Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-01
NV 25 Years on the CridirOn
BY WILLIAM A. ROPER,
COACH PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
More Experience for Coaching

"A l.
year and as the foot ballk season had
only started, it seemed to me good
idea to go around to see some other
teams play. My few short weeks OF
coaching, at V. NJ. /. had showed me
rather definitely how much there
was to learn and how little / knew.
NV friend and classmate, Gresham
Poe. was coaching the University of
Virginia team and, as Charlottesville
was on my way North, / was glad TO
get a wire from Poe asking me to
stop off for a visit. ] spent very
enjoyable week at the University Of
Virginia. Poe had what impressed
me as a great team with d particu-
tain and left tackle, made great
impression on me. He was one of
the fastest big men / ever had seen
and very powerful with the ball. He
reminded me something of Perry Hale
when he hit the line. I helped coach
the endsthat week and went down to
Richmond with the boys to see them
play the V. p. l.. team. Virginia
Military Institute always played V.
p. /. on Thanksgiving day day, so L
was very much interested in watching
this game. They were no match for
Virginia that afternoon; the University
line was too big and powerful. I
never saw any one run better with
the ball than Counsel.
Helps Brother Coach Frosh.
After I had spent a few days at
home, went up to Princeton to
watch the team practice and to see
what could pick UP. 1t looked as
if Princeton would have a good
team that year. John Dewitt was
captain. There was a lot of veteran
material back and some very good
freshmen. When / got to Princeton
l found my brother, then a junior,
manager of the freshman foot ball
team. In those days the manager
was supposed to coach the team him.
self or enlist volunteer help. My
brother was trying to coach the team
himself His foot ball experience had
been very limited and yet here he was
with an entire freshman squad on his
hands. / offered my services to my
brother and they were gladly ac-
cepted. 1 was anxious to try out
some of the ideas / had gotten since
left Lexington, and, while 1t was too
late to make any radical changes, ]
think some of my suggestions were
help.
went up to New Haven to see
the Princeton-Yale varsity game. Be-
fore the game Hildebrand, the Prince
ton coach, asked me to act as the
Princeton linesman, The Princeton
Yale game of 1903 was one Of the
best fot ball games I ever have
seen. Princeton won by the narrow
margin of a goal from placement.
John Dewitt, the Princeton captain,
covered himself with glory He first
picked up a tumble and made a touch
down and later, in the closing min
utes of the game, kicked the goal
from placement. There were some
great players on both teams in that
game. / never saw better end play.
Henry and Davis were on the ends
of the Princeton line. while Tom
Shevlin and Rafferty, We're the Yale
wingmen. L doubt if such end talent
ever has gotten together before or
since, in any single game. Jim Ho-
gan was a tower of strength on the
Yale line. He would be called back
from his position to carry the ball. He
was able to make short gains, but
the Princeton line held like stone
wall most of the time. Dana kafer
was Princeton'S best offensive back.
was very much impressed with the
way Foster Rockwell, the Yale quar-
ter-back, barked out his signals and
at his pep and ginger.
Commends the Quick Kick.
In that game Yale tried the quick
kick for the first time. Mitchell, the
Yale back, did 1t very effectively.
The kick was made from a close run
ming formation on the theory of
catching the quarterback or safety
man out of position. Today 1t is more
necessary than it ever was in the
old days, as the forward pass has put
additional pressure on the defense
and the safety man has a tendency
to edge up. Many teams play what
is known as a 1872 defense with no
safety man at all. ! strongly advise
every team to include the quick kick
in its regular running plays.
In taking stock of what I had
learned during my first year, con-
slider the most important thing the
lesson I got from my first practice
session on the parade ground Of the
V. M. /. when l realized the hope
lessness of getting anything done In
the short time for practice unless a
regular schedule was kept and stuck
to like a limited express train does
its running schedule. When l was
a player never had noticed how the
coaches rugulate practice. I always
personally had plenty to do and time
never hung very heavy on my hands
on the field. I am so strongly sold
on the Importance Of keeping a regu-
lar schedule of practice that never
go out on the field ut Princeton with