THE SUNDAY OREGONIAN, PORTLAND, OCTOBER 29, 190o.
FOOTBALL POINTERS FOR THE SPECTATOR
Multnomah Club Coach Explains Some of the Puzzling
Points of the Game
P. D. Ovrrfleld, who contributes the
accompanying article to The Orego
uLac, Is one of the beat-known foot
ball players In the United States. He
has the enviable distinction of having
been chosen from the University of
Pennsylvania two years In succession
as a member of the All-America
eleven, which selections are made each
year after the close of the football
season, and are taken from the vari
ous universities In ihe country. Over
field has learned the great collect
game thoroughly, having made a
close study of all Us many features,
and bis efforts as coach of the Mult
nomah team are expected to develop
a winning club.
By P. D. Overfleid, Multnomah Club Coach.
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HILE football Is unquestionably
the most popular game under
the heading of athletics, not only
from the standpoint of attendance, con
sidering the price of admission to the
games, but also from the Interest and en
thusiasm displayed by the spectators, yet
it Js a well-known fact that no body of
people, excepting lovers of music, pos
sibly, display such an Interest and are at
the same time as a class so Ignorant of
the thing in which they areN Interested.
As a rule football spectators have little
Idea, of the progress of the game and are
at loss to know how or why a particular
play is made or only an attempt to exe
cute a play so often fails.
If I could make the most simple prin
ciples of the game plain to the reading
public who may pursue this article I
should feel highly, gratified. I would
feel that, while conferring a favor upon
those not acquainted with this manly
sport, I would also be gaining friends for
the game Itself. In other words people
who now condemn the game as rather
harsh and cruel In some cases, would see
the system that is employed by eleven
well-trained athletes to carry the ball
across the goal line of the opponents.
The apparent roughness of the game
would disappear In their eager attention
in following the progress of the plays and
the Individual and combined efforts of the
players in executing the play denoted by
the signal given by the side advancing
the ball. At the same time they would
watch and give full credit to eleven men
on tho opposite side of the ball who may
or may not prevent the execution of the
play signaled. Suppose then we try to
get at the foundation of the game from
the viewpoint of a spectator, rather than
as a pupil of the game.
We arrive in time to see two squads of
men running from the club house to the
field- Each squad dressed differently In
order to aid the players to distinguish
their opponents at the different stages
of the game.
Start of tho Game.
The next step is for each squad to se
lect the eleven men who shall begin the
game for their respective sides, the cap
tains expected. Bach team then begins
running off plays in order to keep warm,
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ward off undue excltementor nervousness
and become accustomed to handling the
ball which Is always new at the begin
ning of each game.
In the meantime the captains of the
two teams have beon called to the center
of the field by tho referee who flipped a
coin requesting one to call "heads or
tails". The captain winning this toss,
has the privilege "of choosing the goal at
the end of the field which is favored by
the wind, that is, the wind blowing to
wards the goal chosen. In such case the
less fortunate captain brings his men to
the center df the field and the game be
gins by one of his men kicking' the ball
at least ten yards into the half of the
field occupied by the other side. The
side kicking the ball lines up across the
field, the heavy men In the center, the
lighter men on either side and all start
Into the opponent's territory at the In
stant the ball is kicked with the excep
tion of one player who remains a little
back of the center of the field In order
to get the ball, in case the opponents Im
mediately punt tho ball upon obtaining It,
instead of running it back as is the usual
play.
The object of the men - running down
Jnto the opponents' territory as soon as
the ball Is kicked Is to reach the oppo
nent who will attempt to catch the ball,
and, if possible, throw him before he can
carry the ball forward.
They have thus succeeded In placing the
ball as far as possible away from their
own goal, and "the ball is then in posses
sion of tho opponents, who lino up -for
the advance of the ball.
