New-York tribune., 1919-10-29
Roper Devotes
His Attention
To Backfield
Princeton Coach Satisfied
With Defense; Varsity
Scores Two Touchdowns

PRINCETON, N. j., Oct. 2s.-Coach
Roper sent the Princeton varsity
through another session of secret
practice this afternoon. Behind the
| barred gates of University Field
which was utilized because the annual
stadium, the varsity met the freshmen
in a twenty-minuoe scrlmmage, and
the improvement that the big team
showed against Colgate Saturday was
! reflected in the easy manner In which
the yearlings were pushed back for
two touchdowns.
Although the scoring power seemed
more evident than in any of the pre-
vious games against the freshmen
eleven, only two of the eleven men
who began the Colgate game were in
the original lineup. Bigler at end
and Dickinson at guard were the only
regulars in the fray.
Roper decided to give the other first
| string men rest rather than take a
chance on staleness before the big
: game. Harvey and Morgan, who went
in against Colgate as subs, also were
in the lineup.
De Stefano was the stat of the after
noon, making one of the touchdowns
and carrying the ball for consistent
gains by his line plunging. Murray,
IT half back, also starred for the
varsity and carried the ball over for
the second score of the short scrim-
mage.
Expect to Win Saturday
Princeton realizes that the West
Virginia game this Saturday will be
a test similar to that OF the Colgate
game. but the Tigers are viewing the
approaching contest with more optlm-
ism than at any other time this sea-
son. The team has distinctly found
itself and the men are confident they
will be in good condition to meet the
Mountaineers.
With the defense situation some
what cleared up by the showing the
forwards made against Colgate, the
coaches are devoting more time tt
the backs.
Princeton is changing her usua
system of backfeld development from
this fall. During the early days of the
season the Tiger plays centered about
Strubing. He seemed to be the only
backfeld man who was really sure
of his place, and each day found hin
directing a new set of backs from his
quarterback post.
Maury Trimble, now considered the
star Of the entire outfit at Old Nassau
rarely got a chance on the first string
eleven, and in the first games only pene-
trated the lineup when the scrub:
went in to pla in the last quarter
Trimble is so light and relatively small
that the coaches thought he would be
unable to make Roadway against s
heavy line. His work as a sub against
Lafayette finally gave Trimble a chance
to start a game-that with Rochester
ten days ago.
Trimble Is Star Back
Trimble is now considered the main
stay of the backfeld He is handling
the punting and passing, in addition to
bearing the brunt Of most of the car
rying of the ball, and Princeton be.
lieves that in the Harvard and Yale
games he will make a showing that
will place him close to all American
honors.
Lourie and Garrity are again on the
field, giving the Tigers plenty Of back
field material to work with. Another
back the Tigers have tucked up theil
sleeve is Frank Murray. Murray was
chosen by Walter Camp as all-Ameri
can quarterback of the S. A. T. C. teams
last year, but Strubing, who grabbed
off this position early in the fall, ha;
the ability to go through a game with
out faltering.
Only once, when Strubing wa:
slightly INJURED in the Rochester game
has the agile sophomore from Tennes
see found his way into the fray. Mur.
ra, is really better as a halfback thar
as quarter, and Roper has been chang
ing him to play this position. with
view to using him part time in the
games with Harvard and Yale.