Evening star., 1914-11-15
BY Ripley.


consecutive. Harvard has not failed
to show an attack that is powerful
enough when given the ball within
reasonable distance of the goal line
to put it over, and Yale has been stop
ped on several occasions. Yale's scor-
ing, when it comes. comes easily and
rapidly, but 1t is not as certain for
short distances as Harvard. The de-
fense of the Harvard team has been
fairly up to the average, while the
defense of the Yale team, contrary to
usual traditions at that institution. has
throughout the season lacked that
tightness and spring, which. for many
years, characterized that side of Yale
Gore of Yale, both teams have shown
star runners, and each man of these
two is good punter. Mahan. rather
the more consistent in his execution
Each team will have an All-American
man of last year in the line-Pennock,
the Harvard guard, and Capt Talbot,
the Yale tackle. Back Of the line Ma
han is the only man Of either team VINO
was on the All-American last year.
unless Brickley should play, and then
Harvard will have two. Both teams
have been switching their centers.
and in neither institution has one man
played the pivotal position steadily
throughout the year.
and green men, while Harvard will
have one veteran. At tackle Harvard
will have one veteran to Yale's one
veteran, while Wilson and Logan at
quarter both played last year. Hard
wick of Harvard is q veteran at both
positions of end and halfback, while
Knowles and Ainsworth both played in
the backfeld last year against Har-
ward. Bradlee for Harvard is a veteran
backfield man and good one-one of
the best defensive men in the country.
and Is now shining brilliantly as a
ground gamer. Altogether, therefore,
there is not a great deal to choose be-
tween the two elevens in the matter of
experience, Harvard having a little the
better of it. But in records and per-
formance Harvard has a decided lead.
Neither team was able to cross the
others goal line last year. Yale scor-
ing five points through a drop kick Of
Guernsey's and safety by Harvard.
while Harvard scored five drop kicks
by Brickley. Although many predic-
tions were made during last season to
the effect that II the rules were not al
tered so as to benefit the offense, scor-
ing would continue to be rare, the sea-
son of 1914 has not demonstrated that
condition. but rather that improve
ment in the use of the possibilities OF
the new attack has made IT a still more
difficult proposition to face 1t and stall
it Off than even in the old game. 1t Is
true that in the Michigan game against
Harvard the visiting team, even with
strong running attack. did not sue
ceed in crossing Harvard's goal line,
but the Michigan team did not make
use of the possibilities of open play and
used it's running attack so extensive
ly in its own territory that 1t lacked
steam in the subsequent efforts.
Altogether it would certainly be a rash
man who would predict that this year
neither team will score by the touch
down route and Harvard has especially
shown ability in this line. And that
ability is added to by the menace of
Mahan's drop kicking very nearly as
good as Brickley's.
The two big games in the middle west
Saturday are Chicago Minnesota and
Wisconsin, Illinois. To say that few
weeks back less interest would have
attached to one of these games is to
put it mildly, for the result of Wiscon-
sin tying Chicago and Illinois defeat
ing Minnesota 21 to 6 has made both
these games of very great moment, and
it is a fact that they will attract and
distract the foot ball lovers of the
middle west. 1t is hard to figure out
, under the conditions just what the re-
suits will be, but there is feeling
Minnesota will be much closer than
might be expected from Illinois defeat
of the Gophers. for those who saw the
game were inclined to think that the
score hardly did Minnesota Justice: AS
to the eChicago-Wisconsin game. which
resulted in a tie, to 0. Wisconsin
played beyond anything that had been
expected of it and Chicago could not
shake off the Badgers, and this condi-
ton will render both these games in
teresting and have a very decided bear
ing on the middle west situation
There were some interesting points
the rules developed last week Among
them is the question of substitute
coming out and in defense not being
able to stop his play in time. Either
there are twelve men on the field or
the play should be recalled. 1t seems
perhaps fairest to always recall IN
play.
to bad blood and trouble If not prompt
ly ruled upon, Is knocking down
secondary efensive man after the
referees whistle has blown. putting
an end to the play. Often the player
thus struck has seen the play stopped
and is turning partly away and is in
an entirely unsuspecting and unpro-
tected position.
Another point that is being carelessly
ruled is beating the ball on a starting
signal, linemen heads going into the
neutral zone or a backfleld man start
ing too soon.
amount of misunderstanding caused by
the rule regarding consecutive downs.
I have received hundreds OF letters
complaining that the rule admits of
the kickers side getting the ball even
though they are off-side and the ball
has not touched an opponent. merely
because the opponent have had fair
and equal chance to gain possession
of it.
This rule relates only to the conti-
nuity of downs and has no bearing out
side of that. A member of the kicker's
side, unless he is believed the kicker
when the be was kicked. is off side
and may not secure the ball until it
has touched an opponent, no matter
whether the opponent has had a fair
and equal chance of possession or not.
Still one more is that relating to the
swapping of the ball back out of
bounds. The rule says it shall belong
to the side first securing it. This, how
ever. does not say that it makes it
first down if the side that snapped it
back secures it. This would be mani