"We then come to tho next formation of
the players, a formation that Is employed
almost continually throughout the game,
and, if understood, and the system em
ployed In advancing the ball, the game
will become very plain at once. The op
ponents now become the offensive players,
and the center takes possession of the
ball, the guards, tackles and ends taking
their respective places to the right and
left of the center. The quarterbacks
stand Immediately behind the center: the
two halfbacks and the fullback still in
the rear of the quarterback.
Hgw Signals Are Given.
It Is at thin point that we begin to hear
the "4-11-44's." The quarterback usually
gives the signals. He calls a number or
set of numbers, which not only denote
the player to carry the ball, but also the
place where the player Is to attempt to
carry It. It further denotes that certain
players are to make an opening between
them for the man carrying tho ball to go
through, at the same time calling upon
others either to pfecede or push him In
his attempt to carry" the ball forward.
At this point we may pause to note how
absolutely Important It Is for each and
every member of the team to know thor
oughly every signal employed. No play
can be executed properly vrithout the aid
of every man on the team, and a 'failure
to know who Is to carry the ball, or
where It Is io be carried, means that
such a player not only falls to perform
his important share of the work, but he.
nine times out of ten, prevents some one
or more of his fellow-playcra from getting
Into the play.
The system employed In advancing the
ball is next to be considered. This Is a
part of the game confusing In Itself, In
that the ball is passed backward by the
center to the quarterback, and from him
to some third player, as a rule, before it
begins Its forward progress. This Is a
rule. of. the . ganie, so the spectator sees
the ball being passed backward, then the
players grouping "lnt6-llfferent formations
In order to protect and aid the player
carrying the ball. Here we find many dif
ferent styles and theories employed, em
anating, however. In most Instances from
the style adopted and employed by Tale,
Harvard, Pennsylvania and Princeton.
It is essential for the spectator to
know the number of attempts or downs
allowed to make five yards In advancing
the ball. If some limit were not re
quired. If will readily be seen thaC one
team might hold possession of the ball
Indefinitely, . provided no fumbling of the
ball occurred.
So we find another arbitrary rule
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MQREOHASERAGING
Horses of Hitchcock Stable
Head Winning List.
FURTHER CHANCE TO WIN
Single Barn Has More Than $40,000
Won to Its Credit HylasLcads
With $23,000 Hunt, As
sociation's Prizes.
The racing for the chasers does not
this season close with the "Westchester
meeting, as in former years, as the in
augural meeting of the United Hunts'
Racing Association offers a still fur
ther opportunity for the cross-country
horses to pay their way. But It is
impossible that any owner will take
the ptace of Thomas Hitchcock, Jr., at
the head of the winning list. If- all
the rffst money hung up for the
chasers at Morris Park. Plmllco find
Bcnnlngs should bo won by the stable
now second on the list, Mr. Hitchcock
would still be in the lead.
Horses from his bam have this sea
son won considerably in excess of 540,
000 a stupendous sum for a steeple
chase stable to win In this country.
Mr. Hitchcock topped the previous
high-water mark last season by more
than 510.000. yet his winnings then did
not reach the 50.000 mark, and this
season's good showing is a record that
speaks volumes for the growth of
cross-country racing.
Mr. Hitchcock's best winner Is Hy
las, the 4-year-old unsexed son of
Meddler and Forget. Hylas alone has
won upward of 523,000, or 55000 more
than was won by Foxhunter last year,
and Hylas has been racing since the
Bennlngs meeting and has won several
stakes. After winning a purse at Ben
nlngs and Belmont Park. Hylas ran
third In the Grand National, and would
probably have won but for swerving
badly in the stretch.
Hylas' Splendid Record.
From Belmont Park the horse went
to Gravesend to win the Greater New
York and the Empire State steeple
chases, then to Brookllne to pick up
the Country Club grand annual, the
principal event of that meeting. Hy
las was then "put away" for a while,
and did not earn brackets again until
the Brighton Fall meeting. Ho had In
the meantime, however, taken second
money In a couple of stakes. At Brigh
ton he annexed the Chantilly, the race
for which was a part of his prepara
tion for the Champion.
