New-York tribune., 1917-11-04
Pros andCons
Of'Big Three S
Football Stand
Critics of Informal Teams
Find Worthy Opponent
in Yale Man
By Louis Lee Arms

collegiate football. II is singular
fact, a. we have found II, that oy hlhe-
t,ntbs of football followers the Big
Three ar. harshly criticized ior their
prearranged action.
A few days ago New fork ioo.,
nail writer declared the Big Ihree
had lost caste by their action, ana 'ha'
u they were to preserve their pres.'s'
- tho collegiate world of sports they
would have to watch their step.
well-known coach declared the
,yi,hdrawal of the "Big Three from
= regular season and the substitution
g ;1formsl elevens--even this has
ahardoned at Yale-was faculty
bone" .o,,r,
"Alwavs.- he said, "you may count
r. academic mind to do the
wyong thing from the diplomauc
angle.
Criticises Entire Policy
Tbis authority not only criticised
,ha action Of the big Three this
sasson but he included the atnietlc
noi;cv of the big Three" IN Its en-
firety Yale and Harvard's attituoe
toward the Poughkeepsie regatta. the
American Henley" he declareo waS
an index 10 their assumption Oh su-
periority and an attempt 10 eoinne
cialize traditions that were not peine
sustained in quality or spiri' ny -"
ern-day competitions.
IL is the contention OF this autho,i.s
and Others whom we have met tnaV .ns
thing for Harvard, Yale ana fIihceoon
20 have done this season was 70 Ma,e
let down the bars on the curreh. VII.
age of eligibility rules, permit 1resn-
Zen 70 play. and at all hazards put
mon the field of play an eleven ready
tn do its best, whatever that might De-
of course. President Wilson's state,
ment urging the continuance OF al
lives of snort was cited as an adoi,,
t;onal reason why Yale, Harvard ana
princeton are indicted on the grouno OF
having committed faculty bone.
The recrudescence of this popular
5;scnssion through these columns Calls
again for a previously made expression
Eat those who are most bitter IN their
criticism Of Yale, Harvard and Prince
.on have certainly missed some OF the
outstanding points in the present SIT
uation. ;,st 4,
awe expect TO be inveighed against,
said Yale man several weeks ago.
"but observe, if you will. who are our
critic. ! can tell you IN advance tna'
the majority of them will be those VINO
re deriving some monetary oenehs
from collegiate football. They are the
ones most interested in preserving eN-
pensive coaching systems, trainlnS
tables and the customary mcdus OPP
erandi. even in the face Of a world war
cat Yale the majority OF our men
give six mornings every. week 10 NIL
tary drill, and three afternoons. NO
man who does net +ahe this h'llilary
course is eligible Tor athletics. Credit
is given for military work that com
pr;ses one-hfth of the entire credlts
necessary for graduation.
Another Side
This world war may continue for
syergl yeals leading military author
"a already are predicting that IN
g he American forces will bear the
run, Of the fighting on the West front,
. France cid the first three years ana
England is doing now.
'In view of this probability, which Is
he more Important: that Yale continue
0 ceveiou one team composed OF eiev,
"a nan Uf surpass!ng SKILL and physicai
durance or that she make all athiet-
q subordinate 20 military drill, with
,tball. baseball and track work con-
lcted in an informal manner whereby
--unllv ell students viii participate
benefit physically far more than
they merely were among the student
Glowing OF a possible championship
am? Can there be any possible
c1oice between the two courses?
Yale, for the duration OF the war,
-.Il urge for athletics IS much as she
over did, but they must be OF the kind
hcrc;n all students viii participate,
~. the young student Of to-day is the
nan holding the trench of tomorrow,
4 ne pust be physically fitted for
his vi,slly important matter"
This pretty we'll covers the moot
roiuts OF the present warm discussion,
nd eft 10 q jury Of patriotic Amer-
cans Yale would get the verdict.
The Harvard crimson" paid pretty
compliment 10 Yale's solemn stand on
athletics, and revealed the fact that
rhe has made somewhat better show
nc athletieaily this season than Yale
or!v because her military work Is less
arduous.
saws "The Crimson:
'-he only difference between Har-
vard and Yale is that our drill ground
IA near By and we nave no horses 70
look after. AZ II came TO point where
athletics had TO be given up for the
sake OF military drill, there is not the
gl;chte9t doubt that we would give over
every other activity"
"In the fourth period. nearing the
eloge. Howard Berry took the ball on
Psnn's 20-ysrd line and hoisted sixty
ward punt. The ball hit the ground
and rolled over Pitts goal line for
toucnback. II was put in play on the
20-yerd line. Presently Alex Wray in
tercepted Panther forward pass and
took the ball 20 Pitts 8-yard line. from
where with three line smashes Joe
straDs carried IL over for touchdown"
That is very fair commentary upon
the exceeding value Of good kicking.
Unitsl Berry lined out his sixty-yard
punt il seemed entirely probable that
Pitt might batter its way over twenty
yards Of territory and score touch
down. Penn held at a critical stage,
however, and Berry with one effective
kick altered the complexion Of the en-
tire period.
Columbia az the outset of its game
With Union could not gain an inch
through the upstaters' line. A Blue and
White forward snstehed a forward pass
and carried il 10 Unions 25-yard line.
Howard Miller, after two unsucccss-
fyl line smashes, dropped back 70 his
own 3s-ysrd line and deftly kicked
fed goal. giving Columbia points
and the confidence that goes with first
blood"
Against the tactical refining OF Of
fence and defence the art Of kicking
continues 70 hold its own as one of
the most valuable assets In football.
Our most celebrated baseball stars