The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-11-12
PA CORBIN'S OLD
 YALE TEAM WILL
 FAVE BIG DINNER

New Haven, Nov. 12-The Yale football team of 1888 will have it's silver anniversary dinner, this even ing, the host being Captain William H. Corbin, of that famous team. After a lapse of a quarter of a century, the story of the experiences and workings of that team makes an interesting story which is told by MT. Corbin. The head coaches were really MT and Mrs. Walter Camp, who had been married in the summer of that year and were boarding with relatives in this city. MT. Camp had just begun his connec- ton with the New Haven Clock Com pany, of which he is now president, and he had to attend strictly to -busI- ness. Mrs. Camp was present at the practice on Yale Field, each day, would make careful note of the plays. the players and anything which had a bearing upon the styles of play or individual weakness or strength. She would describe the days results to MT. Camp, who was fully informed when Captain Corbin arrived at the house in the evening. This was prac- tically the only systematic coaching the team received.
 There were several old players, in c1uding Terry, 1855, and Knapp, 'SS, who came on the field frequently. It was customary for center to flip the ball back to quarter with his foot By standing the ball on end and exercis- ing a certain pressure on it, it was possible to have the ball bound into the quarterback's hands. The center had to attend to this detail as we'll as to block his opponent and make holes in the line. There was no neutral zone and with the players in close contact, the opportunity came for more roughness than is customary at present. The officials were not so strict in their rulings. It was often a case of give and take and each player had to stand up to his position in order to play his game.
 Prior to this, it had been the GUS tom to give word signals for the sev- eraI. plays, certain words in sentences relating to football being the key words. Captain Corbin, as center, was so tall that a signal system had to be revised which he used entirely in the Princeton game. From the talk in du1ged in, the Princeton players thought the word system was being used and were entirely ignorant. of the signals. Pulling of tfle cap visor was a kick signal Everything Captain Corbin did with his left hand in touch ing different parts of his uniform from collar to shoe1ace meant a signal for a play at different points on the left side of the line. The plays on the right side were indicated relatively srne same way.
 The use of mum bers as signals began the next year. The 1888 team was handicapped greatly by injury to many of it's mem bers.
 The newspapers gave the public their opinion that the team would be in poor condition to meet Princeton. As luck would have it, the inva1ids reached a convalescing stage in time to enter the Wesleyan game on the 1 Saturday preceding the Princeton
 game in fairly good condition. When the news of the Wesleyan score was made public, the next
 morning, public opinion changed. Yale went into the game not the favorite but expected to do handsomely. Gif- ford Pinchot, who has been identified with the Progressive party movement, was a member of the '88 squad and played quarterback in several games
 until prevented by physical condition. George Woodruff, of the 'SS team, later coached University of PennsyI- vania and put that team on the foot ball map. He did it singIehanded and his plays will be renenb bered as some of the most original plays ever pro- duced, including his wing shifts. Judge Woodruff was later appointed | assistant attorney of the United States when MT. Garfield was secretary of l the interior. He was later appointe d a federal judge in Hawaii by Presi- dent Taft and at present is engaged in legal practice in this country.
 Among other players the 'SS l team were Professor Stagg. of Chi