New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-11-01
Harvard Not Better Than
Michigan Says Lardner

practically the tire length Of :
field, and for long stretches of time
caused Harvard's Faunted defence to
look as porous as a ripe pretzel.
Harvard had just one chance to score,
and she scored. Michigan had two won
derful chances, and lost them both.
Harvard is credited vi h the victory
and Michigan charged with the defeat,
but no one who saw the game can look
YOU in the eye and tell you that Har-
ward was better than Michigan.
A mix-up in signals cost Michigan
enc touchdown. A bit Of bad judgment
was responsible for the loss of the
other. Larry Splawn missed the signal,
and Tommy Hughitt displayed the bit
of bad judgment. SplaWn WAS playing
his first big game and Is just Kid;
Hughitt Was in the game on his nerve,
% IT, would be worse than folly 20 find
fault with either OF them. Besides,
they played good football great foot
ball. i'm Hughitt's case, considering the
condition he was in and it was Just
their bad luck that their mistakes
should be made when they did the most
harm.
The missed signal incident occurred
in the first period Of play, following
the first of Maulbetsch's wonderful pa
rades. The ball was Michigan's on the
Harvard's 4-ysrd line, and 1t was tourth
down, with two yards to 20. BAT Walt
a minute. A second before II had oeeh
third down, with two yards 10 go, on
the same 4-yard line. If Hughltt had
carried out the wishes OF his coach al
this point he would have sent MAUI
betsch twice through the line on
tandem formation, striving Tor IrSt
down then and "a touchdown later BUY
he sent "Mauly" once at the Inc win
insufficient aid. and then gave the sig
nal for Michigan's double pass-forward
pass.
Hughitt took TIE bal! and ran out to
the left. passing 70 Splawn as he went
/. was Splawn's duty on this play 10
he turned the other way, 20 forward
pass over che right side OF MlcnlSan
line TO LYONS yons Was standing un-
,oticed. a mile from any Harvard man;
A good pass, or even fairly good
one. would have meant a touchdown
Ieyond peradventure. But Splawn ala
not understand that he was TO pass AT
all. Instead o. making any attempt 70
throw the ball he tried TO run with IL III
tho same direction i'm which Hughltt
had been going. Naturally the Harvard
a.. -
defensive men were all heading IN that
direction, and Larry was thrown LOT
four or five yard loss. The ball went 10
Harvard. and after being conveyed TO
IN. Crimson 3-yard mark on a penalty
for outside was punted out OF immediate
danger.
The second and last faux pas was
nuIled in the third period. Maulbetsch
IA marched to the Harvard l5-yard
mark on as pretty series OF plunges
- Won would care 70 see. One play OF
The series caught the Crimson entirely
of lis guard and counted for elght
yards.
Il was worked thus: Hughitt gave a
signal and then appeared TO hesitate.
He shouted signals and made as j
IN change his position, and while har-
,.srd v,as waiting for more signals, the
hail was passed 10 little "Mauly' for
his nlunce. Well, with the ball on the
Harvard l5-yard mark, lost suOsu-
tuted James for Staatz
James went into the game as mes
senger boy, and his message was TO
Hughitt. Sewn men on the llne ana
Waulbetsch with the tandem. lhrlce
MANLY" went through and thrice ne
gained. total of better than nine yards
for the three attempts.
Then. with little more than NAN
ward TO go on the fourth down, hughIU
tried something else. Harvard sec
orSarv defence was grouped up close
and Naulbetsch was sent unaided by d
tanderi of backs into d line where no
bole was. Har, ard stopped him then
and stopped him short. Hardwics punt
cd 70 his own 40-yard mark, and Nichi-
49, anal chance was gone. Another
sJvance was started as the fourth pc
Rod began, but l5-yard penalty for