Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-10-05
Pennsylvania Defeat at
Hands of Franklin and
Marshall Eleven Is the
of the Fans.
By EDWARD R. BUSHNELL


Pennsylvania, Cornell and the Indians
now comprise a select group of the sup
posely big teams In the East which
have been humbled by elevens usually
referred to rather deprecatingly as the
minor colleges" Cornell has been beaten
in two out of three preliminary games,
Pennsylvania and the Indians once each.
OF the three defeats that of 100. which
Franklin and Marshall administered to
Pennsylvania on Saturday. was the most
unexpected and the most difficult to ex-
plain. 1t was known in advance that
Pittsburgh had more than an even chance
to beat Cornell. and that, given a break
in the luck, Colgate was equally likely
to beat the Ithacans. The -teady rise of
Lehigh amonE the minor colleges and
the fact that this years Indian team has
at no time approached the usual Indian
standard prevented one from being much
surprised over the Redmens defeat at
South Bethlehem.
But none Of these conditions existed at
Franklin Field nor explain the decisive
victory of F. and NJ. over Pennsylvania
1t was the first time - ecord that the
Lancaster coleglans beat Pennsyl-
yania or even outplRyed the Red and
Blue. There have been teams from this
little college which gave the Quakers
troublesome afternoons, but it can be
said with all fairness to Franklin and
Marshall. and without detracting one iota
from the credit they deserve, that their
1914 was in no sense superior to the team
that represented them last year Even
Coach Mayser would confirm this.
How then, can this amazing defeat be
explained? The PENNSYLVANIA coaches
and players all had different explanations
for it Saturday night, and there isn't
much chance Of harmonizing their diff
terences, Therefore, the observant critic
has to form his own conclusions. Those
the writer presents herewith are based
on careful study of the team during
tne preliminary season the daily practices
and the two games to date.
Against Franklin and Marshall Penn
sylNania exhibited two fundamental weak
nssses. one was a monotonous and re-
stricted attack, the other inability 10
execute such rudimentary football as
catching and holding a football, tacSling
and providing Interference. This analy-
sis Is not meant as criticism OF the play-
srs' the coaching stan or the methods OF
the coaches II Is simply a plain state
ment Of facts. The condition Of the team
and its lack OF assorted plays NAV be
due TO the determination of the coaches
u develop the team slowly and with
holding a variety of plays from them until
later In the season. All OF this may vet
be corrected.
Fumbling and misunderstanding of sig
mails were at the bottom of the troubles
on Saturday, but even without these i'm
portant aids to Franklin and Marshall
Pennsylvania didn't show an attack which
was consistent, and the team on more
than one occasion showed signs of de-
moTalization when Franklin and Mar
shRll's stiH defense stopped every attack
The fact is that Pennsylvania used very
few plays, but they employed practically
everything they had been taught though
interference was poor and the plays them
selves we're poorly executed. Their at
tack might be classified as follows:
A line plunge, with Moffett usually Sc
lected 10 batter the line.
double pass with a run around end
The forward pass
The forward pass gained 25 wards on ifs
one success In nine attempts; the double
pass didn't gain at all, as II did against
Gettysburg. and even Mohett wasn't so
consistently successful as a week ago.
The Pennsylvania team now has a big
problem ahead Of Il, TO cram the funda-
mentals into their candidates In the short
est possible time, and to teach them
enough new plays to give them a varied
attack. They will need Il on Saturday
against SO strong a team as Lafayette,
even II the Eastonians were held TO a
IT score By uranus- Then next Saturday
comes the Navy, With Swsrtbmore. the