Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-11-11
Development of Game in High
Schools Big Factor in
Improvement.
STYLES NOT VERY DIFFERENT
Late Start in Practice Hurt,
Quality in Some of the
Conferences.

Football is much the same game in
all sections of the country. There is
but little difference in systems ana
methods Of play. The east has been
represented by more good teams than
the south or the west simply because
the students OF the larger institutions
In this section have had "A more thorO
training in the rudiments OF the game
in preparatory schools than the play
ers in other sections Of the country.
II has also been possible for them 70
SEQ more big games, and by observa-
ton, learn the best ways of doing the
various duties required of n player.
Western football has always been OF
a high type. The two factors which
have prevented western elevens from
winning more games from eastern
rivals have been the lack of eXper-
fenced material to draw from aDd the
| conference rule preventing prelimi-
| nary training. ] am told that one of
the reasons for the success of Mime
sofa in football Is the situation Of this
great state university. 1t draws it,
students from 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 IT'S foot
| bail teams as n rule, while not as big
as those Of Minnesota are made up OF
students who have had the advantage
of more preparatory football training.
Pacific Makes Mistake.
In the Pacific district preparatory
football has not been a ortlbuting
factor like 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 n high point
Of development on the coast. Now
! that the American game has come
into it's own the Pacific -olleges-it
aot already, judging by their matches
with Brown, Pennsylvania and Syra-
cuse within the past few years-are
| on the rapid road to excellence. For
one thing they have that mos, neces-
sary factor Of success-material. This
college man of California, oregon and
| Washington is q man in every sense
/ Of the word. All else being equal he
/ viii take top rank in football. And on
a wet field the Oregonian, playing, as
he does, thru season of rainfall
! would show the rest of humanity that
wet grounds, forward passing and
/ punting are birds OF n feather.
The southern colleges. as a rule, are
represented by younger teams than
| those playing elsewhere. To be sure
| there are notable exceptions to this
/ statement as there are to all state
| nents relative TO football but the fact
nevertheless remains so. OF course
such a rule may not hold during wal
on account of the draft. This year
few teams have players over q.
Experience Wanted.
That which all coaches wish in the
way of football squad is experienced
material and-the material must be
man size. Unless this is so a system
Of play is of little use. IL takes play
ors with the right knowledge and the
power and strength 20 make any sys-
tenn a success. That is why that col
lege or that section OF the country
which draws the bulk OF well-coached
preparatory players takes highest
rank In the seasons football. That
is why football is such valuable
training for war.
No matter how well drilled a team
Is In system and no matter how per
feet the system NO team can win its
games unless IL had the individual
mastery as well. In the present
scheme OF trench warfare the allies
are working for a mastery with the
bayonet. That, and that alone, mus,
be superior in every detail to the
bayonet and hand-to-hand fighting OF
the enemies OF mankind. Without II
| the highest strategy and the most
| overpowering barrage are as naught
| This trench war must bo won by the
individual fighting skill Of man