Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-12-15
WESTERN GAME MORE OPEN.
Easier For the Average Spectator to
roi'o" the Different Formations.
eastorn Teams Stick to STRAIGHT
Footbali-Miehisan Greatest Team
of Year.
BY TOMMY CLARK.


tates.' For long time there was n
lot or truth i'm 1t, but that time went
by some years ago. The western teams
nave coaches who know their business
quite as well as the eastern instructors.
both physically and mentally. to pick
from. Knowing the game fully as
wen and having players who are en-
lowed with the same physical advan-
tages. why should the western brand
OF football be labeled as inferior TO the
eastern?
The teams in the east have not DEM
onstrated their superior ability on the
playing field In the last few years In
the intersectional games. Michigan
beat Penn last year and outplayed the
Quakers this fail. Chicago held Cor
nell to tie for two years. but was
badly beaten this season. Tbe Maroon
team was very weak this year and was
mark for nearly all western elevens.
In only one game this year in which
truly representative western eleven
met good eastern team the westerners
mad the best of the battle. In the
game with Penn Michigan had to stand
against the best kicking game that any
team produced. The Wolverines were
especially prepared TO do that and
with line heavier than Penn's we're
able to take great deal OF the force
out of PENIS attack
When Michigan defeated Minnesota
1t defeated one of the most power
full teams of the year and one that
could make IL very interesting for any
eleven in the east. Michigan OUTLAY
ed Minnesota in the best gridiron bat
tie OF the year
Eastern critics give Harvard the
championship OF the country. while
experts In the west hand IL Michigan.
But the game would have To he played
before any one would be convinced
that either Harvard or Michigan was
the better team. Judging by what
have seen, | honestly believe that the
Michigans would defeat the Crimson
men. Michigan has not as many indi-
N.uual stars rs Harvard. but the VOL
verene squad Is u unified machine
composed OF eleven working parts.
Harvard. on the other hand, Is NOT the
machine that Michigan is. There is
too much iudlvldualism and it was
because Of this that Harvard failed to
defeat Yale
This season the writer had an excel
lent opportunity TO size up the respec-
tive styles Of the big eastern and west
ern elevens. | was present Mt the Min
nesota-Michigan game, the Yale Prince
ton ana several other big gridiron bat
tlc'. so ! have good line ON the rela-
ti'' strength and abilities of eastern
nnd western football.
- the west the game Is more open.
pe"tacular and much easier for the
aVrrage football enthusiast to follow
the different plays while I'm the east
nearly all the leading teams played
straight football The teams refused
TO take many chances with the open.
tricky style OF play, prcferrlng to Keep
the ball. punt IL far afeld. plunge
through the line or skirt the ends. Lit.
lie OF the new football was on tan In
the Minnesota Michigan battle IL was
on two prettily executed forward
passes from the center of the field that
the Wolverines scored n touchdown
While 1t must be admitted that Il
was a forward pass-Howe 10 Kilpat.
rick-thet defeated Princeton. stiu II
was the tackle shift one % Mime
sota's pleys, that puzzled the Princeton
men and had thew all az sea That
had much 90 do with the defeat OF the
Tigers. Princeton players had never
seen anything like Il before and Just
had TO take their medicine
The shift play Is worked this way
When the team lines mp In possession
OF the ball, nine times out 81 ten the
two tackles are just back OF the two
guards until just before the ball Is
snapped At the signal shift" they
can swing over much more quickly
than the defensive line. and the play
IS under headway before the defending
line is ready 20 meet IT, one halfback
goes up into the line. and one end
drops back. With a strong and fast
player like Fitzpatrick heading The IN
terference this play provides "a power.
ful attack.
There Is one thing particularly that
/ noticed at the Minnesota Michigan
game. and that Is the difference IN the
tackle play. The western play differs
somewhat from the casts. The eastern
tackle is looked upon 70 work IN llt.
tie more definitely with every move 81
the backs in attack, particularly when
the tackle is drawn back. and the east.
ern tackle on defense - Inclined 10
play trifle wider and have n little
more freedom on his feet than the
westerner. But. taken oil around.
here is not any great difference In The
style Of play.
eliminate all element OF chance BIZ
peurfrs, ,.,fth II LII ts-s