The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-11
HARVARD LIKELY
 TO KEEP FISHER
Roper To Return To Princeton And With
 ingtOn To Columbia

NEW YORK;. Dec. 10.--Footbal interest is brisk in several encores tt the regular season that will be played in California, and its speculation ovel usual coaching problems. There's un usual interest in who will coach al Columbia, Princeton and Harvard, but the uncertainty will soon be settled witt announcements that Paul Wilmington Bill Roper and Rob Fisher all will bt on the job again next year.
 Wilmington has gone back to Homo lulu to resume his medical practice. He left with the assurance that he would again coach the Blue and White. With ington,, who was chief of staff under Perry Haughton, formulated plans for the Columbia squad that will be car ried out by Dr. Arthur Brides in the absence of the head coach.
 Winter Practice
 Wilmington is anxious to interest as many as possible in football and an in- novation will be tried in several weeks when varsity members will start to handle footballs on South field as we'll as all others who desire to join the squad. It will be mild form of winter practice, and the veteran players will act as volunteer coaches for the new corners, with Dr. Brides in general charge.
 Bill Roper will be back for another season if Princeton invites him and this is just what the Nassau officials intend to do unless present sentiment is changed suddenly. Roper intended to quit this year because of business demands in Philadelphia, but recently he told a few intimates he could spare the time next year if Princeton wanted him.
 Roper Gets Results
 There is some scattered opposition to Roper among Princeton men who claim he does not provide permanent system of play, especially for the offense. It is true that the Tigers frequently change their style in order to borrow play or two from oppon- ents, but, after all, results prove the value of coaching, and since Roper's return in 1919, Princeton has broken even with Yale and won three, tied two and lost only one game to Harvard. No Princeton coach ever equalled this showing and there's growing feeling at Princeton that Roper is best quali- Ileu 10 lHC COdCHiltS htAN sNhI . although there was much sounding of the anvils after the Tigers lost to Yale.
 Roper was chiefly blamed for that setback, although the truth of the mat ter is that the Princeton team, flushed with the 34 to 0 victory over Harvard, worked itself into a mental state thaC simply invited disaster, despite the fran tic efforts of the coaches.
 Bob Fisher will be back at Harvard because the Crimson can not find any one who would be certain improve ment.
 Neew New System
 The trouble at Cambridge is not with the head coach as much as with the system, which works out every lit- tie detail and then orders the coach to put it into effect. The present liar yard staff is composed of representa- lives of the best Crimson teams in the past twenty years. If there is some one who would improve over Fisher he is probably already enrolled on the staff, but up to date the Crimson of- ficials have not discovered this some one.
 Harvard's chief trouble is an anti auated system, the same system Haugh- ton left years ago and which has not been changed to meet new conditions. For one thing, Harvard continues to use a kick formation that is relic of past ages. What the Crimson seems to need is another man with the cour- age and independence of a Haughton who will go in and try something diff fereOt