The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1922-11-22
FOLLOW THE BALL" WINS
GAMES. STATES. FARRELL
Is First Precept a6fr@Exery
Football Coach; Roper is
! Strong Fot.PiMITAa'l
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AK n Henry EarEEelk EsAk;

tea EPres :.!ss
New nYogk. sMoY.t 22zzz=MNluch like the
old logic that a calf will choke him
self if you, give him enough = rope,
new systems 81 sport; strategy are
being advanced and: carried out
that wise warrior will let his op-
ponent beat himself. ,..-,> = l-..a
There is the example of the con-
servative game 81 ef tennis characteris-
ic of the Japanese players. Their
idea of strategy is largely the pre-
sentation Of numerous opportunities
for the opponent to make errors.
They seldom assume 1.-THE T.. aggressive
offense and generallyhthey conaent
themselves with a sure return over
the net with a$chance that an ovel;
anxious opponent will met or
"out."
While Princeton never can be- ac-
cused Of "soft'' style: of play, OF a
lack of aggressiveness, yet "Bill'
Roper has developed one of the most
successful football systems in the
country based largely on the theory
that the opposition some time in
every game will make slip.
During this game, the opposition
is going to make a mistake or fall in
to error and YOU BE THERE when
it happens" they seem to tell the
Princeton players before every game.
Invariably they are there when it
happens and they make: the utmost of
it.
The eternal vigilance of Princeton
gridiron stars in following the ball
has developed into such uncanny per-
fection that nine times out of ten it
is sure death for an opposing player
to tumble the ball.
Sam White went onto the list of
undying heroes in Nassau's hall of
fame when he grabbed two fumbles
several years ago and raced for a
touchdown that beat Harvard and
Yale. Gray, the great end of this
years team, turned defeat intc vic
tory by grabbing a tumble in the
famous Chicago game and few
weeks later in the Harvard game,
when the Crimson fumbled twice,
two Tigers were on the ball and they
won the game.
"Follow the ball", is the first re-
cept of every football coach, but
none seem to have so thoroughly
driven home the lesson as Bill Roper.
It's a great motto for any game
and any profession.
Princeton's defeat of Harvard was
one of the greatest surprises of the
season because the Crimson lost on
fumbling errors-something that is
a rarity for a Harvard player.
The Harvard eleven was almost
out-thought, another strange miscar-
riage OF a system that is generally
regarded as the most efficient in
football.
=. The injury to Charley Buell., was
also a big factor in the defeat. Har-
ward specializes in the development
CT great quarterbacks. This year,
however, there was no one to take
Buell's place and the team depended
50 much on his judgment and balance
that when he was lost, it went to
pieces.
Tad Jones, the Yale. coach, no
doubt will welcome Bob Fisher to the
fraternity of great coaches who have
lost great games.
It is not to be expected, however,
that Fishers scalp will be demanded
by the Crimson alumni, while many
of the Yale followers have been de-
manding the whole hide of Jones
since he lost the Iowa game. J
If Iowa wins the Western Confer
ence championship again this year,
it will mean much to the Jones fam
lily. Howard can boast Of his second
championship team and his brother
Tad can get some satisfaction in the
thought that-"it took the best team
in the west to beat me-"