New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-11-04
Harvard Picked to
Beat Princeton Eleven
Sol Metzger Points Out Rea'
sons But Expects a Hard
Fought Battle.
BY SOL METZGER
Former Captain and Head Coach OF the
pennsylvania Football Eleven.


Whether Harvard or Princeton will win
.he football game at Princeton this after
noon has been occupying the attention Of
close followers OF the sport TO the exclusion
largely Of all other contests of the day. and
Harvard IS the favorite in viewing the
outlook. however. great many points must
be considered. but II seems 70 me that Her-
yard has a superior and more aggressive
line. and a backfeld, containing as II does
Wendell. Potter, Huntington and Campbell
which does not suffer in comparison with
the wonderfully speedy Tigers. Naturally.
the matter Of Harvard playing upon Prince
tons field enters into considerable al
though not so gravely as was the case some
Afteen years ago, when Princeton had built
I'D certain prestige regarding the winning
~ this game thai history tells us was rec
osnized by the Crimson. So one must look
elsewhere IN determining wherein rest
rrincstons hopes.
These hopes must rest, Il would seem. in
PLAYING the open game. for under no consd-
e-ations-excepting the total reversal Of
Harvards form Of ore week ago against
prown--can the Tigers count on smashing
their way 10 victory through that splendid
set OF forwards who wear the Crimson.
Furthermore. the coaches who saw Harvard
~ work against Brown learned without
doubt that the Crimson PLAYERS we're easily
hoodwinked when it came 10 stopping for
ward passes Finally, Princeton has kick
or in De Witt who can get his punts off
quickly. and who uses puzzling onside
kick which may cause trouble in the camp
Of Johnny Hervard
= 4 matter that makes II sonlev hat hard
r. determine the relative merits Of the two
eievens is the fact that they have not met
for FIFTEEN wears. and in that time. especially
within the last five, great changes have
been made I'm football. changes that have
completely altered the style of play former
II followed by these two universities. No
means Of comparing the advances made by
either have been at hand. except the unsat-
isfactorv one Of comparing scores. and in
!. this Harvard has had n distinct advantage
on q line through Yale
II has been said and justly. too. that
rrinceton's line play has been lamentably
weak in past Years q condition that many
contend exists in this 1911 team. All sea
con the forwards have Handicapped and
prevented the hacks from making the ad-
,snces that they had the power 70 DO. so
that unless great changes have taken place
~ Princeton this week there is little 10 hope
for m the play Of the forwards as q unit
against the aggressive. fierce and machine
ike line that Kersberg has produced at
. Harvard within the last two weeks. one
seldom has the pleasure Of watching q Har
3 ,ard line play as the Crimson forwards did
against Brown. II possesses in Gardiner
the best forward IN my opinion, playing
football to-day. and il is not amiss here 10
predict that the struggle between this man
and Captain Hart Of Princeton will be tho
most interesting side issue 10 watch in the
game
COLLECTIVELY the Crimson line works to
gether beautifully. The hole is made az one
side for the backs. while the men on the
other wing work ahead OF the play t. form
the interference, an interference that carries
3 the runner along after lie has passed the
J line Of scrimnage and is coping with the
I opposing secondary defence Herein Har-
D Yards line enabled Wendell and Campbell
70 make much ground against Brown. and
herein it will attempt to make ground
against Princeton.
One may look for Harvard TO play
putting game. strange as it may seem 10
such fray. T think thot Haughton will
instruct Potter 20 punt practically ell the
time when he is in his territory. depending
upon the splendid work OF the two tackles
d and ends 10 prevent Pendleton and Baker
3 from getting away for any long runs. Har-
, ward believes Potter can outpunt De Witt
! and that the line can prevent Princeton
at,ack getting under way in the Orange
and Black Territory 50 that Harvard will
gradually back up Princeton 10 the goal line
and finally get q chance at mid6eld upon
the return punt. Then those hard running.
lodging and strong backs--V endeil ami
CampbeN-Nill be called upon 10 do the
rest. UDon the rushing game Harvard will
count - make ground. interspersing il with
= few forward passes. although the attack
she has used this year clearly shows that
the forward pass rs used rs scoring play
: whenever twenty or thirty Yards from an
/ opposing goal line. and is being checked by
the stronger defence necessarily shown IN
that zone.
, Harvard wants 70 win this game by the
same methods that were employed TO over
throw Brown. although the Crimson canno'
hope for the buck ,hat feil 70 the team IN
that struggle
q Princeton can make ground against
Harvard when I'm Princeton territory tho
orange and Black will quickly overcome
any advantage Potter is expected 10 have
in kicking and thereby throw the struggle
into Harvards back yard, where II will
take al tho ingenuity and strength NJ the
j Crimson 20 get out Of trouble. should
0rircetcn's ends and tackles spring SUI
prise I'm being able 10 prevent their oPpo-
nents covering Potter punts. IS they did
iu the game with Brown. then Fendleton
would more than make NJ for any advan-
taee Harvard might have. as he IS most
dangerous man in an open field.
Unfortunately for Harvard ana fortunate
ly for Princeton. the latter has big I'D
rantsge IN playing the IN side kick. as u
is almost as effective defensiveiy az the
=tyle Of kick used by Hervard-the high
rpnt that has fcr its object placing the
bail well into the opponents territory
i' Princeton will use such play. whereas i
. iis extremely doubtful Y Harvard will. IS
! ne team hes never been coached 70 place
3 arv reliance in " Princeton knows the
great advantage 81 #. and having watched
Harvard all fan certainly knows the rather
weak and peculiar STYLE Of rlsv Potter
adopts IN handling punts Potter is not an
open field runner. and ] say this remember
ing his startling run after catching punt
" the Brown gains. In the first place, Pot
Ter cannot dodge IN the second. he cannot
h. a~.H.. a.~~y .sltrr