Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-23
HIDDEN DALI"
TRICK BIRTH IS
T0LDBY TICK
Harvard Paper Prints Story of
Discovery of Famous Old
Play by Auburnites.

I'BURN, ALA, Jan. 23.-Con-
\ corning the origin of the foot
a ball trick by which the Car
isle Indian made a long and spectac
rI8r run by concealing the football
1nder his jersey. the current issue of
Inc Harvard Alumni Bulletin refers
sdHorially to the subject and quotes
The letter written by W. r. Tiche-
nor. Of Atlanta, Ga, which was pub
.shed in the December issue of the
Auburn Alumnus. 1t will be recalled
that Tick" CTichenor) explained
mat this play was first executed by
lin in a game between Auburn and
Vanderbilt in 1895. In the Harvard
gulIetin Mr. Tichenor says: This
NAV was first used in the Auburn
Vanderbilt game in 1895, which was
PLAYED in a sea of mud and a driving
rain and by the use of this trick i
succeeded in getting away for 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
III fhat time Walter Shafer who was
aptain Of the team, and myself We're
sitting in Skaters room at the Whit
a5ers discussing football in general
when Iseisman said. You know, boys,
had Kid to ask me once if it was
against the rules to hide the ball and
while don't see anything against it
dom see how the trick could be
work ed
For a minute or two there was
leuce. which was broken by Sha-
rers I've got it, Heis. Why not
stick the ball under Ticks jersey?'
"HARDLY were the words out of
II Shafer's mouth before I was
beating ii into the next ROOM where
p8l.ed on Il jersey and slipping q
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
had worked out the trick as we at
,arWard used it.
After we found out that the ball
could be concealed easily and. quick
IN, The only thing remaining was to
50 arrange Il formation which would
cover mp the trick and then to draw
the opponents off so that 2 could have
ehance to get away In those days
il was not necessary for anybody
but the center to be on the line of
SerImmage, so we dropped the guards
back lust a little from the line of
he ball The tackles were further
back with the ends playing behind
the tackles. The backs jumped for
ward and received the ball from me
for a that time the man who first
received the ball from the center could
moi run forward with it, while the
dnemen 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
~ as compact a mass as possible,
.dlAhg TO the back who had jumped
INTO The circle to come on, while /
would be left on the ground as if
Nhocked out in the play. When the
way was clear Iwould come to life
very quickly, slip the ball from I'M
let my Jersey and beat it down the
'eld as fast as possible.
Il y course, a play of this sort after
II became known would not
E9ih a. SO we decided to change 1t for
.1e Georgia game to slip the ball
uaaer Harry Smiths jersey instead
y. NINE and to let him go out with
.ue bunch interfering for him. We
Fied 1t this way and Harry was
away with about six men interfering
.of nm and would have had a sure
.uI,HehdoWn, but the referee blew his
"ihstle and called the play back as
AHle mad been taken ont before we
put the ball in play. l shall never
forget the look on Harry Smiths face
lS ne brought the ball back, nor will
ever forget the way they piled onto
Ule ana pinned me to the ground and
searched for tho HON