Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-05

that OF the public generally who are inter-
ested In the great college game.
contend generally that the game OF foot
ball, from the standpoint Of the spectator, is
deteriorating instead OF advancing In this
section OF the country. Though. 1t Is prob
ably true that twice as many people take an
interest in foot ball in Omaha MS there did
five years ago yet the interest Of these peo-
pie is not as great as 1t used to be, and in
my Judgment with good reason. All or
nearly all of the games that we have had the
opportunity of witnessing here have been
greatly marred either by fault in the hand
ling OF the crowd or by the inefflciency Of
the officials, or perhaps rather by the mis-
taken idea that generally prevails In regard
to the duties of officials l hold that the
average game that we have in Omaha Is OF
small interest compared with what 1t could
be under better conditions.
The management OF foot ball game that
allows the crowd to come upon the field or
| any part OF II Is Just as much at fault, or
ought to be so considered, as the manager
! of a theater who allows the spectators to
come upon the stage or go behind the scenes.
! With a crowd on the field foot ball game
degenerates into pushing match.
! Competent and at the same time respected
officials must be chosen. I have seen con
tests that bid fair to be magnificent and
thrilling rendered tame and even disgusting
solely by the fault of the officials. 1t is
probably true also that games are won and
lost because of the inefliciency of the Off
cials, and where the officials are not re-
spected these charges are always made
whether they are true or not, TO the detri-
ment of the game of foot ball
Most important of all, the game losses its
interest because at time of especial inter
est some player is hurt or pretends TO be
hurt (most often the latter and the game
stops, or else the crowd grows so enthusiastic
that the team cannot hear the signals be
cause of their cheering. and some member
of the team is compelled to go along the line
and hush the very cheers that he needs Sc
much, and at the same time to give much
needed time to the other side to recuperatC
it's strength and recover from the dismaS
which has overwhelmed them. l content
that no team is first-class which does no
have sign signals or some means of keeping
up its play in the face Of the greatest pos
sible demonstrations on the part OF th'
spectators. The game of foot ball requires
if it is to keep it's old-time popularity, tina
the officials shall pay no attention whatever
to every tritiing injury, because know from
experience that most all of them are pre-
tended. The officials are the sole judges o
the game there is no appeal from their de
cision and it is my opinion that they shoul
use drastic measures in this stress to d.
away with this playing for wind" thinl
it would be much preferable to have a few
plays made with one man out of his plac
than to have this everlasting lying down
which is only an inducement for mer to pa,
no attention to their training.
l have seen many a play allowed wher
| .loi.
seen play so fast and spirited that the cap
tain would not know that man was hur
until after three plays were made. Th
game Of foot ball is a game of enduranc
as well as of skill and strength and tn
magnificent rally which turns the scale Q
victory at the last moment is the crownin
glory of all athletic sports.
. The spectators want to see fast play
good generalship, plenty of running an
lodging in the open field. These feature
will not prevail unless the offcisls refrai
, from the continual calling of time to alloN
. some player who has not trained faith
fully to regain his wind and strength.
firmly believe that the game CT foe
ball has more Of action and of passion, NOR
that moves, enthuses and thrills the spec
tator than any other out-of-door sport an
l hope that the sporting fraternity will d
all that it can to mitigate the evils that
l have mentioned. 1t is unfortunate that "
Y have not in Omaha more officials like Lieu
tenant Billy Wright and Charlie Wilson
l who always saw to it that their games wei
4 not fiascos. In order to correct the ev
t which prevails now I would suggest thf
& before the game the officials have cles
understanding with the captains OF the cor
a tending teams to the effect that no child
play shall be allowed and that either tea
shall be permitted to play ball until tt
whistle blows, and that If man leav,
. . his position he must take his chance
Drastic measures for a little time wou
e probably make little change in an indivdu
c game and would do lots for foot ball.
g 1 have discussed the points set out
n this letter with many others in Oman
r who are and have been greatly interestt
3. in foot ball, and I will say that my ide;
e have met with their earnest approval.