The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1912-01-09

twenty illustrious nat1,es In football, 10
a difficult one, and ! have eneavorded
to do 1t by means of selecting histori-
cally the important epochs and the
men who came to the front at these
times. Viewed in this way, It would
seem that the twenty names picked
might fairly be taken to mean the
most to the student sport.
Away back In the seventies, when
Harvard, rather disgusted. as were
most OF the college athletes. with the
unsatisfactory kind Of football provid-
ed In the United States, undertook, at
the Invitation Of the Canadians, some
rugby football. II. n. Grant, Of the
class OF ~, was the captain OF the
team that tried out these conclusions.
1t happened that at about this same
period David Schiff had made q start
toward the kicking game at New
Haven.
1t was not, however, until the fall
Of rs that Whiting. then captain Of
the Harvard team that was playing
rugby football, and Baker, the cap
tain Of the Yale eleven. met with their
respective managers at Springfield ard
agreed upon a certain compromise set
of rules. In the following year. '76,
these rules were abandoned for the
straight rugby. and from this devel-
oped the present game known as
American intercollegiate football.
Whiting and Baker Games Pioneers.
whiting, OF Harvard. and Baker. of
Yale, therefore. were the two pioneers
who introduced the present game as an
intercollegiate sport. AS matter of
fact. whiting himself, did not play In
that game Of '76. as he had broken his
leg in the game with Canada. and Cur
tbs acted as captain OF the Harvard
team in his place.
The man whose name is connected
with the next movement In American
foot ball was that of c. G. Cuyler, the
old Princetonian, and one of our finest
types of men. He It was who, as presi-
dent Of the University Athletic Club of
the rules had become very unsatisfac-
tory, and his club acting under his ad-
vice and sanction. secured the consent
of representative men from the various
colleges to act as q rules committee and
make Its report to this club. This con-
tinued for many years, until the club
itself went out OF existence, but 1t was
Cuyler who planned it and undoubtedly
saved the situation at the time.
Criticisms Cause Change. a..
The next development came when
another uphcaval Of criticism of the
game arising, committee acting I'M
der the Intercollegiate Association.
with Captain Pierce at Its head, effected
an amalgamation with the old rules
committee, and Prof. Dennie, of Cor
nell, received the position of chairman,
and Hall, of Dartmouth, that Of secre-
tary. This committee, with these two
officers, brought football through its
next most serious phase.
But with these three names should
be linked that Of James A. Babbitt. OF
Haverford. who Is responsible more
than anyone else for the Improvement
in rulings through his Craftsmanship OF
that has been most efficacious in clean
ing up some OF the weaknesses Of the
old game
the two members of the old commit
tee who followed the fortunes of foot
ball through thick and thin. Dushiell
being, It's main sponsor at Annapolis,
paeity at the University Of Pennsyl-
| yania. .-sT .t...
Praise for Yost.
The men who have made their great.
est mark on the football country
through the medium Of coaching and
spreading knowledge OF the sport have
been Yost at Michigan, Williams al
Minnesota, Woodruff at Pennsylvania
and Stage of Chicago. To these might
be added a number of Eastern coaches
like Haughton, of Harvard; Roper, loi
| Princeton, but their task was simpler
and not missionary in character. Sew
| eral coaches of school teams. likt
| Ayrault, Of Groton, whose originality
in football attack was good, might bs
| added.
! Yost not only made a mark on ths
football map by the performance OF his