The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-09-18
FOOTBALL COACHES CAN
CHOOSE BETWEEN MASS
PLAY AND OPEN WORK
Two Courses Are Open-Rever-
sion to Old Style or Further
Opening up
YoST GIVES FIRST DEGREE
Over Score of Candidates Are
on Hand, With More
Arriving

Opposing methods OF football will
probably mark the early season
games this year and from the stand
point of the critics these contests un-
doubtedly will be the most interest
ing OF The fall. The new rules which
come into force this year have left
two courses open 10 coaches, rever-
sion to the old style OF mass play or
further opening up of the game.
Which of these two will be more
profitable II remains for the early
contests to show.
Incidentally 1t will be no surprise
to see strong teams go down TO de-
feat at the hands OF supposedly weak
er rivals, for in the few days inter
vening between the start OF practice
and the opening games. II will be vir-
tually impossible TO build up defenses
both for mass and open field work.
One new rule-the substitution OF
four downs to gain 10 yards in place
OF three downs for the same distance
lit is believed will have the oppo-
site effect upon different teams. For
purposes of better Illustration, Min
nesota and Chicago may be taken as
examples of divergent schools OF foot
ball. The Gopher eleven, under DR..
Harry L. Williams, in all probability
will be built up for the mass play.
while, unless Coach Stagg does the
unexpected, the Maroon machine will
be trained in the open game.
When the change In the number OF
downs was first urged last year, most
OF the demand for the additional down
came from the admirers of the open
game, while the "reactionaries" could
see no good In change. Now the
men who favor the old fashioned
mass play see where the change has
brought them fully as much good as
1t has to the open play adherents.
An additional down was favored by
the 'progressives," In that II gave
them an additional chance TO try
open field plays. Experience taught
them that less than 33 per cent Of at
tempted forward pass plays were sue
cessful nd il was easy TO see how,
with three downs, they were not sat
isfied with conditions. An extra
down was required to make gaining
at all certain and they started the
movement WHICH Bd'C
them the extra chance.
Teams coached by trainers who
favor the open style play probably
will try out the open game under new
conditions this fall.
With 90 candidates on the ground
and more coming in on every train.
Coach Hurry Up" Yost OF the VOL
verines, was jubllant today over the
first workout OF the Michigan squad
at Ann Arbor. yesterday. Even the
which came up failed to
put a crimp in the practice.
There were two sessions. Most OF
the time was devoted TO light work
such as passing the ball about.
The men are delighted with their
new training quarters. The veterans
say that the improvement over Whit
more Lake IL bound to result In a
better conditioned team.
Yesterdays arrivals included jim
my Craig and Bubbles Patterson, OF
Detroit.
Detroit prep schools are getting
daily workouts. Prospects at Eastern
today look brighter than before since
Harry Lowther, Eastern's only vet
eran backfield man, promised TO get
into the game.
Eastern has tabooed Port Huron.
The Boulevarders didn't like the way
they were treated at the Tunnel City
last year.
The U. OF D. was busy at Mack park