The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-24
CURRENT SPORTING TALK.
CHANG Es TO BE C~oNsIDERE D RI
THE FOOTBALL RULES COMMITTEE.

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Strong Argument in Favor OF the Game BIZ Gov.
Atkinson OF G~corHin-Ansen Mas Manage
tho ~. Louis Ciub-some or PlttssurE's Deais
by Watkin"-A Ne" f"'e ~ rrihce''h'
Tho announcement that tho Football Rules
Committee will meet next month to make some
headed reforms has caused widespread discus
sion among the college experts who have va
rious suggestions to make. 1t Ia agreed on all
sides that further legislation against mass plays
a. necessary In order to reduce chances for In
jurios to n minimum. Tho flying wedge and
other dangerous momentum plays were abol-
ishod two years ago, when the Rules Committee
drew up and adopted the following:
when thu bal, ia mn, in NAV Nd least Ave players
must be on the line OF scrimmago.
II, when the pail is put in play, nve players. not
including the quarter back. be behind the line Of
scrimmage and inside OF the positions occupied by
che players at the ends of the said line, then two OF
these players must be AZ least hVe yards back OF TINS
Ine' BUS All OF THESE player may % nearer 70 M
nne Oh scrinmsse' II TWO ot 'nom Aro ou.sla' oi =.
VI"
The rule makers believed then that mass plays
would DO 30 modihed hal tnere would DO no
further trouble. ooacn Woourun OF the Uni
versity OF PennsylVahia, however, saw Ioop-
hole, ndlnVehtea MS ceieorateo suarus peck
interference piay, wnieh ""s st'ietIy "ithin
tne requirements U tne soo'o ruio' ~ proVe"
such q perfect gathering ram, ana producea 80
many diferent opportunities ior long gains tnhs
was adopted oy hoariy every VARSITY co'ieee
and sehooi team III the country. FFiheeton anu
faie did not make an oAact COPY o. tno pray
their guards behind tho line In various forma.
lions. In the big games Of tho University of
pennsylvania the guards BACK play was the
most effective method of attack used by that
sean' n IN "ihos' esofy oAso oppon'n's WIZ
laid out. Such was also tho cas-. wherever the
Strso,,r oharaod ~ ~ Th, sregos,,on That
oirecuy charged 10 II. INC suseest,oh thns
the bali has been nut in play, which was origin.
ally mado by THE SUN when the Rules Commit
mass plays, provides a remedy that will prevent
any Formations behind the line. except those by
the four backs. But there is another point that
might DO taken up by the rule makers which
would DO oven oetter IN results than the
original suggestion. II a rule is passed
line until the ball is snapped back. it would still
places could be- temporarily allied by any Of tho
hacts ,h.rohv con,n1yine With the actuol
requirements of the rule. 1t would. therefore.
be of moro advantage, perhaps. to rule that the
seven rushers. including two ends, two tackles.
two guards. and q centre. should remain In their
regular places until the ball has been snapped,
u Hna u - '. .a u nm u sn,n.S $40 m sn u
line to the quarter. two halves. and the full
tion y, tha -uIo maIors N the ohsmrditv ~ tho
from runnnine With the ball. II they should
to remain in their respectiye places. thoy
could easily pass an amendment permitting the
H Uai y 10 oi !, = run h,nlsei, a.ter 10 mas re-
to any other back as has been his custom for
years. There seems to. DO no good reason why
n 1aH }SsFte sce e 9 S1 70 e1er not ot GsesiH wa the o same aS
eleven sn:n and aase every r time a ,I rule ana. maker , or r. coach E
not been framed. il has been impossible to give a
satisfactory answer; The fact that from the in
ception Of football the quarter back has
ball, unless It had been handled first
S esea sTo a mo = la Ssi Which h u loo has saors s9% % vi tS BE-
lfthe rule makers will appreciate the fact that,
II M,t : t 3Eua atSrr back Sack. D csD SsIn e equal 7osl1 privileges ,Sd eGsS
more open and also more uncertain in point Of
down this last bs ". To- common.sense pDlsyyiue.
One other point to be dehniteiy settled Is the
kick'on where the ball 10 driven oyer, the goal
disposition Of the ball after 1t had twice been
kicked into touch. Some teams permitted on:
f RiGs'T Whi ne others tl"n t aIlo% Saad t dai f ri%als Inc te k}cEa off
from the middle of the field again. as provided
i i6r Py Inc rue governing a KICKOFF that sends
6e{ohd these points the work o. the Rules Com
mittee does not appear 10 De difncult.
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Gov, Atkinson of Georgia, in yetoinR the Cole
Anti. Football hill. cxpressed himseif as heine
greatly in favor OF manly sports. In his messaae
No nhaAe his iueas very cioar' as ioiio"s'
There are grave reasons for opposing this class Of
legislation. 1t leads to innumerable petty and vexa-
tious criminal laws regulating the most trivial affairs
OF ne, depTiving tho parent OF the authority to con-
troll his child, and roboirg the citizen Of that degree
OF liberty which should DO the heritage OF every son
Swho 49,
swnn a' nayS traveiiOa a"r"sh are seriously commencing
Of n ,ndHnrnh and ISap iSn ~, ri = .n . = RUE
America peSniatIng the bni,ta nnI nnn,ySnWo, ~ = ~
have left 10 the individuaI here less rights, less free.
avn than is possessed by the citizen of a European
monarchy. The majority has the DOW er to do much
which Il has not the right TO do: There are many
.th'ngs not approved by the majority which are not
proper subjects Of legislation.
u the game OF Football seriously ~intreferes with the
"eiiare OF society ana inhicts injuries upon others Of
cS o. wnieh pnblle opinion VIII not obviste or
Se cc.sars s' ~ r.n sn99 ,be men 60 !uSs ISL SO rs as may
no fnrthsr Ths rIt y . ~ wronR, out ~ snoaia go
his boy shall play should not Ibs ouoitloned e er dis.
The hpmbiest ci,I.sn ~ this S.ata ne viS