The success of Hylas is particularly
pleasing to Mr. Hitchcock, as his dam.
Forget, was a good winner of hurdle
races In the Hitchcock "all green" a
few seasons ago. Hylas was bred by
the late W. C "Whitney and sold to
requiring the side In possession of the
ball to make at least five .yards In
three attempts to carry the ball for
ward. In case this Is not accomplished
the ball goes to the opposite side.
Why the Ball Is Kicked.
It is at this point we And a reason
for kicking' the ball during the prog
ress of the game. Suppose the side In
possession of the ball has made two
attempts to advance the ball and gained
but two-yards. There remains but
one more chance to make the remain
ing three ynrd3 In order to accomplish
the five yards necessary to retain pos,
sesslon or the balL
The tact that two attempts have re
sulted In but two yards gain makes
the probability of gaining the neces
sary remaining three yards doubtful,
so instead of making that doubtful at
tempt and nllowjng the other side the
ball at that particular position of the
field, the side having the ball decides
to kick or punt the ball, thus sending
It down the field some 3d to 60 yards.
At the same time a chance exists that the
other side may fall to handle- or catch
the ball securely, and the side punting
may again obtain possession of the balL
It- will be seen that punting has thus be
come a very Important feature of the
game, and a team that falls tolmvo a
man who Is able to punt quickly and ac
curately Is heavily handicapped.
In order to aid the referee and lines
men In determining whether a team has
made five yards In advancing the ball;
the field Is marked off with white lines
five yards apart and parallel to the goal
lines.
To eliminate so much mass play a new
rule has been ado'pted. requiring six play,
ers to remain up to the line of the ball
and requiring the quarter-back or any
other player who receives the ball direct
from the center and attempts to advance
it to cross the line of scrimmage at least
five yards from the point from which It
was passed. Hence has arisen the . ne
cessity of marking the field with addi
tional white lines five yards apart, begin
ning at the middle of the field and running
parallel to the side lines. This enables
the referee to tell at a glance whether the
player advancing tho ball on a direct pass
from tho center, has compiled with the
rule.
The points of the game have also been
changed, the result of a touchdown, ob
tained by carrying the ball across the end
line of the field, counting five points.
Kicking the goal after such touchdown.
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Mr. Hitchcock at the close of his 2-
year-old form. His preparation for
chasing, like that of Good and Plenty.
was under Mr. Hitchcock's personal
supervision. How well he succeeded
the records Hhow. Hylas retires for
the season in good condition physical
ly, and there is no reason to doubt
that ho will add to his already good
record next season. As game a horse
as ever looked through a bridle. Hylns
Is one of the sort that will do only
what he Is made to do. but he Is never
beaten until the finish is reached.
Mr. Hitchcock's second best winner
Is Good and Plenty, who unfortunately
had to bo retired after the Belmont
Park Spring meeting. At this meet
ing he won his only two starts, the
New York steeplechase and the Whit
ney Memorial, winning a total of
512,000.
Cripples" Win Victories.
"While there has been an unusually
large number of fast miles trotted and
paced during the comparatively short
racing season of the year. It Is grati
fying to note that a very" small per
centage or the season's best campaign-,
ers Jiave gone wrong or "put on the
shelf," so to speak. Compared with
previous years, there has been but few
cases of sickness, and I do not remem
ber any prominent trotter or pacer
that has been entirely incapacitated
for any length of time on account of
sickness.
Many horses that were reported lame
or injured were seen In races the very
next engagement they had.
The racing season was not advanced
very far when several horses in the
stable of Mr. Geers were reported as
entirely out of the game, yet every
one of the "cripples" has won some
great victory since. Zephyr was de
clared as all In and unfit far further
racing early In tho .season, yet she not
only won several victories, but reduced
her record to 2:07i- Clarlta "W. and
"Walter Direct were also supposed to be
out. yet both have been raced, and the
latter has only been retired during the
past week If the reports are true. Bon
Voyage was crippled and sent to Mon
tana, yet ho not only revived, but flow
stands as'the season's champion 3-year-old
colt trotter.
