The football prospects at Yale when practice began in September were unusually bright. Shevlin and Rafferty, ends; Hogan and Kinney, tackles; Rockwell, quarterback; Bowman, fullback, and Metcalf, halfback on the victorious 1902 eleven were again in college, and Bloomer, tackle on the 1900 team, was again eligible to play after two years of ineligibility on account of academic difficulties. Roraback, substitute centre in 1902, and Morton and Batchelder became the leading candidates for centre and left guard; Bloomer early won the position at right guard. To these prominent candidates for the line was later added Miller, a members of the university crew last June.

With the large number of experienced players occupying their accustomed positions, it was possible for the eleven to develop effective team-work early. Except at centre and at left guard, the first line-up, barring such temporary alterations as were caused by injuries to the leading players, has been practically unchanged since the eleven played its first game on September 30. For centre and left guard, Batchelder, Morton and Roraback continued to be the leading candidates. The work of none of these men was altogether satisfactory and Miller, who later became a candidate, was also not of the ability of the veterans in the line. For a time the coaches thought of moving Kinney to guard and playing Shevlin at tackle; but this idea was abandoned, and Roraback was finally placed at centre and Batchelder at left guard.

Up to the time of the Princeton game last Saturday, Yale's record for the season had been excellent. Every team played had been beaten by decisive scores, and in only two games, those with Holy Cross and West Point, was Yale scored on. The chances for the Princeton game seemed distinctly to favor Yale. The result was a surprise. Yale's powerful attack was spoiled by disastrous fumbling which cost at least one touchdown and possibly two against Princeton. On the left side of the line Yale's defense fell below expectations. Neither Kinney nor Batchelder were Strong; and Roraback at centre was a disappointment. The backs played with notable effectiveness, both in attack and in the secondary defense. Farmer, whose superior speed and quickness had won him the preference over Bowman at fullback, justified in his playing the coaches' choice.

The adverse score must not be taken to show that Yale was in general inferior to Princeton. The defense, though not evenly balanced in strength on both sides of the line, was sufficient to prevent substantial gains by Princeton in rushing. The offense showed great speed, strength and team-work, and was at times invincible. Hogan, Bloomer, Shevlin and Kinney were used to advance the ball almost as frequently as the backs, and proved that Yale's offensive game is versatile as well as powerful. With the fault of fumbling eradicated, the Yale eleven is likely to prove not far inferior in strength to the remarkably team of 1902