The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-10-17
FOOTBALL INTEREST GROWING.
Barre People Watching Barre Players at
University Of Vermont.

1t has been many years since football
received the support that ii is receiving
this fall and all because this last war
emphasized the fact that good strong,
healthy, rough and ready lads are needed
when the country begins to organize an
army. Never more emphatjcally was this
point brought out than when doctors be-
gan examining aspirants or draftees for
the army and navy Forty per cent Of
the men examined in the United States
in this last war were found to be ply
sically unfit for military service. Why
Simply because most of them had not
properly exercised
The men that made the best soldiers
and officers were those who during school
life had taken part in athletics, football
especially When the army officials real
lied this fact, competent coaches were
stationed at the various environments to
organize and teach the men the intrica-
cies Of the game. Consequently, young
lads who would never have had the OPP
portunity to receive coaching from such
competent men, learned the game from
nation famed stars, who, like them
selves, were endeavoring to serve their
country to the best Of their ability.
The result Of this coaching is showing
in teams all over the country, making
football more scientific game and much
more interesting to watch than in the
older days when the object Of the player
was to make a touchdown regardless Of
the manner in which he did il. To-day
this method is frowned on and the play
er who secures a gain by foul means is
penalzed severely, oftentimes being dis
charged from the team for the remainder
of that game. The results are, as be
fore stated, a much more scientific game,
the kind that is sure TO induce the pub
lie to support the game.
Barre is backing this sport with the
same enthusiasm as all other cities
throughout the country, for, as each
week end draws near, groups of young
men see TO it that they may attend a
college game, if possible, or a home game.
This week they have numerous attrae-
tons in this line. At the Goddard camp
us, game will be played between the
seminary and the Fort Ethan Allen ag
gregation, which is sure to produce all
the excitement possible in football
Aside from this game there is no other
local team competing on the home
grounds, Spaulding high playing St.
Johnsburv academy at st. Johnsbury
Automobile parties, and a number Of
them too, are planning to see either
Dartmouth and the Penn State team
compete in Hanover, n H., or the other
college game in Burlington, when the
University Of Vermont meets the New
Hampshire State men. Barre people
have a greater incentive for attending
the latter game because two Barre lads
are included in the T. v N. lineup.
They are John Tomasi, the well-Enown
Spaulding fullback of 1917, and Ralph
("Nig'') Smith of the II class Of God
dard seminary The university coach Il
apparently banking on these two Barre
lads to a considerable extent Tomasi
has been giving great satisfaction play
ing right end. and for his commeudable
work in the Columbia Vermont game Of
last Saturday was portrayed in life size
on the front page Of the Vermont Cynic,
the college weekly paper, in his football
| togs. Smith, who has also gained the
admiration of his coaches while playing
| left tackle, is to have an opportunity
in the backfeld in the New Hampshire
| State game, Instead of covering left
tackle ne win be at fullback, and there
is little doubt in the minds of Barre
people as to his ability in this position,
for he is an experienced backfelder and
hard man to stop in a game.