The Washington times., 1921-10-26

mouth has no real geographical riy
For years, Dartmouth played II,
these games developed into great b
a wonderful eleven to Princeton.
played us in New York was a mary
When tho Harvard Princeton
agreement was entered into In 1911,
Dartmouth really lost Its big games,
as II was impossible for Princeton
and Harvard TO continue playing
team OF this strength In mid-season,
and hope TO win.
IL there is one particular char
acteristic In Dartmouth football II
is the drive and power OF the back
field. A Dartmouth backfield al
ways runs hard and drives fast
Where IL Is Built.
Offensive football, Is really built
around the back field, just as de-
fensive football is built around the
play of the line. OF course, no team
has an offense unless II gets eleven
men in every play. but without fast
driving backs, no offense can even
get started. The whole theory of
offensive football is for the backs
TO get TO the line of scrimmage as
fast and as soon as possible.
The offensive line has to check
the initial charge of it's opponents.
The defense can use it's hands while
the offense cannot. II the offensive
line charges together fast and hard,
knowing exactly as they do where
the play goes, the defensive line
charged back.
These conditions will only con-
tinue for a moment. This is the
golden opportunity for the halfback
At this morfent the defensive line
is wavering; II the backs hit the
opening at this second they can
make ground. II they delay an in
stant the defensive line will have
recovered 1t spoise and will drive In
on the man with the ball. II Dart
mouth excels in any particular point
II is right here.
was talking to Jess Hawley, who
played such a slashing game at halt,
back on the Dartmouth teams OF lsos
and 'O9. asked him why 1t was that
the Dartmouth backs had such drive
and dash. His answer was that he
thought the bucking strap was mainly
responsible.
The Bucking Strap.
The bucking strap is a very simple
device used by the Dartmouth coaches
to develop drive and speed In the back
field. The strap consists of two heavy
pieces of leather attached to stout
wooden poles. The leather straps are
about sixteen inches apart and about
two yards long. There is leather
collar thoroughly padded in the mid
die of the straps. This collar Is about
large enough for the man to get his
head and shoulders in. The padding
absolutely prevents all chance >of IN
jury.
-Four players are then selected on
the field and one Is put on each end
of the pole. A center. halfback ana
if necessary a quarterback hne up III
front of the bucking machine so that
II represents about the distance the
back has to run to the line.
The ball is passed to the back. he
fs coached to run at the strap as II he
was running at the line and put his
head in the hole just as he would a
hole in the line. When he does this.
the men holding the poles exert suffi-
cient pressure to check the first
charge of the back. The back with
the ball must keep on driving and
pushing with his legs, the men on the
strap holding him back all the while.
It's Great Practice.
This is wonderful practice for the
backfield. In the first place the back
must have his head about him or he
will miss the hole entirely when he
drives at the strap, and in the second
place the back must keep driving after
he gets his hole or the fact that h|
doesn't will be shown up in clear view
of everyone. | really think this is
good way to develop fast.runn,ng
backs. / am going to try 1t at Prince.
ton myself.
The Dartmouth offensive formation
consists of a hop-shift. Two tackles
and two ends are drawn behind he
line of scrimmage on parallel line!
At a certain signal the line shifts to
the right and the backs assume dia-
mond position usually on the strong
side.
Before the Chicago game / didn't
really think much Of the SHIFT as an
offensive formation, but since that
game | must admit | have become to
a certain extent a convert to this
style of attack, especially when it 'G
executed with the precision and drive
shown by the Maroon team.
The shift is very popular in the
West, and Dartmouth Is probably
closer in touch with Western condi.
tions than any other college in the
east. The team seems naturally 10
adapt itself to this style Of play.
Robertson Wonderful.
Robertson, the Dartmouth fullback
and captain, is a wonderful player,
probably the best man on the tam.
/ doubt IL there is another back with
the exception of Garrity, of Prince.
ron. who can hit the line with the
same force that he can. lie weighs
about 1870 pounds, Is fast, big and
strong, and has every qualification OF
n great back. He Is a good punter and
a whole team in himself.
Burke, one OF Robertson's running
mates, while not as good, Is very
dependabie player. Moore at tackle Is
nrobably the best man on the ling,
though the whole team from end to
end is very well balanced. a.
dartmouth has one OF the you1 "st
head coaches of any team IN the cOun.
try. Camel, quarterback and cap.
tain OF the 1919 eleven, is I'm charge
assisted b., two or three other coa III IS.
Cannell Ia bringing the team along in
a N-tsn nA L. ,aLi IN q n