New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-09
Penn Alumnus Asks Higher
Rating for Folwell's
Quaker Eleven
By Louis Lee Arms

If there is one modern football
player upon whom M two authorities
perfectly agree he is Howard Berry, OF
the Pennsylvania eleven. A discussion
of this spectacular player calls forth
more diverse opinion than NAV be
heard at soapbox orgy in Madison
Square.
Having watched Berry in action in
four games this season, we found him.,
to our way Of thinking, entitled to
rank on the highest plane among 1917
backfield stars. To this opinion, 1t
might be added, Coach "Bob" Folwell
of Penn and many others subscribe.
But that Berry is less we'll thought
of by competent authorities is midi
Gated by the "All-Eastern" eleven of
a we'll known Philadelphia scribe, who
places "Hobey" Light, of the Penn
backfeld. on his first team and Berry
on the second.
Light Is Light on Offence
Light is beyond argument one Of the
greatest defensive backs developed IN
a decade; yet as an offensive back he
showed us no uncommon talent. AS
a matter of statistical evidence, Light
scored five touchdowns for Penn TO
Berry's ten. Berry ran up 100 points
for his eleven TO Lights 80. Seven
field goals-he led all Eastern field
goal artists-and twenty-four goals
from touchdown helped SWELL Berry's
point aggregate.
If in the face Of this point majority
Light is picked over Berry there must
be some reason for it. On recent trip
to Philadelphia we attempted to get a
snecifc reason for a certain criAcs
dislike of Berry. He, too, thought
Light was the better and more val
liable player.
The critic finally admitted that his
antipathy was difficult to express con-
cretely. but he believed Berry did not
relish being tackled when carrying the
ball, and that he was at his best in
"sure-thing" game rather than IN one
where the odds were even.
We pointed out that Berry's defensive
play against Pittsburgh was probably
what held the Painters to a mere two
touchdowns. He admitted that. We
cited the Michigan game and the three
field goals that clinched victory for
Folwelrs team. That was a matter OF
record. Against Dartmouth. a high
wind that swept across the gridiron at
Raves Field made field goal kicking
extremely difficult, and Berry funked
ont on FIVE tries, though one of them
missed by a matter of inches, the ball
hitting the painted upright.
Berry Best in Biz Games
These were Berry's three big games,
and on his showing against both Michi-
gan and Pittsburgh he eclipsed Light,
while neither was greatly in the fore
ground against Dartmouth, game
which Joe Straus and Bert Bell won
when they plunged ten yards through
the Green's line following the penalty
handed SpearsS men on a forward
mass. As matter of fact, none of
PENIS backiield men were conspicuous
in that game.
Berry is faster afoot than Light. and
runs the ends better. Light far over
shadows him in busting through line
or travelling the hard road off tackle.
but in. yardage gained over a season
of play Berry would be the superior.
The strange dstaste in some critics
for Berry's playing is hardly less than
a foible. Berry has been so promi
nently in the imelight and his name on
the spectators tongue so often that it
has led to less charitable analysis of
his play than is extended his brother
players. II seems TO be more a psyche
logical proposition than physical.
Berry was fourth among the point
IonLnrn In the Eaat This sennnn hcinc