New-York tribune., 1911-12-04


ended N a TO tie. IL makes II harder
10 decide between them. but I have read
carefully the comment of many good judges
and nave talked 10 q number who saw the
game, so that my opinion is pretty well
formed that what slight advantage there
was Law with the Crimson. In some
other cases Il has been necessary to make
o. ranking without seeing the teams when
AZ their top form. but in most cases judg-
nent was formed by close observation
The whole question. however. SINNERS
down TO q somewhat arbitrary opinion, but
IN my judgment the leading teams should
te ranked as follows:
i-Princeton. li1-Pennsylyanis
Harvard I12-Cornen
2-Yale Ii2-Latayette.
Nav l14-Georgetown.
e-Dartmouth. l5-Syraeuse
S-Arrny. I16-Nlliams.
carlisle Indians i7-New York.
s-Pennsyvania state ls-Amherst
a-Trnity 1s-Colgate.
So-Brown. i20-lehigb.
PENNSYLVANIA State and Trinity, like
Princeton and the Navy, went through the
season without defeat and deserve high
places, even though their schedules we're
not so exacting as some Of the others. It
may he argued that Vermont. which played
particularly we'll in spots, should have
place. and perhaps that Is true, but the
line must be drawn somewhere. Holy
Cross. Crsinus. Rutgers Tufts, Bowdoin,
Wesleyan, Rochester. Union Cmy own coll
iege) and several others must be left off for
the same reason.
II seems utter folly 10 substantiate this
ranking by any rule Of thumb so to speak.
II might be better under the circumstances
70 end the subject at this point and let
those who disagree open their broadsides.
Some explanation may be due, however
even though the conclusions may not be
convincing 20 anybody but myself. No
doubt the chief question will arise over the
Placing Of the team from the United States
Naval academy fourth, instead Of second
3n view of the fact that Il was unbeaten
ihis year and played Princeton to score
less tie. There is no reason beyond the
fact that the eleven in its last and all i'm
portant game Of the season, when IT de-
5eated the Army by a score Of TO o dld
rot play the same finished football IN my
Judgment as Yale and Harvard did against
Princeton. Furthermore. on the day that
the midshlpmen held Princeton TO a tie
score the Tigers were without the services
Of Duff, the remarkable guard, and sam
White, the brilliant END, except IN one
period. Furthermore. Captain Hart was
playing his first game Of the season. While
Sawyer, who failed 10 get place III the
big games, was one OF the backs. 1t Is
true. also, that Dalton did not play through
The whole game for Annapolis and that tho
fsld was a sea OF mud. All Of this Is re-
called - show that Princeton was not rep
resented by IT'S full strength on that day.
snd that the game was not a fair test II
IS a fact that the Navy beat the Army
which beat Yale but Syracuse beat the
Indians who beat Harvard, and there arc
few who because Of this would rank Syra-
cuse above the Crimson. The Navy had a
remarkably good team. with an offence
that in one case at least was well sus-
tained. 1t carried the ball some htty-hNe
Yards by straight rushing and wound UP
with a final punch in the way of a goal
from placement But the team lacked, IN
INV opinion, the power and finish of either
harvard or Yale, and ~ this year Of loose,
hsphazard football made so by rules that
are far from satisfactory, fine lines must
be drawn.
Princeton beat Dartmouth by 4 freak OF
football, and tie score IS generally ac-
cepted as the true measure OF their game
iut Princeton beat Harvard and Harvard
beat Dartmouth and in this case, paradox
zeal as it may sound, results must be ac-
cepted TO draw the line. The same Is true
so far as Princeton, Yale and Harvard are
concerned. Princeton defeated both, thanks
"a the speed keenness and vigilance o.
sam White. the consistent puntins OF De
Witt, and u remarkably strong defence.
As I have said IN this column before.
Princeton suffered from a great structural
weakness in that the team was not
equipped with proper attack In mid
1,eld. and lu my opinion Yale and Harvard.
although beaten by the Tigers, could boast
a. befteI balanced teams and stronger ones,
no ia al that 20 to make up football. bur
football as It WAS. not football. as l. is.
No cloud should he thrown on Prince
toms title. Tor. while ] still think that the
coaches were at fault in not providing
some sort q an effective rushing attack in
,ni4feld. the fact remains that the Tigers
held yale and Harvard of both before and
after White had grasped the opportunities
,bat made touchdowns possible Park II.
Davis. Princetous representative on the
football rules committee. is quoted as say
ing:
There were two tactical policies for elev-
.,s in 1911 10 follow. First, 10 devise
formation so powerful that IL would over
come the lV-yard rule and the hopDle OF
49,, IA 10 the runner. aud with IL play the
TTsbing game: second. TO devise a substan-
,iaI reDertore Of rushing plays, bat 10 de-
velop abnOrmany the outside game To
,,lav the latter style OF game requires an
S<'cantionally strong defensive rush line
fronl tackle TO tackle. an able pair OF cnds
ana q strong punting department, Tor II IS
~b,.ioue that no team can be beaten so
,.I IS tt can stall and stand on its OPP
,Nonsnts from a score. Onenslvely such an
Seven must be unusually neet OF loot
stsl,y nuick and accurate in wits. IL must