New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-26
CORNELL FEARED BY
PENNSYLVANIA TEAM
QuakerS Look for Hardest
Game of the Season on
Thursday.
SUPPORT FOR HEAD COACH
Old Players Rally to Help the
Eleven, Which Awoke in
Time to Beat Michigan
and Indians.

Pennsylvania men have never been more
Cornell at Franklin Field on Thanksgiv-
ia@ Day, as they feel that the loss of this
contest will cost much Of the prestige re-
covered by the sterling victories over
Michigan and the Indians after losing 10
Brown. Swarthmore, Lafayette and State
College on successive Saturdays
The last week brought the football
situation to a head at Pennsylvania, when
a meeting Of former Red and Blue play
crs from as far back as 1876 was held
last Thursday night at the training mousse
This rally was due TO the fact that more
interest has been displayed by former
nIavers In football than ever before, ana
i, Is thought that the show of spirit
helped to bring about the metamorph'siS
Of the eleven.
II is said by those in close touch with
football in Pennsylvania that oet'ei
spirit by the players has never oeen eA-
perienced. This was particularly marKeo
between the halves of the last 'hiee
games. when the men spent the time eA-
bortinr each other TO greater efforts IN
stead of resting or moping. the result
v..s harder. better football in the second
half than the first.
This was notably true in the Michigan
game. when the eleven rallied against
lead of twenty-one points and pulled out
= victory the like of which has rarely
been eoualled in football. Almost OF the
same degree was the spirit shown against
Carlisle
In spite OF Cornelrs poor showing THIS
wear the Quakers are anticipating 'he
hardest game of the season on THURSDAY
According to one Pennsylvania man, the
team from Ithaca is admitted TO nave
better line, and EyTich and OHearn' the
ends, are particularly feared. 1t is felt'
on the other hand, that the Quaker oacks
will offset this advantage, as Captain
Mercer and Minds are ranked with the
best.
The meeting last Thursday night was
harmonious, and this in spite OF the De-
lief that much dissatisfaction would DC
expressed because of the disastrous pre-
l,ninary season. 1t can be stated on
good authority that the former players
We're stanch in their support OF Andy
Smith, the head coach, and MS assistants,
and realized they had been working With
the poorest line material ever seen at
Franklin Field. 1t was the lack OF a
GOOD line which caused the trouble this
fall, so that the splendid backfield, com
posed of Captain Mercer, Minds, Mar
shall and Harrington, soon broke under
the strain. This first came in the Brown
~ rHc
be pounded into form, disaster followed
upon disaster. 1t was discouraging sit
uaton, but the graduates rushed TO the
rescue, and as a result the forwards i'm
proved and an offence was perfected that
gave new life and hope TO the eleven.
Then came the wonderful stand against
State College and the remarkable VIC
tories over Michigan and the Carlisle
Indians.
Contrary to report. Andy Smith is well
liked as a coach among the graduates
and members Of the four teams he has
handled, but Smith has already stated he
Will not accept the position another sea-
son. preferripg to give way TO some other
man not yet selected, because he feels he
has not made a success the last two
years. No coach has been handicapped
by such a dearth OF material and IL Is
felt by those in close touch at Pennsyl-
Nania that Smith has secured better re-
suits than could be rightfully expected OF
any one.
AT the meeting speeches were made by
all the former captains present, who gave
history of the seasons when they led
their teams. Some amusing stories were
told Of the old game. and one by A. ].
Gray, captain OF the "a team, the first
TO defeat Harvard, was wildly applauded.
This game was scheduled for a Wednes-
day at Cambridge, and at that time there
was no system to football, as is the case
to-day. An eleven got It's fare paid to
the game, and IL enough money was taken
in at the game, II got its fare back
home. Every player had to take a chance
that he would have to buy his return
ticket. In "a this game was arranged
without the knowledge OF the faculty, and
IL was not until the day before that
Captain Gray sought out the provost to
get permission for the team to take the
trip. The old provost was rather dunn
founded, but gave in, with the understand
ing that the Quakers were to win. Gray
was In a quandary. but decided to take
the chance, and when the victorious
eleven walked out TO West Philadelphia
TO college upon it's return the provost
was the first 10 greet Captain Gray.
Mr.. Gray" he said. you can always
get my consent to take the team any
where you decide upon if-if you win
your match"
Football players of to-day received a
rude shock when Pop" Thayer. captain
OF IRE 80 team, told OF a game at Prince
tor. when the rules called for 45-
minute halves. Now 30-minute halves
are considered almost ultra football IN
point OF endurance. Aver the game was
over the timekeeper came over to the
two elevens and apologiZed for having
made a mistake, adding. you played
twenty-five minutes overtime the second
half"
Moving pictures of the recent games at
Franklin Field were next shown, and the
old players had a fine reunion. as they
do each season at this time Of year. Right
now the question that is worrying them
"a the outcome OF the Cornell game. for
they know that the Quakers are meeting
the Yale system for the first time In many
years, and naturally they have ideas as
10 the relative strength Of that and their
own.