New-York tribune., 1911-10-16
ON COLLEGE GR|D|RONS
Forward Pass Continues to Act
as Dangerous Boomerang.
PRINCETON GETS A LESSON
Tie Game with Lehigh May Be
Potent Force in Develop
ment of Team.

uEnN VI @NoAAs
once more the forward pass across the
u,s o. scrinmage In football has proved
boomerang. Princeton felt the force OF
:. IN no uncertain way last WEDNESDAY
--ror ne game with Lelligh followed the
,,.e-ceptinC Of pass and long run Tor
touchdown by Knox. while Williams lost a
came on October 10 Springfield Training
School for the same reason. AS I said
v-osk ago. it is yet too early 20 take up
.rA rpestion 4 another revision or the
-ras IN detail-a revision that was neglect
~ last winter. on the ground that for the
,roeort az least it was better % let wei
enough alone I'm the hope that another sea-
s,r would emphasize more clearly the most
o-,fng needs. To may he recalled, how
ever that I'm the opinion of a number OF
close students OF the game the forwari
,ase across the line Of sCrimmage is not
1rlv an unnecessary hazard but an un-
so--d rlav I was one of the first 70 sue-
rest that the pass should be limited be-
hind the line of scrimmage. recognizing the
i-n0o~tarce OF the play as q means or
weakening and spreading out the defence.
Even then the forward pass might act as
boomerang. but the chances would be
AGAINST 20 and the game materially I'm
r-7vcd. Football coaches and football crit
as are not Of one mind on this subject In
fqrt. tho forward pass across the line or
.rr~irrlnace has made some friends. who at
C-et rallied against 70 as a basketball feat
IRE. but - also has lost friends who al
first we're IN favor Of fits adoption. II may
70 hard. under the circumstances, 70 legts-
late against the play but just so long as
the rule remains in its present form will
football Ia ranked as o more or less hap
hazard and uncertain game.
AS an example Of what an intercepted
forward pass cost Williams. fl may be re
reated that the eleven was beaten by
spr.nrfeld Training School at TO 3, in
sr',e Of tho fact that 80 gained 81 yards by
gushing 90 for its opponent
The time has come for the leading elev-
ems 20 give a fun accounting Of their
strength The preliminary season has
rsssed and from now on Yale. Harvard
Princeton and the rest of the teams that
g~e lighting for the so-called championship
will be put 90 the test The preliminary
games have not been altogether easy sail
rg. as was the case IN the Old days when
farrfce 90 the beef and Drawn Of their
more powerful opponents. The new rules
have worked wonders IN this respect. as a
premium is now placed on the speed. skill
ana brains of "a team. rather than on mere
brute force. Few one-sided scores have
been IN evidence this year. and hardly a
same has been PLAYED that has not been
.f3H n interest for the onlookers-a condi-
ton which did not obtain under the old
jsttrr.ns ram tactics. when II was Ques-
ton ou.r Of how bis the score would he.
Before another week IS over the worlds
baseball championship may he decided. II is
hoped with victory for the Giants. and Il
such IS the case interest viii centre IN four
football games Of high degree Of promi-
nrnce. Yale VIII face West Point in an ef-
fort To retrieve itself for the defeat Of last
year. Princeton Will take the field against
the Navy eleven from Annapolis IN what
is sure 20 be good test for both. Brown
vii. try once more 10 turn the tables on
Pennsylvania. a thing much desired at
1rravidence. while Harvard will do battle
with Amherst in a game keeny anucipat-
ed, - for no other reason than 20 furnish
g lire between the latter and Williams
which was beaten by Harvard on Saturday
a, IS 20 o. These are not the only games
which will bear watching. as Cornell and
Washington and Jefferson. Dartmouth and
Williams and Lafayette and Syracuse ap-
pear 10 be well enough matched 70 insure
keen struggles.
One week ago the outlook was bright for
q more powerful eleven a, Princeton than
for several seasons. but dlscourag cement
-saue '1 the wav Of a tie game at 10
with Iohgh last Wednesday, when the
u-ae~gr7duatas were fairly stunned with
what appeared for time like sure defeat.
Much credit belongs % Lehigh for the part
Ct played. and Knox. I'm a sense, earned
football .amo bv his dash for d touch
down after securing the bail on an inter
cr1t.. forward pass. and his name VIII not
soon Dee forgotten by Princeton men. Civ
.7s all credit TO Leh.sh, however, it may
De said that breaks were discovered in tho
Princeton line which must be mended II
Harvard and Yale are TO be beaten later I'm
t1e season. 10 is quite possible shat this
particular tie game viii be a potent force
IN the development Of the eleven. The easy
victories i1 the first three games, when
the Tigers ran up total Of Jos points,
more t1al they scored in all their games
year ago. may have aroused a feeling of
csIfdauce that it is well was rudey
shaken. The coaches at Princeton have
much 20 do. bat so far as can be Judged
they have plenty OF material 20 mould and
PLENTY of time TO do it in.
Ihe Princeton squad is blessed with an
exceptionally fast backheld. and, judging
iIJm the games played. there is material
colgI t0 enable the coaches to make fire.
clert use of substitute backs and to save
Tho regulars for ,hc more important con-
tests. This should help the Princeton team,
tor "a past years it has been too often the
ease that the Tigers have entered the all
n Important games with men that perhaps
/ had gone % little stale. Last year Pen
ceton hardly had q chance 20 show his
worth 30 The Yale game. as he was
marked man. rut. it is also true that PEN
dle,on had been bearing the brunt of the
, attack during the entire season, and no
ao1bt felt ..s effect with Sawyer Baker
DE WITT Hammond, Farr and Chrysue
al showing exceptional ability in open Held
running t1.s season. it should not be neces-
sary 20 ov-rrors one man iu tho less i'm
p'r'ant games
There .s one serious failing in tho Prince
g- oacted and that is the lack OF
"i class lue rIuneer Experience has
'o"n time and aeain that good plunS-
- 'act is ono of the essentials or "A VIII
-'c team. and uHie "a fast hackhe'd' such
q 'fr'.'7us t..s .oar, is bound 20 run
4 a-oi- total NJ points against the weaker
De- FH