Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-09

selves SO evenly matched that each called
upon the play frequently in the second
half. but although both elevens had dis
played considerable skill in it's operation
in previous games, not one Of the at
tempts was successful. Not only was
the defense prepared for 1t, but the ball
was always batted uown or caught by
the opposition. The same results were
which not a single forward pass sue
ceeded.
The most disappointing feature OF the
1912 gridiron season was the tendency OF
all the big teams to play too conservative
a game. They were so cautious that no
team was willing to take a chance with
some daring play until 1t was already
beaten. Then in desperation 1t would at
tempt some wild play, which depended
more upon luck than good foot ball for
it's success. What foot ball needs more
than anything else is an inventive coach
who can teach his men to handle the ball
clearly, and who is not afraid to adapt
some of the features of Canadian and
English Rugby to the American game.
This development of the game Is sure to
come, and when some coach demonstrates
it's effectiveness it will be copied. AS
things now stand. most college coaches
watch their rivals. and particularly the
leading teams, copying their plays in
stead of trying to develop new ones
Sentiment against the retention of the
forward pass is rapidly crystaliizing be
y
play was introduced in the hope that 1t
would enable teams otherwise evenly
matched to score by it, In this respect
it has been total failure. and not so
good a play as the onsde kick. good
many foot ball men are still wondering
why the rules committee never eliminated
the onside kick. AS a matter OF fact, 1t
was abolished as compromise for the
addition of fourth down in which to
make ten yards. and the removal Of all
restrictions from the forward pass. In
the light of the experience OF 1917 1t
would seem to be the wise thing to do to
side kick. and otherwise leave the rules
as they now are.
Harvard the Champion.
There is no difference of opinion among
foot ball critics about the team which de-
serves to be regarded as the intercollegi-
ate champion. That is Harvard. The
Crimson went through the season without
a defeat. Pennsylvania State College being
the only other team in the east to make
such record. But since Pennsylvania
did not play the same class of opponents
as Harvard there is really no argument
between the two for supremacy. AS
matter of fact State College does not de-
serve to be ranked above Yale or Prince
ton. Harvard played the hardest sort OF
a schedule. defeating Brown, Princeton
Dartmouth and Yale among the big teams
In none Of these games was there any
question as to the Crimsons superiority.
With Harvard ranked first. Princeton
certainly deserves second place, for al
though the Tigers were played to 6-6
tie by Yale, the Princeton team played
the better foot ball. Although Yale did
not play Dartmouth or State College, the
Ellis are ranked third because they played
a much more difficult schedule. There Is
no way to determine whether or not State
ILL l4f4 ~ or%rv, <,,th 6rfA tt,A
Pennsylvanians made as good a record
against Cornell as did the Hanover men,
and because of their uniformly victorious
season they are ranked next to Yale
Then comes Dartmouth.
1t is an exceedingly difficult matter to
attempt the grouping of the next Ave
teams. The Indians, Pennsylvania.
Brown. Lehigh and Swarthmore probably
ought to be ranked on almost even terms.
1t is totally impossible to attempt any
ranking on the basis of comparative
scores. for the reason that every one of
these teams suffered slump at some
part of its season. For instance. Penn
sylvania was beaten by Brown. 3O-7 in
ers rallied in sensational manner and beat
the Indians. who later swamped Brown
:s2-O. SwarthmOre and Lafayette both
beat Pennsylvania while the Quakers
We're down and out, but there was no
question that at the end of the season.
when Pennsylvania got in shape for Its
games. that the Quakers
were far superior to all of the teams of
this group with the possible exception of
the Indians Although Pennsylvania beat
the Indians. the Red Men lost largely |
through fumbles, and nine II mes out of
ten would probably have beaten Pennsyl-
vania. Therefore. the Indians should be
ranked next to State College, with Penn |
sylvania following. and then Brown. Le-
high and Swarthmore in the order named. F!
This however. is not final grouping,
because it is full of inconsistencies and Is
a ranking made in accordance with the
writer's idea Of the strength OF these !
teams at the end of the season. Colgate,
Lafayette. Army, Navy. Syracuse and
half dozen other minor colleges deserve
and could probably cite
scores to prove that they should be |
ranked in this second group. 1t Is largely
a matter of opinion. and as a matter of
fact all the rankings up to the first five
are bound to cause dissatisfaction. Any
one who can unravel the intricacies and |
inconsistencies of these scores Is entitled |
to all the satisfaction he can get out |
Of it.