The Virginia enterprise., 1914-10-09

CHICAGO, Oct. 8.--Walter H. Eek
ersall, former noted quarterback of the
University of Chicago football team,
reviewing the games of Saturday,
east and west, says:
"The defeat of three prominent east
ern elevens, the mediocre showing by
western conference teams and the ad-
vanced style of play shown by Michi-
gan and Notre Dame, the teams which
will meet eastern aggregations in i'm
portant intersectional struggles, we're
features of the games played on Sat-
urday, which marked the official open
ing of the 1914 gridiron season.
Forward Pass Features.
"That team must be we'll versed in
offensive tactics Of forward passing
and must know something about the
numerous ways of intercepting such
passes is apparent. Saturdays games
showed one thing conclusively, that
the forward pass will be one of the
most dangerous weapons of attack
employed by any team which is con-
tender for championship honors..
"Although the west was first to
grasp the possibilities of the new play.
The east has been contributed to its ef-
fectiveness. AS result, eastern
coaches are getting away from the old
:dea Of being afraid to lose the ball by
taking a chance with the forward pass.
If this play is properly outlined and
the players carry out their duties in
its execution, the chances are three
to one it either will be successful or
the offensive team will suffer only the
penalty Of down in the failure of
the pass to be completed.
Must Take Chances.
"Take chance should be the last
word of advice from coaches before
they send their teams on the field. The
centers, after considering the length
of time the forward pass has been one
Of their chief Weapons of attack,
should get away from the old style
Of football. Old tactics should be en-
ployed only for variation, but teams
should be coached in old style football
to make one or two yards on a fourth
down. When two elevens are equally
matched, variation Of attack in which
plays of the most open sort are en-
oloyed should be called into commits
|'5ion on at least the first two downs
Hinkey a Convert
"Although a stickler for old tao.
les, Frank Hinkey, one of the great
EST ends who ever played football
Who is at the helm at New Haven
his year, is a convert to the new
game. Hinkey has adopted an en-
irely new method of keeping the
grads off the field, and has assumed
the responsibility for the teams sue.
cess. Hinkey is following the ole
adage that too many cooks spoil the
broth, and this, perhaps, is one of the
reasons why Yale has made such 9
successful start this season.
Too Many Changes.
"Another handicap under which
some teams are laboring, especially
western aggregations, is the annua
change of coaching systems. There is
10 more apparent example of such
conditions than exist at Cornell. This
team has lost two successive games
20 Pittsburgh and Colgate. The vet
eran players did not learn their foot.
ball under AL Sharpe, the presen
coach who played at Yale.
Sharpe Handicapped.
"Before Sharpe can hope for sue
:ess at Ithaca his methods must b,
taught to the freshman teams so the!
will understand the style of play t.
e employed when they become 'varsi
y candidates. It is hard to changl
he ideas of a player who has learne,
he rudiments from another coach.
"Practically the same conditions pre-
all in the west. Childs at Indiana an
Murphy at Northwestern are Yal
nen. Their methods are entirely diff
'erent from those of their predeces
:ors. The men who are playing o.
| he Hoosier and Pnrnle eleuans hau