Norwich bulletin., 1911-11-25

| Cambridge, Mass, Nov. 24-Heavy
rain today with a prospect of a soggy
| playing field tomorrow caused a dis
tinct feeling of uncertainty in both
camps tonight as to the outcome of
the Harvard and Yale annual football
battle. Gloom as thick as the weather
prevailed mong the followers of the
game. who have already arrived in
numbers large enough to throng the
hotel corridors, and the players and
coach IS Of the rival teams did not
display any excess of confidence.
Even the prediction of the weather
forecaster, that tomorrow would be
clear and cool, did not entirely dispel
the gloom. for the Stadium is almost a
quagmire again, as it was last Satur-
day, despite the covering fof hay that
has been put on, and unless there is a
hard freeze its condition is not likely
to be much improved tomorrow
Among the experts there was a
slippery field would tend to the ad
vantage of Harvard. Yale men hoped
for a cold night and continued cold
tomorrow, without snow. The line
shift and skin tackle and end plays
which the Yale coaches have made an
especial feature of the Blue game be-
come difficult and even dangerous in
an uncertain field. for there is always
: chance that a runner may be thrown
for a loss before he gets well under
way.
With Wendell to rely on as line
smasher, Harvard's plunging play was
looked upon as less handicapped than
that of Yale.
In the event of rain, it was predicted
tonight that Yale would ask for an
agreement by which a new ball could
be rut in play upon the call Of either
captain. That would render field goals
less difficult than with a heavy, water
soaked ball An agreement to disre-
gard field goals made by bounding
balls, like that which gave Princeton
the victory over Dartmouth two week
ago. is probable.
Neither eleven could put in much
practice today, though the Harvard
men did an hours work in secret and
later went through some formations
on Soldiers field for the benefit of a
thousand undergraduates and alumni
who We're or hand with q band to give
some final cheers and display their
confidence in the team before the
game. The weather conditions made
it necessary for the Yale men to give
up their trip to the Stadium, where it
was intended they should have little
practice TO get accustomed to the lights
Stadium field is covered several feet
deep with hay and will remain SO
probably until just before the game.
Harvard. while not able ia do much
the evening. The team, with the great
er part of the coaching staff. took the
journey to the Vesper Country club at
Lowell. where the squad will spend
the night. Here the eleven passed a 4
very quiet evening and went to their |
beds early. There will be nothing do !
ing in the way of practice tomorrow
forenoon, and after lunch touring cars
will convey the players to the Stadi- |
UNI.
The advent of the rain, with the con- !
sequent muddy condition Of the grid |
iron within the stadium, led the Yale |
coaches, it is understood, to consider |
4 revision in the lineup which will |
start the game for Yale. As a result,
Philbin may go in at fullback instead |
IF Dunn, the latter player having been
at a disadvantage under |
Inc similar conditions which prevailed |
at New Haven last Saturday.
There was the usual night before !
the-game crowds at the Boston hotels, |
the weather apparently making no |
Automobile parties spat- |
tered with mud from head to foot |
We're frequent arrivals, and trains from |
all points brought large numbers of |
supporters of the Blue and the Grim |
son
For weeks all accommodations for
football parties at the larger hotels /
have been reserved, and many appIi- |
cants have been turned away. Percy |
Rockefeller OF New York, nephew OF