HARVARD'S RIVAL TODAY.

Pennsylvania commenced the present season with what was considered by all critics an unusually handicapped team; and especially was this felt to be the case in regard to the guard positions. With the graduation of Wharton and Woodruff, whose unusual strength had contributed much to the effectiveness of the "guard's back" play, besides adding greatly to the defensive strength of the centre, it was generally expected that Penn's chances for a successful football season would be small indeed. Coach Woodruff, appreciating the necessity of developing material to fill these positions, was most fortunate in securing Hare and McCracken, whose natural strength and previous experience-Hare at St. Mark's School, and McCracken as a last year's substitute-together with constant and careful coaching, has resulted in producing in a single season two steady and reliable men. With Overfield they form a centre which has proved through all the games to be as strong on the defence, and possibly stronger on the offence than that of Penn's '96 team.

For the other positions left open by the graduation of players, there was offered material somewhat more experienced from which to choose. Goodman and Outland fell naturally into the position of tackle, while with Boyle, Dickson, Hedges and Folwell striving for two places at ends, the strength of that position was assured. Since the graduation of Carl Williams, one of the weakest points in Penn's team has been at quarterback, Week's, Hedges and Fortesque having been tried with doubtful success. Of the three, Weeks, has proved the surest in passing the ball, while Hedges' strong point was his general conscientious, reliable work and strong tackling.

Who was to fill the position of fullback was very much of a question at the commencement of the season. In the course of practice, however, Walker's uncertain playing placed him behind both Minds and Morice, and the development of Morice as a halfback, and particularly his strong running in an open field, proved an important factor in determing his present position. The remarkable improvement shown by Jackson over the work of the previous fall-his speed and strength in bucking the line and running the ends-fixed him immediately at halfback, where he has played throughout the season a brilliant and consistent game.

That Coach Woodruff could produce from such new and apparently untried material such a team as now represents Pennsylvania is but another tribute to his ability as a coach and to the principles to which he has adhered in his treatment of the players-hard work all the time all the season, with a slight let up just before the final big games to allow the men to recover from their injuries and bruises.

THE PENNSYLVANIAN.