Ethel's Pride. 2:07, Is another
prominent trotter which the wiseacres
declared lame, yet she has been raced
and may cut some figure In the Tran
sylvania stake. Several other Instances
might be quoted to prove that in the mat
ter of accidents and sickness the season
has been a very fortunate one. The sea
son's record shows that the promising
trotter, Nora McKInney, 2:144. and the
pacer. Directum Miller. 2:054. wero the
only two that went home for good.
No pacer In recent years has attracted
as much attention as a great race horse
than Nathan Straus, 203H. and deservedly
so, for he surely Is one of the most con
sistent among our 1905 Grand Clrculters.
Of all the good things written about the
pacer. I have not yet seen any mention of
the fact that his present owner, J. E.
Meyer, found the great prize -through the
well-known firm of dealers, Flss, Doerr &
Carrol Co., which at times had much to
do with fast record horses.
The absurdity of harness turf nomen
clature was further Illustrated last week
by the names of the horses that contested
In one race, at an Illinois town. They
were: Yum Yum. Hullabaloo. Sloppy
Dan, Telephone Central and Buster
Brown.
one point additional, making touchdown
and goal six points.
A place kick, or what Is commonly
known as the Princeton, kick, is a goal
kicked. by one of the players holding the
ball In position on the ground about 10
to 13-yards, to the rear of the center (the
ball being passed direct from the center)
and the fullback kicking the ball. Such a
place kick resulting In a goal counts four
points.
Four points, also results from a drop
kick, which Is a goat from the Held, the
fullback receiving the -ball on a direct pass'
from the center, and dropping the ball to
the ground, kicks it'the Instant it begins
to riso on the bound.
The only other "points to be scored in
the game Is a safety, "which counts two
points as formerly. - A touchback and
safety are very of ten . conused. The for
mer counts nothing, while the latter
means two points.- The touchback. with
one exception, allows the side defending
the goal to advance to their 25-yard line
and there put the ball In play by a kick,
such a kick or ipurit out. may be a drop
kick, place kick or a punt.
The ball Is put In play In exactly the
same way after a safety has been scored.
A touchback most always results
when.the side advancing the ball punts,
and the ball either Jands across the
goal-line or. striking- the ground, rolls
across before- It has been touched by a
player defending the goal; or the ball,
falling to go between the goal-posts
In an -attempt for goal, from a Prince
ton or place kick, or from a drop
kick. It will thus be seen that In each
case mentioned tho Impetus that sent
the ball across the goal-line came from
the side advancing the ball and not
from the side defending- the goal.
A touchback also results if. at the
kick-off from the center of the field,
the ball passes across the goal-line be
fore being touched by the side defend
Ing the goal. It results in a touchdown,
however, for the side kicking off. pro
vided the ball crosses the goal-line and
Is secured by one of the side kicking
the ball, provided he was on side that
is. back of the ball when kicked.
The one exception to putting the ball
In play by 0. klcH on the 25-yard line
after a touchback Is when there has
been a try for goal by a place kick or
drop kick on the first down, when
within the 25-yard line, and a touch
back results; In which case the re
straining line is the 10-yard line, In
stead of the 25-yard line.
A safety results from one of the fol
lowing causes. In each Instance, ln'dls-
JO JLtr AO SS SO
CLEARS THE DECKS
Deal for Gans-Sullivan Bout
. Has Been Abandoned.
WHY NEGRO IS UNPOPULAR
Battling Nelson Hns ice Itevenue
From Double Source, Hence Is
Xot Anxious Tor Any
Fistic Engagements.
