of the modern gam, la ever
seen Il player Intentionally exercise this
privilege. In 1872 Yale played one
match and beat Columbia by three
goals. In 1873 football convention was
held in New York. Harvard sent re-
gretS. But Princeton, Columbia and
Rutgers attended. Under Slightly mod
fled rules, Yale beat Columbia and
lost to Princeton. But Yale won ~
table victory over a team of English
men living in New York, captained by
Allen, an Elton player, and known as
the Elton team. There was marquis
on the team which fact seems to have
sent thrill through Republican
breasts.
Even in those old days the cry was
for more weight. Bigger men played
for Yale in 1874 than in 1873. Harvard
meanwhile had taken up Rugby. And
in 1919, under compromise rules, spe-
cially devised, a mongrel game was
played and Harvard won.
In 1876 was played the first game be-
tween the Crimson and the Blue under
rules resembling those which were des-
tined to prevail. But goals only coun-
ted and this was lucky for Yale, for
while the Ellis kicked a goal and won
the game. Harvard made two touch,
downs.
In laT there was a disagreement as
to the nunibur of players. Harvard,
even il the '70s, had ideas of her own,
tcnaciously held. Harvard wanted a
game OF 10 men on a side. Yale held
out Tor eleven men on a side and no
game could be arranged. But Yale
gave in to Princeton, although she
would not to Harvard. Yale ana
Princeton played with IS men on a side
and Yale won
IN lN'A, Stili with Is men ou a side,
Aa'e and Harvard played at Boston.
IouchdoWns counted, but not safettes.
Yale scored goal and won. In 1879
the game was a tic, safctics nor count
ing in scoring
IN 1871 II was agreed to play eleven
men on Il side. Yale won. getting a
goal and touchdown. The game was
played at the Boston South End bah
grounds IN a pouring ram, and Har-
ward. who was "there" with COMPLAINTS
OF 1al"'s conduct even then. alleged
mat Yale tried to drown one of her
players by holding him down in a big
puddle OF water
n curious point in early SCORING is;
brought out by the history of this
game. Yale made a touchdown at the
end of the game. but time was not al
lowed in which to kick the goal
In 1881 Harvard agreed if neither
side made amy other scor. the side
which mad" four less safety touch-
downs than the other should win In
tn" game Harvard made four such
safetics Yale none. and Yale was ac-
cordingly the winner. This game. like
the one before, was PLAYED in a
drcnching rain
Tho year 1851 marked the end of the
block" system. Thereafter a team
had to gain five yards in three downs
or forfeit the ball. Previously the
team kept the ball until it lost it by a
tumble or scored a touchdown.
In 1852 Yale began to show the SUI
reriority of her drill. system, choice
of methods and ideas of training.
Harvard was beaten by goal and
three touchdowns, and the Crimson
was forced to make two safeties in
addition. In that year Princeton
scored by place kick from the so
yard line against Yale. but lost.
In 1888 came another forward step.
The point system, which, though fire.
quently altered, has been used in scor-
ing football ever since. was intro
duced. Goals from touchdowns count
ed six. field goals five, touchdowns
falling goal two and safety one
point. Yale continued to demonstrate
superiority and beat Harvard 23 to >,
the Crimson getting a touchdown.
Yale was still laying the emphasis on
weight and had a 1S5-pound rush line
Harvard in this year insisted on GER
tain rules of her own being observed
and was then. as now, the leader in
the path of reform.
In 1884 tho value of a touchdown
failing goal was increased to A. The
score however, was - to in favor OF
the Blue. and Harvard was beaten by
three other colleges.
In 1885 tho Harvard athletic COM
mttee forbade the game.
Wesleyan, little Wesleyan, formd-
able then, got into "The intercollegiate
Football Associations in 1854. succeed
ing Columbia. Yale. Harvard. Prince
ton. Penn and Wesleyan continued I'M
til 1883 to play for the championship"
Harvard, in 1885, not liking the way
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