Evening journal., 1914-12-02
FAVORS
ONE MAN COACH
Herring and Former Captain
Eddie Dellon Urge the
New System
AGITATION ON TO
CHANGE SITUATION

OluCG fIlnCGlOu CLOSED us uubuC-
cessful season on the gridiron there
has been much discussion over what
policy the Tigers should pursue in
their coaching system. Many hold
that a strongly centralized system is
necessary to put the Orange and
Black on a footing with Harvard and
Yale Coach Herring favors the
one-man system. as does Eddie Dill
lon, captain of the 1909 eleven.
Discussing the situation, Coach
Herring says:
Aside from the relative merits of
the one-man system as opposed to
that Of the committee, a considera-
tion which must not be overlooked,
exists in the fact that the Athletic
Constitution as II stands today, does
not permit Of the former system.
1T would not be possible to vest
supreme authority in a coach selected
by the Football Committee and ap-
proved by the Faculty Committee on
Out-of-Door Sports without violat-
ing the spirit, if not the letter, of the
instrument There is little doubt,
however, but that a consensus of un-
dergraduate and alumni opinion
would result in the speedy execution
of the desired amendment.
Certain fundamental qualities
must characterize the man who
would claim universal support. First
of all, he must be a Princetonian. He
must be an alumnus of the last few
years who has not lost touch with
the principles OF modern football. The
kind OF mental ability that would
insure success in the world at large,
combined with executive control Will
insure ultimate success of any man
as a coach. Add a thorough work
ing knowledge of the game and some
field experience, and that man viii
obtain immediate results.
1T has been suggested that the
committee system be retained sub
jected to the domination of field
coach, and the prevailing sentiment
seems to favor the retention OF the
former organization as a purely ad-
visory agent
"The one thing which seems to
stands out clearly, however, from the
mass of conflicting opinion is the fact
that in football as in government
there must be some centralized power
to direct the efforts of the organiza-
ton if efficiency is to result.
With so many successful examples
of the one-man system before us
there is small question of its adop-
ton in Princeton. Sight must not
be lost however, of the excellent
work done by Coaches Ames and Pen
field, and in all the existing criticism
no word of complaint against either
man has been heard"
Dillon holds that Princeton cannot
waste any time In discarding a sys-
TEN which, he says, to his mind, is
obsolete and out Of date.
"I am, and always have been," the
former Tiger captain declares, "an
ardent advocate of the responsible
one-man system of coaching, which
has so successfully been used at Har-
ward through the agency of Mr..
Haughton. But no syste mwill be sue
cessful without the right man at the
head and the process of selection
should be slow and by gradual elm
ination.
"I would suggest that a committee
OF five men be appointed to select this
head coach, and that such a commit
tee should include such practical men
as William Roper, Bill Church, Eddie
Hart and Arthur Poe. men who have
been in personal touch with all the
possibilities for the last twenty years,
and to these four ! would add the
captain of the 1915 football team.
"If you are looking for criticism OF
the old system and reasons for this
Dillon writes to the Daily Princeton
ian, which is seeking the opinions of
Princetonians on the coaching situa-
ton, "I feel confident that could fur
nish many and from personal expert
ences with the regime just concluded,
but feel 1t wiser and safer to merely
declare that the old system is dead,
never to be resurrected."