The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-08-30
GOSSIP OF
THE GRIDIRON.
An Exceptionally Bright Outlook For the
Coming Football Season---Impor-
tant Change In Scoring Rules.

I oftentimes were misconstrued, and that
they were broken in the spirit IL not I'm
the letter of the law. IL was thought
that by making marginal references
| outlining fully the exact nature Of the
rules misunderstood. the officials could
better hold the players to the prescrib-
ed regulations.
The question OF mass plays was very
thoroughly gone into by the COMMITTEES
ana after careful consideration during
which many arguments for and against
the present reading were brought for
ward, II was not changed, and what
IN the minds OF many people was the
main object OF the meetings was not
accomplished. In speaking OF this mat
Ter later some OF the members of the
committee have endeavored TO explain
their action thus: They decided to LET
the rule relating TO the number of men
permitted In a scrimmage remain as be-
lore. because they considered that the
injuries supposed to result from mass
plays had not been very apparent In the
iast TWO seasons, especially when the
play was made by experienced and
trained men. such as the intercollegiate
rules are designed for. and that anv
sent were In measure correcting them
selves.
They desired to change the wording
OF the laws governing the game as little
as possible and thought that a scientific
amusement like football might safely be
left to develop itself In a great measure.
large number of rules necessarily
hamper a captain and seriously inter-
hn
or team, and the committee decided
that it would be more discreet to leave
the option OF using or discarding mass
plays to the captains Of competing
elevens.
A fact which doubtless had great
weight with the committee in their ac-
ton Is that the most successful teams
last season We're those which made
least use OF the Objectionable play. Yale,
last years intercollegiate champion.
rarely II ever brought the mass into
use.
The mass play has gradually evolved
itself from interference, and 1t would
be difficult matter to draw up a pro-
vision abolishing the former that would
not seriously interfere with the latter
When framing the rules. the committee
mad In mind such men as are turned out
by Harvard, Princeton, Cornell. Yale
ana pennsylvania. Not one OF these in
stitutions has suffered very much from
mass plays in the way Of serious acci-
dents during scrimmages. There were
hardly any mishaps on the Yale field
last fall. The chief argument against
the play is that IL exhausts the men.
and this fact was illustrated in the
"A m n ini Inn tad In Ixxr ID-t..
Pennsylvania, which utilized IL exten-
sively. The committee came to the con-
clusion that the mass plays, being un-
from a strictly scientific
point OF view, would bring about their
own abolition; that they would fall by |
their own weight, as IL were. In view of |
this fact, therefore, that mass plays are |
more and more regulating themselves.
the committee thought Ii unnecessary |
10 incumber the football rules with any |
legislation regarding them.
The one radical change made by the
committee was In the matter of scoring.
Hereafter only one point will be allotted |
For a goal made from a touchdown in
stead OF two. as before. The object Of
this change is to increase the value Of A
goal from the field by means OF the drop
kick. This is a feature OF the game
hat hitherto has been very much neg
ected. 1t is a very pretty play and
especially useful to a light team buck
ng against a heavier one. This was
last season by Quarter Back
Hudson OF the Carlisle Indian school
Ind by the work OF Young OF Cornell.
rhe drop kick from the field opens up
he play and is very welcome change
rom the close formations and line
sucking now SO general. especially from
he point OF view of the lockers on.
Now that a goal obtained in this man.
Ter will have Just as much value as one
rom a touchdown we may expect to
zee more open play this fall.
There is sure to be some objection 20 |
his change. though the general feeling
vas I'm favor OF the new method OF
ounting. II was argued that II a fun
ack went through two months OF hard
Practice without being able TO kick n
'oal from the drop. which many sup
'ose ls comparatively easy thing 10
o. his opponents ought to profit by II.
here are many points In favor OF both
Methods OF scoring. and n trial OF the
lew way can surely work no great
arm. even II found unsatisfactory att
r one seasons test.
Last fall the Western Football asso-
iation, which includes most of the
sading colleges and institutions I'm Chi
ago and west Of that city. made some
adical changes In the method OF scor-
ng. y. A. Stage. the well known phys
al Instructor of the University OF Chi
%. an old Yale player. Is the leading