With six members of the championship eleven last year out of the game, the outlook for a strong team this fall was not very encouraging. About a hundred men came out as candidates for the team during the latter part of September, but among the number were few players of the necessary weight, activity, or aggressiveness. Many of the men lacked experience and to develop out of such material a team which would stand the test of championship games was a serious problem to the coaches. The squad was gradually reduced, however, and a team picked which has managed to avert defeat but often with great difficulty. In the games up to this time against much lighter opponents, victories have always been won, but the scores with very few exceptions have been exceedingly low. The principal trouble with the team has been a weak defense and an offense which is disconnected and uncertain. As it stands at present, the team is almost like eleven individuals who have barely learned the fundamentals of the game and have not yet accustomed themselves to playing together.

Graydon, fullback; Marshall, quarterback; Bowditch, end; Barnard, guard; and Captain Kernan, halfback, are the five players on whom, as a base, the new Harvard eleven has had to be constructed. They are all showing the same excellent playing that distinguished their work last season and with good support would help to form an unusually strong team. The new members, however, are slow to learn their parts, and as none in particular have displayed especial promise it is still undecided what men will occupy the vacant positions on the team. Wright or Shea will probably be first choice men for left tackle but neither is a strong player. Knowlton or Mills will be in the other tackle position, but both are weak in defensive work. At left end there is keen competition between Jones, Clark and Matthews, with the chances in favor of one of the first two. King is playing well at centre and except for possibility of improvement on the part of Lyon, his substitute at present, is likely to hold his place. A Marshall is a capable man at left guard but is too slow and indifferent. Right halfback will be filled by one of an excellent group of players but by which one is still a question. Every individual on the team and the team itself has many faults to correct before the final game with Yale on November 22, but secret practice will be continued up to that time and considerable improvement may be expected.