Omaha daily bee., 1911-09-03
FOOT BALL A RUNNING GAME
Experts Agree on This Point Concern
ing Coming Contests.
FAST TRAVELLERS BEST BACKS
One Coach Asserts with swift Men I'm
Back Field He VIII Not worry
About the Line--Others DO
Not Agree.

| ABOUT the Llne--ONheFe Do
Not Agree.
II want running players in my bacI
field. Give me a double set of back helC
men-piayers who are fast, heady and
strong-and I shall not worry about my
line. but I will turn out a topnotch clever
this fall"
This statement was made recently by 8
coach who is to be an important factor
in the success Of foot ball IN the west this
fall. He has outlined a definite program
for his own team. He knows just where
he stands Just what he will do when the
season opens, and just what the other elev'
ems against whom his players compete VII
be called upon to perform In order to break
I'D his offense. He has studied the rules
carefully. For three months he at
tended summer school," Of which he was
the only scholar and the only instructor
He knows the possibilities of the rules
And he declares that he wants running
players In his back field-that he does not
care what kind Of line he has. Rather
a radical statement, some will remark for
! a coach to make so early in the year. Bu'
all he says the will not argue with you) Is
Just wait until the season Is well ad-
vanced; you will then see that / have the
right dope on the play for this fall The
eleven with the fast, running back field
is going to be the one that takes the scores
Watch the game; that's all want you to
do"
| some Agree with Him.
And here and there In the west are found
PLAYERS and tutors who rather agree with
the ideas OF this coach. 1T is to be run
ming game" all believe. Still many refuse
to concede that an eleven will be able TO
succeed with a weak line, though the backs
be stars of the first magnitude. Without
a powerful crew Of forwards, the less lib
eral mentors are Inclined to state, no team
will win against opponents who possess a
strong line that is powerful enough to
force their way through the primary de-
Tense and hurry plays.
This western coach, who is willing to
stake his all in all on a fast heady back
field has come to the conclusion that he
can win games against any eleven less
fortunate in material for backs. provided
no has six or seven first-class players for
his own back field He is of the opinion
that he can devise plays which will result
| in a running attack that shall be kept, up
! constantly while his players are on the
offense He wants a quarterback with a
thorough knowledge Of the open game
who also is a good general. He then Will
teach his pupils a startling variety Of run
ming and open plays that can be reeled of
in rapid fire fashion to the perplexity OF
the opposing defense. There will be for
ward passes, frequent kicks. but mostly
deceptive runs-runs, runs. runs must be
the greatest stock.
Does Not Fear Defense.
The coach has concluded that no coach
can build a defense that will check all the
l. II. ok
he has outlined more than twenty running
plays that he will cause his players to use
in the early games of the fall. Some Of
these will not succeed. Others will prove
good ground gamers. Off those he will
rub the rough edges, change them little
and put them away for use later in the fall.
From these successful plays he also Will
develop other open tricks. By midseason
he plans to have an abundance of plays
plays that will be puzzling when used even
In the big games. II is easy to see why he
wants two sets of backs for his eleven.
II is his plan to use at least seven players
in his backfield in all games. The running
game must necessarily be test of the
caliber of the players. A larger number OF
these rapid-fire tricks win exhaust the
leverage man. But running plays must be
used most of the time by the team working
under this particular coach, so there must
be no fatigled men in the lineup at any
time. As soon as back begins to lack In
his work or to show signs of slowing up In
any way he is to be taken out and fresh
man who can keep up the running plays
sent into the fray. BY this system this
western coach believes he will bring his
eleven through the season a winner. Other
coaches, and those, players who have
L v,,lac fnQIinAd n hAIteye
that he has hit upon the right theory for
success this fall
To Take Many Risks.
In addition to being firm believer in the
running game this coach is also convinced
that his players should be permitted to
take all kinds of risks. He will have them
Iuse the forward pass at the most hazardous
points In a contest. He will have them re-
sort TO the kicking game when other means
fail The onside kick will be developed
No restrictions are going to be placed on
risks" He believes that the more risks
his men take the more ground they will
gain. They may fail many times. he
agrees. but in the long run they will be
rewarded for their boldness.
The forward pass win be given much at
Itention at all times. A wide variety OF
lplays in which the pass will figure will be
AIduKnL MS Ilels EdSS0h Nilhl Will DC dliueu
to work to best advantage in the various
situations that arise will go into the roper
tory of his players early in the fall Con-
slant practice and drill will be depended
upon to perfect these plays for the big
games of the schedule.
To make his running game a success and
to insure the smooth working of the for
ward pass, this western coach win start
as soon as the season opens. 10 training his
players in all the tricks OF the open game.
All the backs will be given drill that will
tit them for a succession OF rapidfire plays
lThey will be taught to follow up trick play
after trick play without faltering they
will be coached TO spring spectacular play
latter spectacular play and. indeed. they
viii be forced to learn every point that will
aid the team in perfeeting the running
game.
Musings OF an Old sport.