Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-23
HIDDEN BALI"
TRICK BIRTH IS
TOLDbY TICK"
Harvard Paper Prints Story of
Discovery of Famous Old
Play by Auburnites.

l. .
\ corning the origin of the foot
\ ball trick by which the Car
isle Indian made long and spectac-
vlar run by concealing the football
ander his jersey, the current issue of
the Harvard Alumni Bulletin refers
editorially to the subject and quotes
the letter written by w. r. Tiche-
nor. of Atlanta, Ga, which was pub
rshed in the December issue of the
Auburn Alumnus. 1t will be recalled
that Tick" (Tichenorl explained
that this play was first executed by
him in a game between Auburn and
Bulletin Mr.. Tichenor says: This
plav was first used in the Auburn
Vanderbilt game in 1895, which was
plaved in a sea of mud and a driving
rain. and by the use of this trick !
succeeded in getting away for 60
ward run and a touchdown, which, by
The way, was the only touchdown we
made IN the game and the only
touchdown / scored during my foot
ball career.
The origin of this play was an
accident pure and simple. One night
about the middle of the season Heis-
man. who was coaching at Auburn
al that time; Walter Shafer, who was
captain of the team, and myself were
sitting in Skaters room at the Whit
aker discussing football in general
when Heisman said, You know. boys,
] had a kid to ask me once if it was
against the rules to hide the ball, and
Il; 81
] don't see how the trick could be
worked
For a minute or two there was
silence, which was broken by Sha-
fer's I've got it, Hes. Why not
stick the ball under Ticks jersey
"HARDLY were the words out of
II Skaters mouth before ] was
beating it into the next room, where
J pulled on a jersey and slipping a
football under the front of it, walked
proudly back into the room where
shafer and Heisman were sitting, and
before we adjourned that night we
lad worked out the trick as we af
terward used 1t.
After we found out that the ball
could be concealed easily and quick
", the only thing remaining was to
cover up the trick and then to draw
the opponents off so that | could have
chance to get away. In those days
il was not necessary for anybody
but the center to be on the line of
serlmmage, so we dropped the guards
back Just a little from the line of
the bail. The tackles were farther
hack with the ends playing behind
jhe tackles. The backs jumped for
ward and received the ball from me
Tor at that time the man who first
received the ball from the center could
not run forward with it) while the
inemen and backs formed a COM
pact circle about US so as to cover
up what was taking place inside the
circle. Just as quick as the back
could slip the ball under my jersey
! would drop to the ground and the
cam would swing out to the open
~ as compact a mass as possible,
CdHlng TO the back who had jumped
IHlo the circle to come on, while |
would be left on the ground as if
knocked out in the play. When the
way was clear | would come to life
very quickly slip the ball from un-
yer my Jersey and beat it down the
Heid as fast as possible.
1 J.. ~vuiSe, d play OF THIS StII dIlSl
IL became known would not
WORK, so we decided to change it for
me Georgia game to slip the ball
u.uer Harry Smiths jersey instead
u nine and to let him go out with
me ne bunch interfering for him We
u.ed II this way and Harry was
smdy with about six men interfering
!or MN and would have had a sure
mLucAdown, but the referee blew his
,%1msIe and called the play back as
uIe mad been taken out before we
~ me ball in play. | shall never
sOiseI the look on Harry Smiths face
ne brought the ball back, nor will
EVER forget the way they piled onto
. .ae ana pinned me to the ground and
'edIched for the ball
/ OP WARNER, who was coach
NH ing Georgia that year. after
fra.5e,u THIS trick off in a Harvard
lad5lisie game by having the ball
I5ped under the back of one of the
10 ~, rs Jerseys on the kickoff.
ny all of the Eastern papers he
s' s gwen the credit Of pulling off
foa nle tnlng new, but as a matter of
bur.. the play was originated at Au-
w and used successfully against
er.uefpllt and against Warner-the
mentioned"