Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-08
FORWARD PASS IS
UP FOR JUDGMENT
Play Will Be Given Thorough
Tryout This Year by
Big E|evens.
WILL BE CURTAILED
IF 1T PROVES FAILURE
Maryland Aggies Have Two Regu-
lars Out.
GEORGETOWN WORKING HARD
Blue and Gray Does Not Underes-
innate Strength of Washing
ton and Lee Aggre-
cation.
Maryland Aggies Have Two Regu-
lars Out.
GEORGETOWN WORKING HARD
BY n. c. BYRD.


The forward pass is a play which is
going to be on the docket this year to the
extent that if it is a failure it will be
abolished, and if it is a success it will be
retained. There appears little doubt that
the big elevens are trying out the play
to a greater extent than has ever before
been the case. and if it does not come up
to what is claimed for it there will be a
more determined effort than has yet been
made to eliminate the play.
The forward pass has always been a
very questionable play. and has had more
opposition than any other feature of foot
ball 1t has always been held by those
who have advocated 1t that it lessons
the danger In the sport, and also keeps
the defense scattered sufficiently to allow
the offense to gain ground. The oppo-
nents of the play have done everything
at different times to have 1t curbed,
or. else. cut out altogether, for various
reason, but have as yet not succeeded.
There is little doubt, though, that after
being given a thorough trial this sea-
son the pass will be up for even more
censure than 1t has ever received, unless
it proves worth more an adjunct to
the offensive tactics of the big elevens
than it ever has. The pass has found ia
vor with but few of the larger schools
heretofore. but there appears to be a gen.
eral movement along a line of special de-
relopment for this fall unless it comes
up to what is generally claimed for it,
and does prove either effective as Il
ground-gainer or in keeping the defense
open enough to insure the effectiveness
of the running style of play.
IT the forward pass does not accom-
plfsh one Of these two things more
effectively than it has in previous
years it is sure that it will either be
totally abolished or rules passed so
restricting it that it will be used but
very seldom.
The Maryland Aggies begin the hard
est part OF their schedule this week
with two Of their regulars on the hos
pital list. The two men who are out
Of the game for perhaps two weeks
are Right End Johnson and Quarter
back Shipley. Both men have done some
mighty good work this season, and
their absence has necessitated several
shifts In the personnel OF the eleven.
In the game in which the Aggies fig
ured against Richmond College last
Saturday, while they won by a big
score. there appeared several weak
nesses in the lineup which must be
eradicated before the eleven will show
all that it is capable of. In the prac-
tice yesterday Williams, who has been
playing right guard for the last two
Eddy. until now a substitute lineman.
has been given the regular job. John
son. who has been playing FULL takes
Smiths place at left end. and Ruff one
of the sub backs, has gone into John
sons place at full. Williams has taken
the place OF Johnston. the regular right
end. who has broken finger. VIE
knode is playing quarter in place of
Shipley. who is out with severe
strained ankle.
The .iggies will meet Hopkins Satur-
day. and. judging by what was done
against the Navy by the latter eleven.
will have it's work cut out for it in
more ways than one. Barring accident.
not be easily defeated by any of the
teams in their class. Whether or not
Johns Hopkins will prove to be out of
their class remains to be seen.
That Georgetown realizes it will be up
against what should be "A difficult PROPOSE
ton when it faces Washington and Lee
Saturday is certain by the precautions
it is taking regarding preparations Secret
practice has been started on the Hilltop.
and the team will work hid from the view
of any spectators from now on.
The Hiiltoppers may defeat the I-eNins-
ton aggregation very easily and then
again it may not accomplish the victory
without showing everything it has in its
repertoire Washington and Lee should
prove a fairly hard combination to get
away with. and the Blue and Gray will
probably have to extend itself to the
limit to win. There Is possibility. of
course. that the Virginia eleven will win,
but the chances are it will not
The veteran material which Georgetown
has at its disposal and of which the
eleven is composed is almost sufficient in
itself to guarantee q. victory over any of
the elevens in this section. The fact is
not lost sight of. though, that defeat
comes many times to foot ball teams
bility. not probab ility. that the Blue and
Gray will be up against just such
proposition Saturday.
Catholic University will go to Rocl,
Hill Saturday to play that school. The
Maryland Aggies go to Baltimore to meet
the Hopkins eleven. and Gallaudet will
travel to Lexington to hook up with the
Virginia Military Institute.
Georgetown is the only one of the local
institutions which will play at home.