The Detroit times., 1912-11-16
Men Get Better Training in
the Preparatory
Schools
TNTERSECTIONAL TITLE"
Is ALL RANKEST BUNK
Little is Proved by Contests Be-
tween Eastern and West
eIn Teams
By RALPH L. YoNKER.

By RALPH L. fONh Err.
Because there seemed to be moth
Ing else in particular TO settle by tho
games between colleges as distantlJ
related as Cornell and Michigan. anC
Pennsylvania and Michigan; and be
cause Michigan has nearly always
been conceded TO be about as strong
as any western team, the football
games the Wolverines have had have
always decided "intersectional supre
macy"
Today's game at Ann Arbor between
! the Wolverines and the Ithacans was
one that made this momentous de-
result, il really helps but little in any
honest attempt TO decide whether
eastern or western Football is superior.
After talking with men who know
both eastern and western football. |
have come to the conclusion that
nothing but a genera. observation or
games between eastern teams, be-
tween western teams, and between
eastern and western teams can re-
suit in a sound opinion.
Comparative scores are bugaboos.
They mean less in football than in
any other game. In any serious con.
sileration they must be left almost
alone. Only interesting speculation
in pure dope uses them.
But discussion of the question by
various football men has shown that
western football is almost, but not
quite as good as eastern. That al
most" gives the eastefners a shade
that they make splendid use Of
The secre: of the superiority OF the
eastern article is found in the fact
that the youngsters learn the inner
points OF the game before they leave
the prep schools, which nearly all
have their expert coaches from the
universities. In the west the hlgh
schools in the smaller cities depend
upon a man who can teach history.
physics. and Latin, "a we'll as keep
discipline, TO be the football coach
This means that the football men
upon entering the university nave
few things To unlearn and they are
spared the learning OF great many
of the fundamentals.
In the shoot time that coach has
TO prepare his team for the big games
he has no chance 10 so back and dig
up the roots for his men. He must
depend upon natural ability for the
first principles and teach them the
rest
In the west. The one-man system OF
coaching leads the team TO excel only
in that department IN which it's coach
is particularly strong. Michigan, Tor
instance. has always before this year
had a crushing line that was more
than sufficient front for Its backs.
This year, lnr the first time since
Yost took charge of the team, the line
has been unao,e TO match the ability
OF the backield.
Starting TOO late is given as the
chief defect Of the squad, which pies
up the backs in their efforts TO gain.
Put be that as Il may. Coach fosts
steam-roller l.ne has always fattened
on. the way FOR his backs. That has
beer his style He has drummed II
into his men and now that the line
cannot do as he has planned, the
plays are gummed up.
In the west, the one-man system 10
called bad or good, as 1t succeeds or
fails. In the east, precedent Is the
pugaboo that either makes or breaks
the team.
In Pennsy, for Instance. the style
OF attack has been for the linemen
TO charge heads down full steam
ahead on defense. their purpose be-
ing TO crush the opposition. Pennsy
did that score or years ago and so
Pennsy kept that up. Open football
has inclined coaches 10 think that
team should keep. its head up and be
ready TO diagnose the play and
charge where charging viii he OF
most value There was much discus
sion about whether there should be a
change in method and much OF Coach
Andy Smiths trouble came from this
discussion
But as far as individuals are con
cerued there Is no Wayvof getting any
definite comparison between the east
and the west. The eastern schools
/ get the publicity through their prece-
dence in the game. the same as
1 the middle west is neard Of more
often than South Dakota for instance.
/ although South Dakota demonstrated
that she wasn't very much behind
| Michigan
They say that Hobe Baker touten
TO the skies has an equal in several
western teams. and. that Charlie
Brickley, called the greatest player
on the gridiron today. is not nearly
so wonderful as the reports from the
I east would indicate.
The east has no qUdTrprDdCtk or CtaEs
| this year. The generals don't use
! their heads the way the westerners
are taught TO. according TO the critics.
7 Gardner. OF Harvard, and Baker. or
+ 4'FiAeeton. are rated above the Yale
Iqnarter, vet they are not phenom-
/ euai
There are players in the east how
ever. who are admittedly without an