Morris Levy, of the Hayes Valley Club,
of San Francisco, came to his senses last
week and .cancelled all negotiations toward
matching Joe Gans with Mike (Twin) Sul
livan. The colored boxer is manifestly
so unpopular in San Francisco that any
effort at putting him in there meets with
a storm of protest. Al Herford. the oily
manager of the negro. Is responsible for
much of the colored youth's unpopularity,
for the promoter's ways are not to the
liking of those interested in square sports
manship. The cancellation of the Gans
engagement, which Is approved by the.
sports at San Francisco. leaves a date
open for the arranging of a match that
will prove popular.
Battling Nelson Is on the road with, his
show troupe, and between counting the
shekels accruing, from this source and the
returns from his share of the moving pic
ture receipts, he is making enough to
keep him in spending money for awhile,
and is not anxious for a fight. This atti
tude of the champion leaves only two or
three of the little fellows as possibilities.
The probable match is likely to be be
tween Twin Sullivan and Jimmy Gardner,
both of whom are clever little men, and
should prove a popular card.
a
"Matty" Matthews, former welterweight
champion of the world. Is "dead broke."
The 5100.000 he earned during his ring
career has been eaten up by fast living,
and now "Matty" Is earning- 513 a week
riding one of the plunging horses at the
Hippodrome. Matthews made humble ap
plication last week to Thompson & Dundy.
In his boyhood days, he said, he had. won
some slight fame as a jockey, and he felt
he had the courage and ability to take
the dive into the Hippodrome tank. He
was given a position, and at two per
formances went through his work without
a hitch or halt.
Matthews lost the championship to
"Rube" Ferns In Toronto three years
ago, and since that time has been on tho
downward path. He won the champion
ship from "Mysterious Billy" Smith, at
the Broadway Athletic Club, on April 27,
1900.
His share of the proceeds was 55600, and
as an example of the rash way In which
he distributed his money, he tells that
the following day he placed 52500 on a
horse and lost it.
"Mike" Leonard, known for years as
tinction td the touchback. the impetus
which causes the ball to puss beyond
the goal-line is given by the side de
fending the goal:
First, when the ball is passed by one
of the side defending the goal to an
other on the same slue, and the ball is
declared deud; second, when the ball
Is snapped or passed by the center to
another of his side defending the gcal,
and the ball Is declared deud; third,
when a fumble has resulted by one of
the side defending the goal and another
of the same side falls on It behind the
goal-line; fourth, when a kick has been
blocked and a player of the side de
fending the goal gains possession of It
behind his own goal-line and Is de
clared down In this case the ball may
have struck a player on the offensive
side and bounded buck over the goal
line, the impetus being construed as
having come from the player who at
tempted to kick the ball; tlfth, a safe
ty may result when a player carrying
the ball Is forced behind his goal-line,
provided the ball was not stopped in
its progress, that Is. not declared dead
by the referee before the goal-line was
crossed by the player carrying the ball
This Is a. technical example, and the
Impetus Jn such case is construed in a
rather broad sense of the word, as hav
ing come from the pass of the ball
from center, who, of course, must pass
the ball from within the Held. I. e.. In
front of the goal-line; sixth, when a
side attempting to punt from behind
their goal-line, fall to punt the ball
abross the goal-line, but instead. tle
ball crosses the side-line. In this case,
of necessity, the side-line extended, a
safety results; seventh, so when a play
er on the side having possession of the
ball commits a foul which would give
the other sloe the ball, at a point behind
the goal line a safety is scored.
Under the new ruling, the ball is de
clared over the goal line If any part of It
be once over or behind it.
HOW WADDELL GOT IIIS LOAN
Eccentric One Works Saloou Man for
$10 and Manager Makes Good.
"Think 'Rube "Waddell's crazy, ch?
"Well, you've got another think." said
"Billy" Rooks of the Utopia buffet- "He'a
the wisest crazy man you ever saw.
"When they were here on the other
trip he came up here to my place and
said: 'Bill, let mo take $2. I was just
starting in and wasn't long on change
right then, so I told him I couldn't afford
It, but he kept coaxing and I kissed the
two good-by.
