The Washington times., 1912-10-19
WEAK TEAMSHAVE
CHANCE ATWINNINC
Modern Gridron Game Gives Smaller Elevens Look-in
and Puts Premium on Agility and Quick Think
ing-Teaches Self-Reance
By WALTER H. ECKERSALL.

Is the pr, sent style OF football better
than the old game? There are many
who have their likes and dislikes for
both games. and " only way to come
to a conclusion in the nnatter Is to con-
slider the qualities In the varied sty leg.
OF play. While the old game brough;
the popular college pastime TO the
front. there is little doubt that the pres
ent game. with its possibilities, has It's
predecessor beaten.
There was little incentive for a small
team to keep bucking up against u
stronger eleven. knowing beforehand
only thing in their minds was to holi
the score down as low NJ possible. This
same condition prevailed year after year
, and the weaker team was merely tool
for tho stronger aggresation to At itself
, In the season. In the days OF the old
game men were selected for the squad
and sent to the training table II they
were of enormous weight and possessed
strength accordingly. The present
game places these requirements on the
shelf and gives everybody, no matter
whether heavy o. liiht, a chance to
| make good,
Must Take Responsibility.
The PLAYS Vnder the new rules re-
Quire a man to go on the field OH his
own responsibility and meet ali attack
on his own resources. In the old game
team was taught how to meet an at
tack and had a defense for every play
sprung by the opponents. They were
taught plays in a mechanical fashion.
and II they did not gain they were dis
tinctly up against II.
| The players had no recourse TO other
plays. and they had to stay on the field
1 A. h.. hx.. sAaxt at h..
lines which were taught them by the
coach. II the style Of defense as laid
down by the coach did not successfully
cope with the opponent attack, the de-
fensive team was beaten and the size OF
the score only a question Of time. IN
der the present rules the players are
obliged to think for themselves. and II
SUCH and-such style OF defense does
not meet an offense successfully they
must evolve one that will. and this they
| In this way the game becomes bene-
ft to the players, and they are not
wholly responsible to the coach for their
In the old days the team that conid
| boast Of an average OF 1870 pounds OF
over was considered In the champion.
ship class. Nowadays the team that
or ls0 pounds. and the bsckfield Of such
an eleven IL extremely light, while the
center trio Ii composed OF the heaviest
| men.
Good Kicker an Asset.
Another good feature OF the present
style of play. and one of great Inn
portance, is the fact that the spectators
have the opportunity of seeing the ball
all through a contest. which naturally
makes the game of more interest to
them. The old Rugby game, with its
mass plays and quick changes into the
line. afforded little chance to the spec
tators of seeing the ball until the OFF,
cials had untangled the pile Of strug'
CLING humanity, and the constant repe'
tition of such plays became woefuils
monotonous.
A kicker. OF both the punt and dror
was an absolute necessity In the old
style game, but he Is OF vastly more
Importance under the new rules. For
merly many games were won because
the teams had a man who could boo
the pigskin down the field 20 and q
yards and had ends who could cove
the punts In good shape. The field goa
proposition also led many coaches t.
look for a man early In the season whit
showed some promise OF becoming pro
ficient In this line.
A good field goal kicker Is the mos
! valuable asset any team can possess
and the art Of kicking goals from tn