Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-10-17
Bv Bob Blake.


20 far as training goes, the chief
> point in the Vanderbilt system is
light scrimmaging work, hard work
In long distance running to develop
The wind and enable the team to
mil off plays with the speed it
rses much signal practice, and
comparatively little secret practice.
Two scrimnnages a week is about
as much as McGugin ever puts his
men through. and in hot weather
the number is reduced. Such scrim-
lnsees as there are are usually
light without any of the hard,
.Iueling work that used to be
thought necessary to develop a
football team.
The lack of these hard scrim-
IMAGES lessons the chances Of in
Jury in the first place, and, in the
second place. it does not leave the
men worn and tired when the
games come.
That is one secret of the abound
ing energy and vitality that the
Vanderbilt teams display, l think.
They are fresh, fit and ready for
the night on Saturdays when they
meet their opponents. There is
never a scrimmage on the Friday
before a game.
Worn Out Team Loses.
The disadvantage of sending
team into a game worn out and
pounded to pieces was never shown
more forcefully than in the Wander
hiit- Sewanee game of 1909, when
Vanderbilt entered the contest list
less and spiritless because of two
long trips and fierce struggles on
,he previous Saturdays. 1t is sig
ui1cant that this game is the only
one lost to a Southern team since
the coming of McGugin.
Much long distance running is in
cuded in the training program. On
rainy days, when the field is I'M
usually sloppy, McGugin occasion
ally has his entire squad out on the
roads in long distance runs, and
every day he finishes the after
Moons practice with a mile or so
for each man on the track The
endurance and hard wind develop
ed by this work form one Of the
chief factors in Vanderbilt's most
distinctive feature, the rapiditv
with which the plays are pulled off.
When Vanderbilt played Yale. the
Eastern papers were amazed at the
speed with which play followed
play. There is no waiting for the
team to line up to call signals Even
before the ball was down the quar-
ter began singing them out, and by
the time the men were all on their
feet and in position the play was
started.
Work Constantly on Signals.
Another strong point In the
coaching system is the signal prac-
coe. The team is drilled at least
one hour each day, drilled so that
each man thoroughly and absolutely
Knows exactly where he must stand
"nsre he must go, and what he
must DO when each signal is called.
IL Is this tnsistence on absolute ex-
Rctness Of style that gives the sure
accuracy that marks the playing of
the teams When a new play is
Oelng learned. there Is no haste
shown. The play is drilled in slow
~ and thoroughly When It is once
mastered it is pulled off with light
ning-like speed.
The Vanderbilt style of play does
not include any large assortment of
freak plays in the attack, and there
Iore comparatively little secret
practice ts necessary. OF course,
the team usually has a card or two
M its sleeve which can be pulled
IN case of necessity. But to a large
extent Vanderbilt uses plain foot
ball
Fhts does not mean, however,
mat the same plays are used year
after wear. It is the very fact that
'neN are not that has kept Wander
outs attack so diversified that their
opponents are often guessing. Nc
Fusin has been the greatest devel-
Pper Of new plays the South ever
'5u' probably and the beauty about
" Is that they are all standard
pays. There is the split play. one
~ the most effective line bucks
mat mas ever been devised. 1t was
Introduced in the South by McGu-