The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-09-14
FOOT BAih RtIES.
Changes Suggested ty Yale and Prince.
ton to BE RepUdiaicl BY Harvard and
Confusion

Confusion.
There Is going TO be a nice little i'm
broglio in the matter Of foot hail rules
| this fall says the Chicago Record. The
| American intercollegiate Foot Bah as
sociation seems 70 have met It's death
| when Pennsylvania andWesleyan with
| drew, and it seemed mockery for
| Yale and Princeton to continue the eX-
| istencc of the body. II now appears,
however, that there is considerable
rhyme and a good deal Of reason in the
action of these exclusive colleges. The
| association yearly publishes the rule
book, and heretofore every college,
school and athletic club IN the country
| has played the game under the rule
| bool, of the association. 1t has been
wondered whether Yale and Princeton
would this year endedvor TO prescribe
rules for all foot bali In America. Such
now appears to he their intention.
"Alcck" Moffat Walter Camp and
other solons from the New Haven. and
New Jersey institutions have had their
heads pretty close together recently.
ard have decided upon at least three
prominent changes in the rules Harvard,
Pennsylvania and Cornell have tacitly
agreed to couple of changes In the
rules, but these only TO apply to games
between these colleges.
Is Bouud to Make Confusion.
Here is conflict at the very start.
Cornell and Princeton have a match
arranged. Under what rules will that
match be played? When Pennsylvania
plays Lafayette Harvard meets Am
i1oIst, Princeton Lchigh ard Vale has
game with the Cresccats. what rules
will govern? 1t is bound to end in con-
fusion and endless chickering's. Some
colleges VIII accept The new Yale
Princeton rule book, and others will
adhere to the carefully prepared rules
of '9i-rules that were made after the
most careful dellberation by Yale,
Princeton. Harvard. Pennsylvania and
Paul Dashiell who represented the ex-
perienced umpires and referees in the
country.
The three changes proposed by Prince
ton are these: First that on a fair
catch the man making the same shall
have the privilege Of choosing between
a free kick" and 4 down" This is an
immatcrial change from last years
rules and the present EarvGrd-rcNu-
sylvania-Corncll agreement Second.
that, as last year, there shall he three
otilcials-referee. umpire and linesmln
any one Of whom shallh have he power
q disqualfying a player for fouls.
This. tCo. is an immaterial change.
nlru Nlu lnlS is WNeTC INC .'uo comes
in Princeton and Yale propose
that every rusher shall remain in his
place in thc line until after the hall has
been put In rlav. This is radical. even
unknown to old times. and opposed 20
every principle Of American college
Rugby. 1t docs away entirely with the
many pretty and strategic pieces OF
dying interference round the end plays
and general assistance for the backs. /
rudiinents Of the great and intrllirent
game played by Pennsylvania. Harvard |
and Cornell and coDied by such strong
teams as those OF Brown. Amherst !
Dartmouth. Williar's. Iehich. Lafay-
cite Virr'in'l Michigan. state. Crcs-
ocuts. Chicago and others without
limit.
Tho nucg.ion now ie WI therc teams
consent to tho dictation Of Vale aud
Princeton, Willingly sec thcir own
terms weakened and the ~aiue In gem
eral deprived Of much Of its merits?