New-York tribune., 1920-11-11
Big Three Especially
Fearful of Trying Play
Except as a Long Chance
By Ray Mccarthy


When you stop to think Of it it is
surprising Yale, Harvard and Prince
ton and all of the other Eastern teams
cont make more and better use of the
forward pass. In this department of
the game the West, we are told, excels
the East. and we know that Notrc
Dame has 1T on any eleven we ever
saw when it comes to completing the
.ass.
Coaches will spend hours drilling
their players on Interference. in de-
fenslve and offensive tactics, in signals
and IN other branches of the game.
But with it all very little time is
spent on the best and most efficient
means of executing the forward pass.
Signals are worked out for the play
ana several passes are thrown in prac
tee. But we don't know of a single
eleven here in the East that has de-
veloped the play with the accuracy and
the speed exhibited by the Westerners.
Proves Worth in Pinch
Ever since the forward pass was
adopted no team here in the East has
made full use Of its possibilities. Yet
the overhead game has proved it's
worth in time of need as was proved
by Harvard in tieng Princeton on Sat-
Hrday and by Yale in beating Brown.
The pass enables team to score a
touchdown in onc-ffth the time it
takes to go over by straight football,
and what Is more it saves the energy
# any team using it.
Here in the East most teams make
she pass to the side. whereas it has
been proved the middle lane is the
best and safest place in which to put
it through.
Year after year Notre Dame comes
last with brilliant aerial attack.
lake this years eleven. The signal is
given for a pass; the backs are in
regular, formation. The ball is
snapped and the backs hammer the
line. Gipp only remains in his posi-
ton. takes the pass from center. runs
few steps and suddenly straightens
and shoots the leather straight across
the middle Of the line with the speed
and accuracy with which baseball is
thrown.
He thimes his throw so we'll that the
end or the back scurrying down the
side can cut in on the dead run and
take the pass on high 1t is beauti-
1ul as we'll as thrilling sight to see
the pass made in this manner, and
wnat IS more 1t always results in q
gain Of at least fifteen yards Often
another back preceding the runner will
take out the fullback and leave a clear
path to the goal line for the receiver.
Hours of Hard Drilling
It's a safe wager this play was never
perfected in one or two practice ses-
sions. 1t must have taken hours of
long, hard drilling to make it sue
cess. True, it requires a good passer
and receiver of alertness and excep-
tional ability. But such players can
be developed the same rs linemen or
backheld performers.
lnasmuch as two or three have taken
the trouble to write in to inform US
that in 1900 Cornell defeated Dart
mouth at Ithaca by score of "a to 6
1t must be so, although we can't find
the result in our statistics. The press
agent of either Dartmouth or Cornell
who sent in the statement is to blame
for the error
The latest is that Harvard will num-
Der its players. Fisher is quoted as
saying he hates to do it, but if Har-
ward sentiment is in favor Of such
move he will acquiesce.
Brothers will oppose each other in
TWO games on Saturday. The struggle