The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-02-11
Foot Gall cf rSas.

And just here 10 is or particular mi''-
est 10 look back over the stops. va
have taken. and see Why the players If fo-
dav are not likely go retErn to thc original
Rugby OF 1876. Primarily the reason
against returning is identical With fhqt
which led. the football players who hat
adopted these rules tp live under firf
but one season. ana 'n"n 10 proceed fp
alterations. Tho Ksigby code was am
right for Euglish.ncn, who bad been
brought up under traditions as old ana
as binding rs the laws themselves. IT. h
point was in dispute T. Was at once I'-
fcrrcd 60 any veteran, and lli Nlfi
stood. No Innovation would hc tolerated
whether &c was barred by the rules or
not. And here came in the difficulties ~
American cOllegians. The rules dl not
cover half the eases that arose, ant
the printed rule was the only law. as DID
traditions existed. For instance, Tho
original Rugby rules stated that N tol.h-
down was made when the ball was d.ti
or fairly sO-dead meaning absolutely
mOtiOnless' by another definition. also
that the captains srould be sole arbiters
Of al disputes. But these were only mo
simplest troubles. the cor fairly H0'
rendered IL Impossible to decide absolutely
on n rolling ball Isiited with the hand.
as the fashion then was. The two cap-
tains in a Thanksgiving-Day game az Tho
present day would hardly be able 10 settle
All poinfs. nor could they in Is. Tho
more difficult points were those 81 the
scrimmage. The rule provided that tho
ball should be placed upon the ground.
and the men. who had formed about De-
on their respective sides. then cndcav0ret
by kicking IL 20 drive ~ In the direction
OF the opponents goal-line. Then, as BE-
popped out. some one would sieze IL. and
make a run.
but some clever ones speedily found
ont that IL was better To- let the opponents
do the kicking. AND let the bali go thronsh
30 their own man, who stood just be-
hind. and who would pass b. out. thus
virtually acting as our present quarter
back does. The next step was 70 simple
one-the opponents would not klcA th"
ball through. but sidewise. ana soon
learned with the toe Go drag 10 OF snap
be back. All this was done Mh'n Nh"'r
the Rugby rule. but Eritishf.o VINO so"
our game I'm those DAYS s.iu Nla' H"'i
play would not Doe tolerated ll iislAn''
.rd untu convinced ~ tho fact hv
IL rrooy dtd not believe that me
NAV vouid work against mon e~udeavorin<
rreb through. Yet "feCling OUT as 10
is e,toI has come in among other PLAY
ors fhan tie Americans. and 30 really
admits the best feature NJ our pla-.
uawolv. the quagior-bank play. 10 IL
thfs feature with Us accompanying ao-
curacv OF movement. that has lent such
a charm to the American game. There
IS nothing 20 prevent the accurate plan
Ming OF every play. while IN the Rugby
game this Is impossible. az The ball may
come out from the scrimmagc AZ any
point, and II Is purely chance that gov
ems. TO 90 back 10 that method woa'd
be TO surrender ak the field now open FOR
gencralship. in the way o. plays. besides
again taking uD rules which would a.
once demand any amount 81 additional
explanations 10 cover the disputed Qpes-
lions that would arise. That the Aincrl-
can intercollegiate rules need another re-
vision. such as they went through some
years ago. this present season has fuiF
demonstrated. When The last general re-
vision was made. the rules were soohrt
upon as n code which should govern in'
football matches OF q half-dozen eastern
colleges. and Il was not for a moment
considered that these rules were 10 De-
come the textbook OF football Tor thou
sands OF men and boys throughout the
country. SO apidl has the game spread
,hat instead OF these rules being the law
for a few hundred players, all familiar
,g,,h tho gama. they must now furnish an
- y,cts TO those who never even saw
.amo Hence the loXt revision should
- ,n the WAY OF thorough amplincation.
go, though IL make the rules appear
e,,,hcrsomc 10 those familiar with the
srort. IL will do no harm 20 err on the
aide OF TOO great clearness-ilarpcfs
Weekly.