At the first of the season, the outlook for a successful football team was bright. About fifty men reported for early practice on September 17, and when College opened the squad consisted of about 100 candidates. Six of the 1902 eleven returned as candidates for this season's team,--Bowditch, Shea, Knowlton, Mills, A. Marshal and C. B. Marshal; and Sugden has since come out. The new men were of average ability, and many had considerable experience, but lacked weight.

Though in the first two games the work was exceedingly crude, the University eleven ran up substantial scores and gave promise of developing into a fast and effective team. The new men showed up well, and it became evident that there would be considerable competition for many of the positions. The game with the University of Maine on October 3 and the defeat by Andover a week later showed an unexpected but very decided slump, and those characteristics which have been and are today the weak points of the team then made their first appearance. Chief among the defects is the lack of fight when the opponents are carrying the ball, which was very conspicuous, in last Saturday's game with Carlisle. The defense, it would seem, is as yet wholly inadequate to withstand a vigorous attack by strong opponents. On the offence, the work has been markedly irregular, and frequently in the course of one game has varied from great efficiency to exceeding weakness. It is however, much further developed than the defense, and if the attack can be freed from fumbling and can be consolidated by better team work, it should prove very formidable.

A large number of slight injuries which have kept many of the men out of the practice for several days, and, again, the difficulty in selecting the men for several positions were causes which have produced a chaotic condition in the line-up. The backfield may now practically be said to have been determined upon as Marshall, Nichols, Hurley and Schoellkopf. Nichols is most brilliant in running with the ball, but is inclined to individual play; of late he has fumbled with dangerous frequency. Bowditch and LeMoyne or Clothier have been picked for the end positions, and LeMoyne is doing the punting. In the line from tackle to tackle, there has been much shifting, and several positions at least are as yet unsettled. This is the weakest part of the team, and it is more than probable that further changes may be made here.

Parkinson has played a hard, aggressive and generally effective game, and is of all the linesmen except Bowditch probably the most reliable. A. Marshall, at right guard, and Knowlton, at right tackle, are heavy and strong, but have not as yet shown the speed and aggressiveness which would enable them on the defense to break through and stop plays or on the offense to open the way effectually for their own backs. Sugden, Carrick and Wilder, at centre and in the guard positions, are heavy, but slow. Meier, who has in the last two weeks been tried at left tackle, has been effective in defense and quick on the offense; he is likely to retain a position in the line. Through Robinson's injury, the team has lost a very capable candidate.

In conclusion it may be said that the eleven possesses great possibilities. In that in its present state of backward development, it is apparently but poorly prepared for an important game.