Evening star., 1926-11-02

A few days before the game Smith
remarked: II would like to find out
something about this Washington
and Jefferson team. OF all the re.
ports l have. no two have exactly
agreed. This team apparently has
never used the same tactics in any
two games this year and the indi-
viduals seem to behave differently
every time they play"
You have often read of the signals
of one team being stolen or bought
by scouts. According to the stories.
by knowing the signals of the other
team you are able to diagnose all
their plays and swing your defense
so that you will block them in any
thing they may attempt.
This is excellent for fiction, 1 pre-
sumo, but it is unfortunately untrue.
Undoubtedly coaches have come into
possession of the signals of their Op-
ponents, but If the coach is intelli-
gent he will never make use of them.
No coach, who is honest. would stoop
to this. but outside the questions of
honesty and integrity involved. it
would be. bad judgment.
1t is difficult enough to make a
team thoroughly acquainted with it's
own signals without adding the sig
nails Of the opposing team. Players
are drilled in signal practice until
they automatically answer the call of
number. But some players never
become absolutely familiar with them.
/ recall a certain halfback who 4svas
the sensation of the country a few
years ago.
Had to BE Nudged.
He was selected by Walter Camp
on his first all-American eleven after
he went through the entire Harvard
team, but this same player had to be
nudged by the quarterback each time
the quarterback intended to call his
signal. That is how he tipped off"
the halfback that he was to carry
the ball. An intelligent scout for
Cornell discovered this and when the
halfback, who ran wild against Har.
ward. faced Cornell later in the sea-
son he was smothered by the Itha-
cans. They paid no attention to the
signals; they simply watched for the
nudge of the quarterback.
A scout can discover many pecul-
iarities in individuals. Backs often
make some move which tips off their
intentions. BY watching for this move
of feet, arms, shoulders, head or body,
an opposing lineman, end or back
will know when the player is to take
the ball.
Triple threat men. meaning play
ers who are used to run, kick and for
ward pass, are given close attention
by scouts. Most of them will assume
different attitudes for a run, kick and
pass. BY noting the peculiarities a
scout can impart the information to
his players for use on defense.
Ends and linemen will often tip off
the intended direction of the play and
frequently quarterback stations
himself in a certain position for a
certain play.
Coaches teach players to conduct
themselves so that they will never tip
off the play by any physical move
ment. but there are many players
who have formed physical peculiarities
that no coach can eliminate and who
will uncOnsciously make some slight
movement which will telegraph what
is coming to the defense.
The scout can find out many things
about individuals which will help his
coach to shape his attack and defense.
He can discover just how each man
plays. There are, for instance, differ
ent types OF ends. Some ends smash
in and others wait. What kind Of
ends has this future opponent
smashing or waiting? This informa-
ton is important. When you are
lined up in punt formation, for in
stance, against a smashing end it is