The Washington times., 1924-12-25

he mas turned more expected d(
coach that we know Of. The way
to tie Andy Smiths California pl
nary. Warner pulled the same TT
his long reign as premier coach of
A story is told Of Warner that
can bear repeating. 1t was during
the time he had his famous Car.
Isle Indians playing at their best.
The Indians had a game SEIZED
uled with Harvard. The late
Percy d. Haughton, an equally
as famous a mentor, had charge
IL the Crimson eleven.
Word came to Haughton that
the Indians were going to wear
leather patches on the jerseys that
resembled footballs, the idea being
that when the Indians ran their
Harvard opponents would not know
just who had the ball.
HaugEtOn went to Warner and
g told him that in his opinion this
was against the spirit Of the
rules. However, II he persisted
the game would be played with
the rules fOrbidding such an
event.
Warner agreed to tear the
leather patches off his jerseys.
HaughtoE felt satisfied and regu-
lnlion ball was employed. How
e1er, late in the game the Indians
received a Harvard kickoff and
Dillon, a back, ran to the center
of the five-yard line and the re-
mainder of the team crowded
around him.
Almost instantly the entire In
dion team deployed to all sections
lOf the field. The Harvard oppon.
eents stood amazed. Dillon finding
q path down the center of the
gr:diron walked until he was past
the safety man and then raced
q the Harvard goal line for the
touchdown that won the game.
Upon investigation it was dis
covered that Warner had equipped
Dillon with a jersey that had a
strong elastic band at the waist.
When the players gathered on the
five-yard line, a fellow player
pushed the ball up under the back
Of Dillon's jersey.
The Harvard players, running
down the field, were unable to
see the hall stuck up in such q
manner that Dillon looked like a
hunchback. The play was allowed.
The next season rule was
placed in the code prohibiting the
hiding Of the ball. However,
Warner won his point and the
game.
Hundreds Of other stories can be
told about the craftiness Of Pop
Warner. He is one Of the pioneers
Of the game that has never lost his
grip on the sport. Those who saw
his Pittsburgh elevens play are
firm in their declarations that few
teams were ever smarter or better
coached than the Smoketown
crews. The championship Pitts
burgh team of 1917, in the opinion
Of most Eastern critics, was the
best team developed in the East
IN the past decade.
Warner has made phenomenal
progress since he took over the
coaching job at Stanford. Before
his arrival the Palo Alto seat of
learning was not rated in the
championship division. True.
Andy Kerr and Tiny Thornhill has
developed a couple Of fast elevens,
but their charges lacked that
polish that Is so characteristic Of
champions.
Those who saw Stanford play
this year say that the Pacific Coast
title holders bears all Of the ear
marks Of a typical Warner coached
eleven. If they measure up to this,
Notre Dame is going to find a
trifle harder than 1t proved to be
in most all Of their other games
this year.
What is more Warner has had
time enough to perfect a defense.
Those who know football say
that once Pop has had a fine
view of q teams attack that he
has seldom failed to stop it. In
the Carnegie Tech game in Pitts
burgh, Warner had plenty of
scouts watching Knute ROckne's
lads play.
Most every individual that played
at Smoketown under Pop was out
with pad and pencil In the hope Of
helping his old coach to win the
big international game on New
Year Day.
For these reasons we are Of the
opinion that the game out in the
Rose bowl is going to be historic
event so far as international foot
ball is concerned. If Notre Dame
scores early, the Southland lads
may win! However, If Warner
keeps his goal line unsoiled in the
first half he will stand more than
an even chance Of taking his
formidable rivals from the Middle
West into camp. =, -.
1t looks like an even chance
whichever way. that you, figure it.
The team that receives the first
break is, going TO have, q decided
advantage over it's rival. So far
SIS, crafty and cunningness are con-
terned, Knute Rockne is going to
find Pop Warner q master strate-
gist, ~.
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