The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-11-07
.COACHAT MERCY
OF HIS PLAYERS
Mistakes by Team Make Best
Mentor Look Foolish
Many Times.
By BILLY EVANS

- 1870
Just before the game between
Michigan and Ohio State was
discussing the chances Of Michl-
gan with Coach Yost and his as
sistant. George Little.
Michigan has good team"
said Yost, at is green and mex
perienced In spots, but 1t has plen-
ty Of power.
81 have two great ends in Kirke
and Goebel. II they do their part
and my line is able to hold State
the backfield will do the rest.
"The boys know how football
should be played. However, with
half dozen green men making
their debut in big game, some
thing may happen.
GOTTEN the strain causes an in-
experienced player to forget much
OF what the coaches have told
him"
/ In the game with State the
Michigan line did its part and the
work of Goebel and Kirke on the
ends featured, The backfIeld did
the rest, as Yost said they would.
Michigan won, 10 to 0.
Princeton Was Game
Just before the Princeton game
with Chicago l discussed with
Coach Bill Roper Of Princeton tie
chances Of tho Tigers toiWIpe out
the defeat Of 1921.
my team is green and light,
but 1t is game. II will fight to the
end. Like all Princeton teams II
Is never defeated until the whistle
has blown.
"The lack Of experience may be
fatal. In practice "a coach can exc
pound the theories Of the game 10
his players, he can tutor them IL
every trick Of the trade, but when
the game starts It Is up to the
players.
when the whistle blows the
team can make or unmake n
coach with a very few plays. l am
hoping for the best, confident Of
one thing, my team will fight to a
finish"
Mistakes Proved Costly
The game had been in progress
only few minutes when the
words Of Coach Roper were
brought back to me In a most fol-
chile manner.
After the game had been under
way only few minutes Stron-
meier Of Chicago kicked to Cor
man ION Prlnecton's 45-yard line.
German handled the ball close
to the sidellnes. lie worked him
self out of bounds after the tackle.
The official, however, ruled that
the ball was downed inside the
line.
The ball was put In play on the
! 45-yard line about a foot from the
+, sidellne. German, by trying to go
out OF bounds when tackled so as
to have the ball brought in Is
yards and be in a position to kick,
showed he had his head up.
Three Plays Went Wrong
1t seemed certain that he would
try to go out Of bounds on the
next play. But he, didn't. Then
came three plays that caused Rop-
er to pace up and down the side
lines like wild man, No oEe
blamed him either.
On a fake pass Cleaves lost ] Q
yards. Both teams were offside
and the ball was brought back
Cleaves made four yards, but
Princeton was offslde and was
penalized five yeards. A pass,
Cleayes to Snively, lost IL yards.
Instead OF being out of danger
Princeton was on the tiger 30
yard line and forced to kick.
Chicago got possession Of the
ball on Its 35-yard line Rad IN
nine plays scored a touchdown.
Bad judgment had gotten the Tig-
ers of wrong in the first few min
utes OF play.
Blocked Punt Makes Trouble
In the second period, after the
Tigers had forged ahead, Z to 6.
King of Chicago kicked off to
Cleaves, who brought the ball
back Is yards to Princeton's 20
yard line. Three plays gained oa!y
five yards.
Coach Roper at this stage rush
ed Van Gerbig, star Princeton
punter, into the fray to boot tho
ball out Of danger.
The ball was passed to Van
Gerbig. He seemed to fairly fondle
1t. Mover was a kick gotten of
more slowly. 1t was partly block
ed after travelling only two yards
when 1t went out OF bounds.
It was Chicago's ball on Prince
toms 32-yard line. Five plays sent
1t over for a touchdown.
Coach Roper of Princeton was
like a Gagged lion at this stage and