The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-09-09
YALE FIRST TO
START PRACTICE
Two Squads Have Been
Working for Week
In Frenzy.

Philadelphia. Sept. 9.-Yale's ath-
letic authorities have cast i~ntercone-
giate precedent to the winds by begin
ming what almost amounts to summer
football practice. For nearly a week
the candidates for the Elis's eleven
nave heen taking preliminary training
under the direction of coaches at two
separate camps. In view of the fact
that premiliminary work of this kind
has been long tabood by all the big
colleges, east and west, coupled with
the attitude of Yale men on this sub
ject in the past the action of the Ellis
in thus getting the jump on their rivals
nearly Jour G in advance of the
opening of the university calls for
some kind of an explanation.
This action of the Yale authorities
is all the more curious in view of the
attitude aiken by the University of
PENNSYLVANIA, which a dozen ear ago
or so was roundly criticized by the 9TH
er big schools for doing precisely what
Yale is. now sanctioning. For a good
many years PENNSYLVANIA has taken
little or no extra preliminary prac-
tice, and this year the football au-
thorities absolutely refused to let the
coaches call out the gridiron and
dates for any kind of work before the
middle of September.
Frenzy Over Prospects.
The truth of the matter is that Yale
is in a frenzy over her football stu
alton. For three years in succession
failure in that they nave failed to win
their championship games with Har-
ward and Princeton. This statement
should be amended by recording the
fact that in 1910 Yale did beat Prince
ton 5 to 5, but it was the consensus
of opinion that the better team lost.
In the three years mentioned Yale
played two 90 games with Harvard
and last years was swamped go by
the Crimson. Against Princeton Yale
won in 1910 by 5-3. but in 1911 the
Tigers were victorious 6-3. In 1912
the score was 6-6, though Yale was
outplayed. Measured by the usual
standard this is not a creditable record
and this year the Ellis propose to go
he limit to develop a winning team
m football on a sound basis.
1t was probably on account of the
radical change in the coaching system
chat the Yale authorities were willing
TO wink at this preliminary practice.
n present coaching system is the re-
suit Of a series of conferences held
by former Yale captains and coaches
to determine the precise cause of
Yale's many defeats. No complaint
could be found against the quality
OF the candidates. but the coaching
policy did come in for some very Sc.
we're criticism. For years Yale has
been selecting as her head coach the
.aptain Of the previous years team.
This made a change of coaches mes.
essary every yea Sometimes the
man selected was a. natural leader
Ind instructor, and sometimes he was
aot. If he were such a man the season
vas usually a success. If not some
times there were enough able coaches
on his staff to cover up his defect.
M bring;the team through a winner.
but for the last three years the system
has failed.
The change ordered. was the engage
ment of a professional coach, though a
graduate of Yale. and the employ
ment of enough assistants to give ev-
cry man who reported enough to do.
Howard Jones vas the man selected
to head h coaching staff. Judging
him in advance of the season it looks
as though his selection was prompted
by good Judgment.