New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-10
THE GAME OF FOOTBALL,
MEETING OF THE ADVISORY coMMrrEE
PROFESSIONAL UMPIREs AND REFEREES
NEEDED I'm PLACE OF INEXPERIENCED
AMATEURS WHO STIR UP ILI~FEELING
AMONG THE, COLLEGES.


The Graduate Advisory Committee Of tho Inters
collegiate Football Association VIII have meeting
here ia few days TO transact routine business ard
discuss the question whether further changes should
be made in the rules governing the game The COM
mittee is usually composed of such men as Walter
c. Camp and Eugene L. Richards, OF Yale; W, a.
Prcohs Of Harvard; Il. Hodge, OF Princeton; Z. ID.
Beatys, OF Wesleyan and Other football players Iney
are careful students Of the sport and whatever sug
gestons they make have great weight with the ASSOC
citation. It was this committee which made beneficial
changes In the character Of the game last season and 10
is expected to undertake another reform this year. Tho
old difficulty of obtaining suitable referees and umpres
among undergraduates and graduates Is again Delng
discussed at Harvard, Princeton, YALE the university
of Pennsylvania and Wesleyan. Several OF the college
papers warmly argue In favor OF employing professional
sporting men as referees and umpires. Other reno
dial measures are talked Of and the Graduate Advisory
Committee will not want for suggestions.
The committee may not feel justified in making the
radical changes which many think the situation de-
rnands Most careful observers of the progress OF
football believe, however, that tho time
has come when tho services of tho
amateur referee and umpire should be dispensed WITH
II Is usually conceded on all sides that Mr.. Camp
and sIr. Brooks are almost the only men who have
made trustworthy referees in the last two or three
years But there is nothing in the situation OK
cept the names Of the players and the officials OF one
game The history Of the Intercollegiate footoai As
ISOLATION contains a record OF many disputes anu
bitter quarrels over the decisions Of partisan or IN
competent judges and the lesson Of the past should
serve as a warning for the future. now that tins ~
challenging baseball in popularity.
The discussion going at the colleges ana M
heir papers has nothing new in It's nature. Tho
season closed in November but the dispute is stu
warm One college asserts that It would not nave
been defeated II tho umpire from another college hsf
not been partisan. The umpires friends take up 'ne
DISPUTE and assert that their college would have won
the championship last year had not the referee, .
partisan of she first college, purposey called. time
too soon The first college wakes indignant at this
charge and attacks the record of Of the other col
ege's referees VINO, years ago purposely turned away
hts head when MUchfoot' kicked goal. This accusa-
ton stlrs up third college, which declares that 10
has always won the championship fairly, and u Prns
Its long record of championships for other colleges
TO enjoy That brings wordy contest on Dasooah
records and before the wrangie over racing track
athletics the advantages and disadvantages OF inc
elective system voluntary lectures and voluntary
chapel are brought into the controversy
81 The battle goes on until Alumnus' tries to get
2 column letter into a daily paper After thar tho
p,,buc does not hear anything more about the hlss
Nevertheless, it goes on Unfortunateiy inc oopf
plaInts are almost always based ON gooo grounds
Charges of downright dishonesty: however are SEX
dom made against cOileRo roioroo VI "n"h.''
the olayers have cooled down The grounds Tor iauI
finding are commonly incompetency or lack Oh e1-
pertence. Perhaps the young victim finds that ne y
not so familiar with the technical points or
the game as he thought he was ana
be loses his head Possibly his sympathies arc
NOR. strongly enlisted than he bad suppoeo
they would be. and I'm the excitement of the game be
allows his desires to influence his decisions. Again,
unexpected situations may arise Some tricky players
may have devised new schemes which LOOK piauso'e'
referee without experience is almost certain to maze
bad blunder in such a case, II the history OF sae
game can be considered proof In support OF such
an assertion. In Short he is bound to make an error
OF some kind and II It is not crucial one 1t IS only
because luck favors him. Then the umpire too, has
his troubles He finds 10 easier TO think that ne VIII
put men of the field for unfair playing than to DO Y,
There Is another phase OF the SITUATION MIN
each successive the rules become more nunuioo
and the science OF the game better developed. new
regulations created 10 eradicate or az ieast 70
soiten unpleasant features Of the game. as well as
to keep unfair. players In check IL requires an
pert 10 keep pace with the changing features OF the
same But above all cool headea imp par I ana
college games Of football. 1t may be said In con
cnson that the Rugby men are having the same
difficulties and the same unpleasant results that their
assistance OF professional umpires That was years
ago 10 be sure but the football players might learn
to their advantage that tho baseball umpire still lives.
Ife has not very much 10 do In November, when the
now taking great interest In the Rugby games. and
ik uotd not require much urging, accompanied with
offers Of good fees. 10 induce competent baseball UNI
pines 10 study up football; Some oil these men stang
follow that they would be equally satisfactory to the
football n.en1