The Washington times., 1917-11-12
BY SOL METZGER,


Coach Washington & Jefferson Eleven.
Football is much the same game in
all sections OF the country. There is
but little difference in systems and
methods Of play. The East has been
represented by more good teams
than the South or the West simply
bcause the students of the larger in
stitutions in this section have had a
more thorough training in the rudi-
ments of the game in preparatory
schools than the players in other
sections of the country. II has also
been possible for them to see more
| big games and, by observation, learn
the best ways OF doing the various
duties required Of a player.
Western football has always been
OF high type. The two factors
which have prevented Western
elevens from winning more games
from Eastern rivals have been the
lack of experienced material to dre-:
from and the conference rule pre-
venting preliminary training.
am told that one OF the reasons
| for the success OF Minnesota in foot
ball is the situation OF this great
| State university. It draws its stu
/ dents from a hardy outdoor people
noted for their splendid physique and
who, in the nature OF things, take
/ to football like the proverbial duck
| to water.
Chicago, on the other hand. draws
from another type and its football
| teams. as a rule. while not as big as
those OF Minnesota, are made up OF
students who have had the advantage
OF more preparatory football training.
In the Pacific district preparatory
! football has not been g contributing
| factor as in the East. The action OF
| the California colleges in 1905 in
abandoning American football for
Rugby has long prevented the Ameri.
can game from reaching a high point
OF development on the coast.
Are Progressing Rapidly.
Now that the American game has
come into its own the Pacific colleges
if not already, Judging by their
matches with Brown, Pennsylvania
and Syracuse within the past few
years-ars on the rapid road TO ex-
cellence. For one thing they have
| that most necessary factor OF sue
cess-material.
The college men OF California,
| Oregon and Washington is a man in
! every sense OF the word. All else be-
! ing equal he will take top rank in
| football. And on a wet field the Ore
gonian, playing, as he does, through
( a season OF rainfall, would show the
rest of humanity that wet grounds.
! forward passing and punting are birds
/ Of a feather.
The Southern colleges. as rule.
are represented by younger teams
/ than those playing elsewhere. To be
sure there are notable exceptions 70
| this statement. as there are TO ali
statements relative to football. but
the fact nevertheless remains so. or
| course such a rule may not hold dur
| Ing war on account of the draft. This
year few teams have players over
| twenty-one.
All Seek Experienced Men.
That which all coaches wish in the
way OF a football squad Is expert
enced material. And-the material
must be man-sIze. Unless this is so.
| a system Of play is OF little use II
takes PLAYERS with the right knowl-
edge and the proper power and
strength to make any system a sue
| cess.
That Is why that college or that sec
tion of the country which draws the
bulk OF well-coached preparatory
players takes highest rank in the sea
| sons football. That is why football is
such a valuable training for war.
No matter how we'll drilled a team
IL IN system, no matter how per
/ feet the system, no team can win its
games unless Il had the Individual
| nestery as well. In the present
stems of trench warfare the allies