The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-10-06
PIGSKIN SEASON
w FOOTBALL RULES WILL MAIN
|TAIN THE GAMES POPULARITY.
hke-Up of the Light Artillery, But
Ter and High-schocI
Teams.

asst fall, TO the effect that football would
pever again prove popular, that athletic
sport has appeared on the field this season
with all Of its former vigor, and bids fair
TO be as popular with the general public
as before. Although football is recognized
as primarily a college game. 1t has ONE 10
/ claim In its season much the attention of
the sport-loving public that baseball does.
Last year was perhaps the most success
full season from a financial standpoint
which football manages throughout the
country have experienced, but owing TO the
many o~uarrels which were the outcome of
the games played by the Eastern teams.
and the large number Of casualties result
ing from the games played in all parts of
the country, 1t was the general opinion
hat the game had passed its prime. Es-
pecia1ly in the West did the future of the
sport seem doubtful owing to the action of
the College Presidents Association, in
which SO many restrictions were made on
the game that IL would nave been prac-
tically an entirely new game which the
teams would have played. The rough play
had increased to such an extent that
scarcely a game was ever played without
from two to five OF the players being car
ried from the field, more or less seriously
injured. and the smuggling abilities Of the
members OF the teams came TO be reckoned
as among the good qualities.
The new lease of life which has been
granted to the game may therefore be at
tribufed TO the fact that new rules have
been formulated which will eliminate all
rough play from the game and therefore
reduce the danger to life and limb. Under
new rules the play will be more open. al
lowing more opportunity for long runs, and
similar plays which increase the beauty of
the game to the spectators. There are
three sets Of rules from which football
teams may choose this season and which
may also cause some confusion. but it Will
certainly permit the game to be played in
q manner to which even the most squeam-
ish faculty cannot object. The official foot
ball rules for 1895 are the same rules as
those recommended by the rules COM
mittee, consisting of Alexander Moffat,
w. A. Brooks, John C. Bell, Paul
J.. Dashiell and Walter Camp. These
rules have been amended by a Yale and
Princeton alliance, and also by Harvard,
Pennsylvania and Cornell, forming three
distinct sets OF rules. One OF the amend
ments OF the northumberland Cornell
leagues provides for two umpires. a referee
and a iineman. This increase in the num-
Der OF officers in the game will decrease
the chance for rough or unfair play, and
Will eliminate all smuggling" A Yale
Princeton amendment provides that 'in
s11 not , more than on one man shall
Not more than three men shall group them
selves at a point behind the line OF scrim-
mage before the ball is in play. Seven men
or more shall be on the line of scrimmsge
until the ball Is In play, except that the
man playing the position of either end
not pass inside the position occupied by
the man playing adjacent tackle before the
S bah Is IF put tns in I Dlsy:~ This wlH DO away
which most OF the serious accidents oc-
cured. There are other amendments which
otherwise the rules are little changed from
those OF last season. z
The situation In the East which gave
rise TO the amendments to the rules is not
lasts. Under the present conditions there
can be no game this season between Yale
ton and Pennsylvania. Harvard was de-
feate3 last year by Yale in a game which
for its dirty playing was unexeelied.
ates openly charged the Yale players with
-Blugg1ng.' and other unfair playing, which
The Yale graduates resented, demanding an
result is a breach between the two colleges
and a match which has always excited
national interest will be prevented Like
wise the PrincetOn-Pennsylvania game,
N which Princeton came OF second best.
The game had been a hard fought one.
and smuggling indHlged in by the members
or both teams to a large extent. As a
result OF the deserved criticism of the
game. the Princeton faculty decreed that
no more games should be played with
teams was too great. The Yale-Princeton
and the Harvard-Pennsylvanis-C Cornell
leagues are the outcome OF these differ
are yet hopeful OF patching up their quar-
rels in time for a great match game 20 be
Arranged between them.
THE WESTERN TEAMS.
All OF the Western teams report that
prospects were never better. The team
which Il to represent the University of
Michigan has trained at Omena, a Mich
tgan summer resort, but Is now at work
at the university grounds. For a time the
prospects at the University of Illinois
were not so promising on account of an
apparent lack of material. 1t was reported
that there were plenty OF big men in the
school. but that they all lacked nerve to
enter the game. The team is now prac-
ticing a = daily. The Chicago University
team promises TO exceed expectations this
season. opening the season with a defeat
of the great Chicago Athletic Clubs team.
The players at the University Of Wiscon-
sin seem TO be somewhat slow about get
ting into playing trim, but the managers
prepare 20 sustain the excellent reputation
which was made by her last season.
The local football enthusiasts will be fur
kpIshed with numerous exhibitions OF the
Ut. and the present indications seem to
Nthat IL win be of the highest quality.
At least three local teams will be in the
field as champions in their individual
! classes. A team has been organized In the
Indianapolis Light Artiller, another is com
posed OF the members or the Indianapolis
High School, and Butler University prom
ises TO show up a team that will be able
to compete with any college team In the
West. Each of these organizations will
play a series OF games in this city, which
! means that at least one exhibition each
Rweek until Thanksgiving day may be wit
messed In this city. Such teams as those
from the Chicago Athletic Cub. the Louis
Mile, Cincinnati and St. Louis Athletic
4 Clubs. will be brought here by the Artillery
team. while representative college and high
school teams will come here to compete
with the teams OF Butler and the High
school. Both the Artillery and the Butler
teams will be coached BY Eastern foot
ball men. which means that the style of
play put up by them will be patterned
closely after hat OF Eastern teams.
THE ARTILLERY TEAM
At the present time the Artillery team
presents the most promising appearance.
There are several candidates for every
position on the team. and every man is
working hard to secure a place. Manager
Navin Is negotiating for an Eastern coach