South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-11-08
BREAKS PLAY Big
PART IN WINNING
AND LOSING GAMES
Twists of Circumstances Often
Decide Important Grid
iron Contests.
BY DO" NfcNIIIDIN.

What part does luck play in the
winning or the losing Of a football
game? Oftimes the results are at
tributed TO either good or bad luck.
If you will allow to substitute
breaks for luck 1 will agree with
the sport writer's in saying that the
breaks in a game often decide the
outcome.
In Centres first game with Har-
ward 1 remember OF hearing Fitz-
gerald, their quarterback, saying
Wait for the breaks boys. We'll get
one in a minute" And sure enough
they did
Soon after the start of the second
quarter Murphy, the lightest man to
ever play IN the stadium, was sent
in 10 punt for US. The kick went
straight up in the air and out Of
bounds on our own 30-yard line.
This was the break that the Grim
sons were looking for. They had
little trouble in carrying the ball
over in successive plunges because
the pep and fight was taken out OF
our men by such a poor kick.
Harvard Waits for Breaks.
If one Will read the history OF the
Harvard victories he will note that
the majority Of their drives which
result in touchdowns were inspired
by a break in their favor. They are
coached 10 hold their opponents and
wait for the breaks.
In 1919 Centre won from the Uni
%
advantage Of a break We had bat
tied through three periods and there
was only about four minutes left in
the fourth The score was 3 to 0 in
favor Of Indiana The cadet band
had formed to lead the victory
march.
Just at this time an Indiana back
fumbled on their 40-yard line and a
Centre man recovered. used a
Armstrong which gained Is yards
Before the 'HoosieVs" could recover
from the shock Of the tumble and
the completed pass I mad shot Rob
erts over the goal line in three
plunges.
We made another touchdown in
the remaining minute and half on
an intercepted pass and the final
score was Centre j. Indiana 3.
Now I do not think that you could
attribute this victory 20 luck, for II
we hadn't possessed the power and
fight TO take advantage OF thai
break the cadets would have had
their parade.
Success Depends on Subs.
When a good player IS injured and
has TO be taken out of the game the
coach often complains OF hard luck
and If the game results in a loss
for his team the sport writers vii
say that the winning team was q
bit lucky.
OF course this IS an unfortunate
circumstance, but the successful
/ coach will be prepared for just suc-
an emergency and VIII have g
trained substitute 10 take his place
I believe that the strength Of q
winning football team lies IN the
strength OF the substitutes. II It had
not been for the substitutes al
Centre last year being almost as
strong as the regulars we could no
have had the success we did have.
I have noticed that a great many
OF our smaller college teams are
built around one man and II he has
10 leave the game HE team goes &c
pieces. A successful football team
cannot depend upon one man but
must work as a machine 70 come
on. on top. Tt IS true that all good
coaches are not fortunate in having
capable substitutes and he might 60
through several games without
needing them. but IN the long run
he viii feel the need
I believe that Il IS folly for
coach to star his eleven best men
in q game because he IS sure 20 need
a good fresh man when the breaks
go against him.
Quite a few sport writers said that
Centre was lucky TO beat West Viz
ginia IN 1913. We un0uestionabiy
outplayed them In all departments
OF the game and the breaks were
certainly in their favor. Once we
were forced 10 punt on our l5-yard
line. Roberts. who was doing our
kicking in that game. dropped baeR
about 10 yards blocked the tackle