New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-10

degree in perfection of movement mas
been acquired.
The judgment of Harvard quarter
backs in choosing plays has been
praised. To be sure, men like Logan
and Watson were natural tacticlanS'
but they learned their first lesson from
the ideas and plans mapped out and
carefully explained by Charley DAILY.
The question that naturally sug-
gests itself is: How did these teams
perfect their starting signal to such
4 degree >" The answer may be OF
interest. and it calls metronome IN
as a first aid to football efficiency.
At the meetings Of the football
squad a metrOnome was placed at the
front Of the room and one ouarteroack
after another was called upon TO give
the signals. The instrument was set
at a uniform speed and the signals
were called. At the starting signal
every man in the room clapped ms
hands together. This was repeated
over and over. the back taking his
rhythm from the tick Of the metro,
nome and the clapping being repeated
until no man was out Of time. On the
field the signals were called at the
same speed. and the ball always moved
on scheduled time.
II Haughton went TO the masters for
the timing Of his signals he borrowed
from the military and from the stage
to perfect the evOlutiOns of his team
in running plays. lie said that pre-
cision of the West Point cadets IN eN-
ecuting their mannuvres, the perfec-
ton of chorus girls in their dancing,
could be attained by football teams,
and that the team most exact in its
movements would be the unbeateH
team. So he started to work.
How often has that trite expression
of football. "The best defence Is an
Irresistible attack" been quoted? But
an attack can never be irresistible un-
less every detail of every play be car
RED out. The swiftest back VIII not
be able to turn the ends unless the end
rush is blocked out The most power
full plunger will be pied up # his
forwards are unable 10 clear his path,
and there will be few long runs II the
seccndaries are not cleared out. To
perform all these duties correctly a
team must have the power, TO be sure,
but a thorough knowledge OF the fun
damentais of football is imperative.
Harvard teams have been drilled
thoroughly in The elemental moves or
their game. Before even the simplest
play was put in the hands of the team
long, hard drills in the fundamentals
were held. For hours at time the
team would charge up and down the
field, making short lunges, but paying
strict attention TO every detail de
manded BY the coaches.
The position of the men in the line
before the charge, the position Of their
feet. the way in which they held their
heads. whether they had a tendency
10 drop them and charge blindly or
hold their heads erect and look where
they were eoing-all this was attended
10, and more.
The backs we're drilled in swinging
into their formations rapidly. They
were drilled in hitting the ends IN a
certain way, making their lunge 70
carry them under the guarding sun
arm, or 20 20 through and take of
some other man. Tackling, falling on
the ball, and, in a word, every oranch
Of the snort, was drilled methodically
and thoroughly. II WAS no wonder
then. that Crimson Jerseys stood for
the last word in football eflciencys
With a fair knowledge, in many in
stances an accurate knowledge, OF the
offensive weapons OF the tHtuhss Aua =
nished by scouts who knew whereof
they spoke, Harvard was able TO fash
ion a defence for the style Of play It
was most liable 20 meet. Moreover,
there wero defensive signals which
were given by one man or another as
lie detected certain moves being made
by the other team. Not even Prussian
nilitarism exceeds the general eff
cheney of Harvard football.
Much is due 20 Hsughton, but not
all, by any means. The wonderful hid
den ball tricks that have amazed the
football world and bewildered Har-
wards opponents are in many cases the
product OF the fertile brain Of Reggie
Blown, who, as we said before, puts
the stamp Of approval upon every play
that Harvard teams use. The dashing
play Of the ends Is due 20 Lesry.
Haughton is a great organizer. There
is none greater. He has devised many
means OF making his team powerful.
but he has received aid from capable
coaches. Much 10 due 70 him, but not
All--not by any means