Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-28
Cridiron News
F ootball Players Enter Upon
Another Hard Week of
Training in Preparation for
Big Games Next Saturday.
BY EDWARD R. BUSHNELL

b EDWARD r. BUSHNELL
Whether or not Pennsylvania will have
a football team of championship propor-
tons or one of only mediocre strength
was not disclosed by Saturdays game
against Gettysburg. That 14-0 victory was
won by comfortable margin and pretty
| accurately gauges the comparative
strength Of the two teams. At the same
time. when We remember the defenseIess-
ness of Gettysburg last year and the
smashing victory which the Quakers won
then by the score of $50. two facts stand
forth with great clearness One is that
this years Gettysburg team knew more
football than its predecessor ana likewise
that it displayed better lighting quail
ity. second fact not TO be overlooked
Is that this years Quaker team is not
nearly so far advanced in it's attacking
power as was the 1913 eleven in its first
game.
Virtually all Of the faults evident in the
work OF the Red and Blue were due to
lack OF practice, an entirely new back
field and lack of unity between the back
field and the line. These weaknesses
were to be expected and won't cause the
coaches undue alarm. In fact a 14-0
score for the first game is much more
desirable than one of $50 proportions.
Nothing retards the progress OF a team
more than overcon1dence. and big pre-
liminary scores invariably contribute TO
that. The Quakers still have plenty of
time to get in shape for their big games,
and the schedule has been so graduated
that each Saturday brings a tougher op-
ponent to Franklin Field.
After all the publicity that has been
given 10 the new rule barring coaches
from the side lines there was a good deal
of surprise in the stands and the press
hox over tho fact that both sides ignored
the rule. The possibility that this rule
might be violated or disregarded was
touched upon in these columns last week.
What happened was this When the
game started the referee saw Coach
O'Brien, OF Gettysburg standing on the
edge OF the gridiron on his side OF the
field. On the south side Pat Dwyer. the
Pennsylvania assistant coach and trainer,
vas kneeling on the side line. The off,
cials mentioned the new rule and asked
O'Brien what he intended TO do. O'Brien
called attention 10 the presence of Dwyer
on the other side OF the field. Dwyer
seemed TO think that he was entitled 10
q position on the side line in his capacity
as trainer, but said he had no objection
to o Brien remaining where he was.
Neither captain objected. and since this
was regarded as practice game the
officials didn't interfere. and the two
men remained on the side lines through
cut the game just as though the rule
didn't exist.
Attention should he called to the fact
that neither side properly interpreted the
rule Each assumed that the rule dis
"a coaches from the side line
and seemed 10 feel that trainer might
remain there with prOpriety. Listen to
the rule Crule XIV, sec. A.;
IAN who are admitted to the enclosure
must be seated throughout the game. No
person shall be allowed to walk UP and
down on either side of the field"
by any fair Interpretation OF this rule
neither Dwyer nor O'Bren had any right
on the side line. But since the whole
rtIlebook has no official standing. but is
accepted by common consent, any rule
may be suspended or changed by the cap
tains of the two teams. This comment
is not made In criticism OF the infringe
ment of the rule. for there wasn't the
slightest sign OF coaching by either side
10 nrevent the possibility OF which the
rule was made. Both sides regarded this
as merely practice game and wished
TO have their men In a position where
they could properly Judge ths work OF
the players. nut IT NIllb "NAG cAlAs a
practice game II would seem that all the
rules should be strictly enforced and none
waived even by common consent.
There was a great deal of interest
on the part OF the spectators in the ex-
pertinent OF numbering the players. This
progressive innovation by the Pennsy!-
vania management WAS Thoroughly sp-
proved by the crowd, and especially the
newspaper men. The only deserved crtti-
cism that could be made was that the
numbers were entirely too small. The
Quaker management intends TO use big
ger numbers for succeeding games and
10 have them painted on the jerseys with
white lead, which will be permanent and
enable them 10 be seen distinctly from
all parts OF the field,
There were no surprises on other grid
irons, unless Cornells defeat at the hands
OF Pittsburgh could be so classed. While
all the other big teams won about as
they pleased, Cornell seems 10 have been
fairly outplayed by the Pittsburgh eleven.
Remembering that last year Pittsburgh
beat Cornell 20 10 Z and that this year
the men from the western end Of the
State not only had as strong a team as
last year. but one with the advantage
OF several weeks more preliminary prae-
a. ahs u.F.f