New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-16
Stubborn Battle Likely to
Hinge on Power OF the
Blue Line.
low THE TEAMS COMPARE
Apparent Weakness on the
Ends and One Tackle of
Princeton Team May
Prove Fatal.
BY Herbert.


Pendleton and his Tigers at Princeton to-
day, and the football world is agos. Way
back In 1873 teams representing the two
universities faced each other for the first
time on the gridiron, and since then Yale
has won twenty games, Princeton ten'
while seven resulted in a tie Now comes
the thirty-eighth battle. and, after care
fully weighing the elevens in the balance,
and without prejudice. be II said, l feel
constrained to name Yale as the winner.
1t is no easy task to diagnose the play OF
two teams which have had no opponents
IN common and which have pursued
different policy in development, out' con-
sidering the problem from known angles
In the face Of much secrecy on the part
OF the coaches, can reach no otner con-
clusion. Needless 10 say, both teams are
hopeful, even confident.
NV chief reason for picking Yale 10 peat
Princeton lies In the Blue forwards Inc
rush line is the keystone OF footosh
teams construction, and l do not hesi'
tate TO say that Yale can boast OF inc
best offensive line since Tom sne'nn
tins This may seem like a bold STATE
ment. but the opinion is shared by TWO or
threa men who have watched the Aa'e
team develop, and in whose judgment
bav. Rreat confidence. The Blue lor-
wards are bulky, and yet combine rare
speed with their weight. They are ae-
gressiye. too, and charge harder and sufer
tban any I have seen this year. Further
,oor. thew are well grounded in the nice
ties Of football, notwithstanding the oplii'
ION Of some critics after the Brown sshle'
II ia this line, then, as opposed 10 friHVe-
TOMS which makes the Tigers suiler III
comparison.
7 5id not see the Yale-Brown game as
was I'D at Ithaca watching Dartmouth
defAat Cornell, but 1 have enjoyed other
onnortunities of studying the Yale team
u also was my privilege to "atch
pr,nc.ton beat Dartmouth and go down
hafore Harvard, and, while football 10
uncertain at best, my impressions are 30
clearly defined that / do not hesitate "
express them.
Value Of a Strong Line.
The best backs in the world will ap-
,,ar weak and ineffective unless the toi-
ards can open up the necessary hoi.e
d., the opposing line or furnish the neeo-
q protection until the man running WIN
bs hall is fairly started. This was
,r,k,neIv emphasized at Cambridge two
81. ago when such brilliant backs as
Bobey" Baker, Pendleton, wafer anu
eWitt actually lost two yaros oS
straight rushing in the second nan DC
.ause the Princeton forwards were uI'-
able TO cope with the Harvard line Inc
tigers profited by that lesson ana no
onht have improved under the whip OF
he coaches but 1t strikes me that the
esu WAS too weak at one tackle ana
nth ends. under the system or play
sdopted, against Harvard for any amount
Of drilling and driving to bring IL UP 10
the yaouired standard and to onset the
advantage which Yale seems to have IN
the line. -
So far as the backHelds go there is
uttI. 70 choose. Individually and col
lecttyely, have leaning 70 princeton
that is. I would have If satisfied that tne
two lines were equal in strength. AS II
IS. Il would not be surprising 10 sec
Csptain Spalding, Lefty" Flynn ana
pbilbjn shine in comparison with de-
witt. "Hobey" Baker, Captain Pendleton
.rd waller. In substitutes, however
Vale Ia much stronger, as the Blue mas
q .econd string Of backs. made up Oh
Punopelly, Markle and Cornell, VINO oy
the u,av. is a better halfback than ne 10
quarterback. that is 80 nearly equai
"a IN. first string that the coaches nave
11ra a
In any case, the Yale backhelo "ouio not
be materially weakened II two or moro
constitutions were necessary.
Neither eleven can boast of Charley
Briekley, but both have strong punterS
and reasona bly, sure drop and place KICK
ors DeWitt had an OF day in punting
against Harvard, but he has proved MS
skill in many games. and Is quite hKeiy 10
hold his own with Flynn, who In all prop
ability. will do most OF the puntins fsr
Yale 'Hobey'' Baker, for the Tigers
ana P,Impelly, for the Blue, are the ones
,,ost likely to be called on for drop or
place kicking II the opportunity arises.
Tn. Yale eleven has been developed
slowly, and has shown only just enough
scoring ability to win all the games
PLAYED. This does not InuiCdtS' hV"O'Si'
that the running game has been neglected
or that the offence has not been developed
20 a point that will carry a punch when
punch is needed. The defence has been
strong all the season and the goal line
has not been crossed.
The Tigers, on the other hand, nave
rolled up 31s points this year, with an at
tack that was varied and fairly cohesive,
out in the real test against Harvard the
funning game was at fault against a
-trons defence, and touchdown was
cored only by clever use OF the for
ard pass. The defence In that game and
tso against Dartmouth was not quite
impact enough to check opponents inside
ne ao-yard line. even though 1t was
trong enough to hold them on for a
me
How the Players Compare.
Yale has a strong centre trio. with
ketchana at centre and Cooney and Pen
Teton guards, while the tackles, Warren
nd Talbot, are above the average. In
no opinion of at least three Of the Yale
caches. Bomeisler, at right end. has no
quail in that position on his play last
ear, when he found place on the ALI
American team by common consent. He
as not played much this season on ac-
cunt OF an injury 70 his shoulder but