San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-10-07
Coaches Must Be Careful,
Too, But Fans Find
Game Unchanged.
TEAMS In GOOD SHAPE
Walter Camp Notes Players
as Whole Report in Bet
ter Condition.
BY WALTER CAMP.

Copyright. by The San Antonio Light
New York, Oct. 6.-While specta-
tors at the early season football games
have not noticed any appreciable
change in the game as a result.of al
terations in the rules, the officials
and the coaches have found hard work
cut out for them.
The fact that the playing of the
/ game is about the same as it ever
was is. of course, due to the fact that
no changes have been made in the
structure Of the sport, that it is still
and we hope always will be-a
standardized game which in no mate
rial sense will be altered.
But so far as officials are concerned
and coaches, too, the changes in the
rules have brought about the necessity
of great care in the conduct of the
game on the one hand and the teach
ing of it on the other. In the West
POint-Tennessee game, for instance,
spectators noticed that when a south
ern player interfered with the defense
on forward pass thrown by the
Dixie team it cost Tennessee fifteen
yards. Until this year interference by
the offense cost the offending team
only down. 1t is things such as these
that mean little to the spectator and
lyet count for much in determining
how well an official is fitted for his
position and how highly coach is
lqualified for his teaching job.
Teams must be taught to launch
the pass without danger of mourning
penalties that may well prove danger
Gus and officials must be on the look
out to note technical attractions when
they occur.
Football men have reported to their
coaches in much better condition, TAX
ing the colleges throughout the coun-
try, than was the case even a year
ago. This is due to the fact that
coaches have insisted upon their men
taking care of themselves throughout
he vacation periods. Lack of condi-
ton in the past has always retarded
he development of teams, inasmuch
as no coach can begin to apply his
methods adequately until his men are
n physical condition for the ordeal
The men out of condition are easily
recognized in the dash along the field
which the coach usually orders as the
first feature of early season drill.
They lag behind, winded. fighting for
breath, while their better-conditioned
fellows romp over the turf without
turning hair. In the old days. out Of
squad of thirty or forty the lag
ards would be greatly in the major
ty. but this year the slothful ones
Fould not make up "a corporal's
uard.
This has meant that scrimmage
FORK could be started much earlier
han has been the case in the past. So
eneral is good condition throughout
he country that within week We
ball be in position to gain some
efinite idea as to what the prospects
the various gridiron leaders are.
As the situation stands. Michigan
/ present starts out with the best
iddle western prospects. apparently
aspite the loss Of her star end. Kirk.
ipke in the backiield is host in
mself. In the South, Vanderbilt
oks very strong and is preparing for
pr trip to play Michigan. a team
hich she tied last year at Nashville.
'est Virginia with her star backfield
ny repeat her 1922 victory over
ttsburg Princeton, Harvard and
ale have broken pretty even on the
IS of material and the success Of the
rec depends upon how stars lost by
lduation have been replaced.