"An hour later back came the 'Rube'
and he asked for 53 more. I told him I
wouldn't do t. and he Anally took off
that watch charm which he got for play
ing with the 1902 pennant winners, and,
throwing It on the bar. said: I gucs9
that's worth the live all right.
"I let him take It. and before the night
was over he touched me for 55 more,
making 510 that he was into me,, but the
charm was worth enough to make up
for it.
"Then next day he didn't pitch, but had.
on his street clothes, and that night he
was standing talking to Connlo Mack In
front of. the hotel when Mack notlceu
the charm was g6ne and asked about It.
I lost It at the park. said Waddcll. 'As
I was going through that gate I felt
something pull and when I looked it was
gone. "We all tried to find it. but some
body must have stuck it in his pocket.
" 'Connie told the 'Rube to' hurry over
to a newspaper office and have a notice
put in with a reward of 510 for the charm,
which he did. and then he came up to my
place and said: 'Bill, you send your bar
tender down to Connie In the morning
and tell him he found the charm at tho
park. He'l give you your 510 back, and
I'll have the charm and we'll all quit
even.
"I sent the boy down and Connie was
tickled to give him the 510, and I was
glad to get It. Crazy, eh? He's a long
ways from being crazy." Detroit Free
Press.
the Beau Srummell of fighters, had a
similar employment at the Hippodrome
a few weeks ago. He, too. was without
funds or friends. He lasted three days.
JENKINS AFTER MAT MATCHES
American Wrestler Visits England
nnd Hopes to Meet Hackenschmidt.
Tom Jenkins has arrived in England,
and has made his presence known. Th
first thing thi veteran grappler did was
to send letters to the various newspapers
challenging any wrestler in England. Ire
land, Scotland or "Wales. Jenkins received
few encouraging responses. Jenkins told
why lie went to England.
"I have come," he said, "for the pur
pose of getting some matches. I trust I
will be accommodated, for I hate to go
.home without a match. I have met and
beaten most of the noted wrestlers in
America. The only man who succeeded
In taking my measure was Hacken
schmidt, but I think that I can throw
him, and I am going after the chance as
soon as I face several other men In Eng
land who claim to be the best in their
class.
"England, I have been told, appreciates
the abilities of a first-class wrestler more
than America does. That this is true I
will not deny. A third-rate pugilist can
make ten times more than a wrestler in
America. This 13 strange, but true. But
wrestlers have to work harder than pugi
lists. The public does not realize this, but
it Is so. A fighter, no matter how fast
he labors, has an opportunity to rest be
tween rounds. On the other hand, a
wrestler has to keep moving all the time.
There Is no rest for him until between
fall3. A wrestler has to stand more pun
ishment than a lighter. To be hauled and
mauled around a mat by a big strapping
man. who once In a while flings all of
his weight on you. is no sinecure. I have
had a lot of experience in this respect,
and ought to know.
"If I had my life over again and was
bent on athletics I would by all means
become a fighter. He can make dollars
where the wrestler earns cents."
STABLE FOR PRINCE OF WALES.
His, Royal Highness Buys Good
Brood Marcs.
It Is now positively known that the
Prince of "Wales will become a patron of
the "sport of kings." says a London cable
dispatch. Several race horsea will carry
his colors next year. His royal highness
purchased three brood mares Gold Place,
Lilly Palmer and Luscious last Summer,
and turned them over to Lord Marcus
Beresford to be kept In the latter's stud
farm in Newmarket. The Prince of "Wales
will register his colors early In the Spring
Lord Beechford is In his royal highness
plans and is acting as his agent in certain
Important matters relating to the turf,
Less than two weeks ago he bought Cyno
sure, a colt by Cyllene-Nenemoosha, for
51JM), and It Is not. thought that Lord
Beechford was acting for anybody but the
Prince of "Wales. There have been several
other purchases, and it Is expected by
turfmen that tho Prince's colors will be
carried by several colts next season.
King Edward has long been a patron of
racing, which is the national sport of
England, and Is looked upon even by the
clergy there with considerable more favor
than in the United States.