REVIEW OF HARVARD SEASON

Starting at the beginning of the season with what seemed to be even poorer material than usual, Coach Haughton has developed a team, which, although it has progressed somewhat slowly, is now as good, if not the best team that Harvard has had in several years. In the early part of its schedule against the Maine teams the first eleven had little trouble in winning, and in fact had no really hard opponents until the Navy game, when it was outplayed completely. This was the first real test, and showed up some very apparent faults--weakness in defensive work and inability on the part of the backs to run with the ball. From that game on, the team has steadily improved and developed. Captain Burr's injury, although coming in time to give the coaches a chance to train other men for his position, was nevertheless the most unfortunate thing that could have happened to the team. Burr was not only the backbone of the line, but it was due to his punting ability that Harvard had an advantage over nearly all its opponents. The rest of the men are in the best possible condition; and the eleven, as a whole, is at the highest point in its development.

The feature of this year's coaching methods has been the responsibility put on each man to figure out what he is to do himself. Independence from constant attention and advice from the coaches has been the result, and the benefits on this method have been very evident. Coach Haughton has done everything in his power to make the work pleasanter for the men, and to break up the tire-someness of daily routine. The University eleven, the second team and the Freshmen have each had their individual coaching staff, all under the direction of Head Coach Haughton. There have been coaches for the different positions, who took care of the development of their particular men, while Coach Haughton superintended the development of the team as a whole.

The fall practice began two weeks before the opening of College, and for the last three weeks has been carried on behind closed gates. The daily work has consisted of preliminary drill in tackling, kicking and catching punts for the backs and breaking through for the line men, followed by signal practice and scrimmages between the first and second eleven or substitutes. During the secret practice the preliminary work has been discontinued and the scrimmages have been less frequent.

Main Facts About Each Game.

The University team started off its season by defeating Bowdoin, 5 to 0. The following Saturday the University of Maine proved easier and were defeated without any difficulty. For the first time in several years Bates failed to score, and was easily defeated. The University team had failed up to this time to show much improvement, but proved their superiority over the heavy Williams team in a rough, uninteresting game by making two touchdowns, and the following Saturday fairly swept the Springfield Training School off its feet, 44 to 0. Springfield proved much easier than last year and failed to work its forward passes with which they have usually been so proficient. Then the team went down to Annapolis and narrowly escaped defeat at the hands of the Navy team, Nourse running sixty yards with a fumbled ball for a tie score, 6 to 6. The Brown team was defeated 6 to 2, in a fast game in which Harvard completely outplayed its opponents, and from the Brown game on, the improvement in the University team has been constant. The Carlisle Indians were unable to hold it at all, and were scored on three times. Last Saturday Harvard and Dartmouth proved very evenly matched in the first half, but in the second period the team put up its best fight this season and won the game, 6 to 0. In a series of rushes from its own 24-yard line, the University team went down the field and across Dartmouth's line for a touchdown in the last few minutes of play. It was the best exhibition of football that has been seen on Soldiers Field in many years.

Criticism of Individual Players.

By far the hardest proposition before the coaches this year has been the selection of men for the backfield. Of the backs, Corbett, Kennard, Smith and Ver Wiebe never played behind the line before, and Cutler, at quarterback, is new to his position. The present set, Corbett, White and Ver Wiebe, or Kennard in case Burr does not play, is strong and fast. White and Ver Wiebe play hard, aggressive games and are both good line plungers. Corbett and Leslie, who alternate at left halfback, have proved the best ground gainers, and their running through a broken field is particularly good. Kennard's kicking ability makes him first choice for fullback, but if Burr starts the game, he will probably not play, as Ver Wiebe is by far the better gainer.

In picking out and developing a quarterback, Coach Haughton had an even more difficult task. The material was very limited, and in a short time was sifted down to three men, Browne, Cutler and Galatti. But Browne was too valuable a man at end, and after a short time went back to the line. Cutler is an example of what can be accomplished by careful coaching and consistent work. He has improved with every game, become a safer man in the backfield, and has been depended upon for the greater part of the punting since Burr was injured. Last Saturday he ran his team well, got his plays off with speed and smoothness and used good judgment. His work with the forward pass was excellent. Cutler had never played quarterback until this year, and for the last two years has played practically no football.

At the ends Browne and Crowley are efficient men, tackle hard, and do well with the forward pass. Their one fault is that they are slow in getting down the field under punts. In Brown, Cutting and Houston, they have very able substitutes. The tackles, Fish and MacKay, are generally conceded to be two as good linemen as Harvard has had in some time. They are both excellent on the defense, and Fish's work not only in the line, but in catching forward passes, stands out above the rest of the team.

At centre Nourse's game has always been consistent, and it was due to his aggressiveness that the Navy game was turned from a defeat into a tie game. The two guards, Hoar and Dunlap, are strong players. In case the injury which Dunlap received in the Dartmouth game does not allow him to play, Withington will fill his place. Withington is one of the most aggressive players on the squad, and despite his light weight, plays a hard, fast game.

In Galatti, Cutler has a good substitute. Galatti has played a fast game the whole year, and is especially proficient with the forward pass. Smith, the second man for right halfback, has been a valuable man throughout the season. An injury to his hip kept him out of the game at the critical time, but he is again in good condition and will probably replace White during the game today