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

a IJBURN, ALA, Jan. 23.-Con-
u corning the origin of the foot
4 n ball trick by which the Car
uar run by concealing the football
under 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
Ished 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
Vanderbilt in 1895. In the Harvard
Bulletin Mr.. Tichenor says: This
plav was first used in the Auburn
Wand 5rbilt game in 1895, which was
played in a sea of mud and driving
rain, and by the use of this trick |
succeeded in getting away for a 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
at 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
1 had kid to ask me once if it was
against the rules to hide the ball. and
while | don't see anything against it
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, Heis. Why not
stick the ball under Ticks jersey
"EIARDLY We're the words out of
II Skaters mouth before | was
beating it into the next room, where
| 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
mad worked out the trick as we af
terward used it.
After we found out that the ball
could be concealed easily and quick
iy, the only thing remaining was to
so arrange a formation which would
cover up the trick and then to draw
the opponents off so that l could have
chance to get away. In those days
It was not necessary for anybody
but the center to be on the line of
scrimmage, so we dropped the guards
pack just a little from the line of
the bail The tackles were farther
pack with the ends playing behind
the 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
rot run forward with iD while the
hnemen 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
team would swing out to the open
IN as compact a mass as possible.
calling to the back who had jumped
INTO 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 I'M
ger my jersey and beat it down the
"eid as fast as possible.
II lt course, a play of this sort after
1t became known would not
work, so we decided to change ii for
me Georgia game to slip the ball
unuer Harry Smiths jersey instead
OF mine and to let him go out with
we punch interfering for him. We
lFled 1t this way and Harry was
away with about six men interfering
ior MN and would have had sure
rouchdoWn, but the referee blew his
MIhstie and called the play back as
rifle mad been taken out before we
pul the ball in play. l shall never
aoFset the look on Harry Smiths face
rs ne brought the ball back, nor will
ever forget the way they piled onto
me and pinned me to the ground and
searched for the ball
r Up WARNER, who was coach
-, ing Georgia that year, after
Ppulled this trick off in a Harvard
G,arllsle game by having the ball
9Gtpped under the back of one of the
H'uIahs' Jerseys on the kickoff.
by all of the Eastern papers he
vas given the credit of pulling off
ssonethlng new, but as matter Of
llact The play was originated at Au
Uurh and used successfully against
Vanderbilt and against Warner-the
, mrsS year he began to coach as above
mentioned