The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-10-25
.N'MILLAN TELLS
OF SCOUT WORK
Scouting Vital in Modern
Football, According
to This Star.
BY $50" NC MlLLIN

The scout has come to play a
very Important part in modern
football.
Ten years ago a team without a
coach was just about as helpless
as the present day team would
be without a scout.
1t used to be that when a scout
was sent out to see n rival team
play his main thought was to get
the signals Of the opposition.
Today 1t has developed into n
much finer art to properly scout a
team. the man dong I has to taHe
many things into consideration
aside from the matter Of nero sig
mails.
AS I said in ono Of my former
articles, football is still In tho ex-
perimental stage. Because Of this
fact, the cOaches are employing
different methods OF attack eacn
year. They are trying TO L,elop
a new style Of play. one that VIII
be distinctly their own. and with
VIII oh they will be able to spring
something VOW on their opponents.
This system has heen of grea,
advantage 10 the smaller colleges,
Using it. they have demonstrated
CoIclusively that tho scam depend
ing uDon It's weight and strength
can easily be defeated by q fast.
passing eleven.
Scouts are sent out each Staso !
10 note the DEVELOPMENTS and MT
only to learn tho method OF attack
and defense Of the other team bu!
TO get new ideas OF their own.
Before secuted the Harvard
game in 1920 | was totally ignor.
ant of the Harvard style OF play.
] was very much surprised to sea
their quarterback taking - bail
from under the center. Nearly ali
the teams In our section OF the
south. used only direct passes 20
the man carrying the ball. saw
them use only straight plays. but
these were highly developed; that
Is. every available man interfercd
lot tue man Win lhe pail.
Reports to Director
On my return 10 Danvillc went
into tho Office OF our athletic di.
rector. Bob Myers, and said:
"Chief. It is going to he u battle
between two systems. II our tricks
and passes can offset thor weight
and knowledge of old-style muh.
DDS. VIC will win. - was able to
| tell our line what to expect and |
was positive that our passes and
ends would work. was right IN
my prediction except the Harvard
line gave liz a little more than We
could ST. and We lost.
a ION ! scout is open AMI
above b. a with every move that
he makes Those representing
most OF the larger institutions u.s.
ually 20 in and have chat with
the coach OF the opposing team be-
fore the game.
This year / have sent out sevel
passes TO the coaches and tho cap
tains OF all the teams on my
schedule and will he glad to have
them visit our field at any Of the
games during the season.
Eddie Mahan. famous Harvard
star, spent about seven days in
our camp in 1920. In 1921 Harvard
detailed one OF their coaches to
come to Danville where he spent
week with US before, the big
game.
Duty Of Football Scout
Seldom Is n football scout able
to get much OF a line on any OF the
deceptive features Of a teams Of
tense. Such plays are rarely un-
covered in the minor games.
The scout, however, by watching
a few games. is able to get a good
limo on the general style Of play.
1t is also possible for him to pick
up any OF the unusual features
that invariably are a part of every
cuach's system. Likewise 1t. Is pos.
sIble to pick out the weak and
strong sections Of the line against
certain style OF play. The ends
can also be sized up for their
outstanding features.
Very often 1t is possible for /
scout 10 unearth a certain weak.
ness in the play of some IndiVl-
dual that is Of vital Importance,
Have Won ever seen the BLACK