The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-11-28

/ 1t is a recognized fact that psy-
chology plays an important part in
I football games. Coaches recognize
this and use psychological means of
getting the goats of the players on
opposing elevens- Football never has
been a game of Drawn alone. but
\ brains have played an important part
in contests of the ribboned rectangu-
liar field for years. More than one
contest has been won because some
coach saw the psychological effect of
telling of some of the traditions of
| the schools which they represent. A
knowledge of football is essential. but
with it must go plenty of brains, abil-
lily TO outguess the other fellow. and
above all some means of disconcerting
and bewildering the opposition.
That is where the psychology comes
in. More than one method of be-
wildering the opposing eleven is used
by many coaches. Probably one of
Into the team some fight. which sends
the backs, ends and forward wall
against the opposition with that bull
dog tenacity which overwhelms the
expectations of the other team
one of the means used by many
coaches in instilling in the men this
changing power is by football tradi
tions. Football coaches conjure up
memories of former stars on the grid
in old graduates and former stars for
talks is one way of filling the wearers
of the moleSkins with pep, ginger and
determination
What effect would it have bringing
Chick Harvey into the dressing
room of the Ohio State squad for an
inspirational talk to the members of
the defenders of the Buckeye title.
Harley was one of the greatest stars
that ever wore the moleskins at Ohio,
and his feats on the gridiron are re-
counted by undergraduates and old
in the city of Columbus, and by sport
writer's and fans all over the land.
His playing was phenomenal.
Think a talk tn the men by Harley
would have any effect on the players
at Ohio before a Michigan game, for
instance2 What would be the psyche
logical effect? Would thee be any?
Coaches believe there would.
Eastern schools have more heroes
than western schools, being older.
Eastern schools use this method of in
stilling the fight into the men more
than western elevens- Some of the
western elevens, however, are produc-
ing stars who will be able to inspire
men of the future.
"Potsy'' Clark was a star at Illinois
not so many years ago. If he were
to- walk into the dressing room and
make a talk to the men before they
raced out on the field would it have
any effect on the players? There is
no doubt in the minds of coaches that
such things have effect
Eastern schools have many tradi-
tons that are recounted to players be-
fore games. Sol Metzger, writing in
the American Golfer. has something to
say about football traditions on the
gridiron,. and how coaches use these
to inspire their players.
Coaches cajoIe with prestige, espec-
tally when they face great odds, he
states in his article. All the old tales
are told. the old grads brought back
and the weak knees stiffened for a
story about Princeton which he de-
clares all Princeton men love. 1t is a
story about one Of the gladiators of
the old days who paved the way for
Princeton's long list of triumphs on
the gridiron. Imagine the effect of
such a story on eleven spent and
weary athletes on the eve of a big
game. Metzger tells his story so we'll
we believe it is worth telling here.
"Once upon a time the story be-
gins, there was a fine old war horse
named Hector Cowan playing tackle
for Princeton 1t was back in the
days when mass plays were in vogue
and when tackle was often called upon
to carry the ball. In a Rutgers game
a hot battle waged until the Tiger
quarterback hit upon the expedient of