Evening star., 1926-10-18

been instructed to drive the ball to I
He was warned that under no circul
range of Grange.
The kicker tried to follow inStruc-
tions, but something went wrong, as
it occasionally will with kickers. The
ball sailed down the middle OF the
field directly at Grange. He caught
it and ran behind excellent interfer-
nncC through the entire Michigan
team for a touchdown.
Michigan players had been hearing
about Grange for "a year. Ills repu-
tat;on had created a mental hazard.
and here. on the Kickoff. Ora n%e
moved phantom-like through their
midst
The entire team was dumfounded.
The shock of that run threw the
eleven into such panic that before
they really recovered Grange had
made his way through the Michigan
defense three more times, scoring
four touchdOWns in the first l min
utes of play. The result was the
worst defeat a Michigan team has
suffered in modern foot ball and the
greatest performance that Grange
delivered during his brilliant career.
Had the kick off gone to the corner
of the field the game would have had
an entirely different complexion.
Grange might have gotten away-in
fact he probably would have later
on-but he could not have made four
touchdowns in II minutes.
Strategy i'm Kickoff.
There is strategy in the kickoff,
much more of 1t than the spectator
iy,,n Tho CT ,1fa is v,la n nod
before the kick off. Coaches and the
captain of Il team go over the entire
field. They test the footing, study
the position of the sun. heat and
moisture, take note of the wind and
they look for had spots in the field.
Nearly every gridiron has two or
three uneven spots. Plans are made
to take advantage of the conditions
as they present themselves on this
inspection.
The kickoff frequently determines
the entire game. 1t may bring you
victory and it may bring defeat.
1t is advisable to kickoff to your
opponents. When teams take the
field all the players are nervous. 1t
is best to let the other team handle
the hall while this condition exists.
Let your opponents make the mis-
takes at this period.
The kickoff should always be to
the corner Of the field where the
weakest of the defense men Is sta
toned. The ball should never be
kicked down the imaginary center line
of field or to strong back. If you
can prevent your opponents from re-
turning the ball beyond their own
15-yard line you have an advantage
to start with. They will be compelled
to kick to you on first down and this
will give you the ball at midfield,
where you can launch a drive against
their goal line from a desirable posi-
ton.
Now, suppose that your opponents
kick off to you. To prepare for this
have your best ball carriers stationed
in front Of the goal line. with your
two strongest backs in the corners.
II your team is we'll drilled in block.
ing you have an excellent chance of
running the ball back, and should you
be successful in carrying it back far
enough to permit using running
play on first down, or before Halnting
give the ball to your surest back and
let him do the thing that he can do
best.
If he Is best on end runs, let him
try to sweep the ends, and If his
best play is against the line, let him
plunge, but run this play from a punt
formation, since your opponents will
be looking for a punt on first down.
The punt formation carries the great
est threat, is strong and about the
safest you can use. Should the first
play succeed. try another, running
from the same formation, but using
another play.
II you get away we'll you will have
an advantage that your opponents
will find difficult to overcome. You
will have established in your team a
degree of confidence and at the same
time you will have weakened the
confidence Of your opponents. What
follows will be simplified to a certain
extent as a result.
When I'm Doubt, Punt.
Sometimes kick is better than an
attempt to run with the ball. The
kicking game has it's value. Often it
can be instrumental in winning for
you.
II two teams are evenly matched as
far as 10 men are concerned, but If
one has a much better kicker than
the other, the team with the superior
kicking ability should win.
One Of the cardinal rules laid down
before all quarterbacks is this:
when in doubt. punt"
The kick is the solution to any prob
lem in offensive generalship.
But, when I refer to the kicking
game / am not considering the punt
as a means out Of dilemma, but as an
Important part Of the offense. While