The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-29
NAY ABOLISH MASS PLAYS.
FACULTY Up ~ ARMS AGAINST
brutal FOOTBALL.
PRECEDENT wilson Of Princeton Hints That
Sport May he Banished Frsm COLLEGES
Unless Conditions Are CHARACTERISTICS
Committee May Act Next Month.


Committee May Act Next MONTH
well.informed persons say that the Inter-
collegiate Football Rules Committee viii
have to abolish mass plays from the grid
iron before the season OF 1908 begins u
the committee does not do so on its own
Initiative. the presidents and faculty athletic
authorities OF many of the big universities
will. N IL said take up the matter and deal
with Il In such way that the trainers OF the
rules will be obliged 70 legislate against
the close formation style Of attack. whether
they want TO or not.
The president OF ono OF the most prom
inent Eastern universities whose football
team 70 classed among the big four, IRE
SuN has learned. made a statement to that
effect a few days ago. and since then II has
come out that a considerable amount Of
correspondence has already taken place
among the college authorities In regard to
the objectiona bic features in present-day
football and that Walter Camp. chairman
OF the rules committee. has written around
TO the universities asking for expressions OF
opinion as to the ACCESSIBILITY OF calling a
meeting OF the committee IN January Tor
revising the ru'es.
Those who run the faculty end OF athletics
in the colleges are. il Ia said just about unani-
nous for a radical alteration OF the rules,
They say that the physical well-being OF the
young men committed to their charge. II
nothing else, demands a change; that loot
ball. a. II Is played to-day. has come to he
too much a contest involving mere brute
forcc and that the injuries sustained IN the
game now are too serious and too numerous
to permit OF It's continuance In its present
form.
Several Of the college presidents have
been severely outspoken In their disiavor
OF existing conditions. Chancellor Day OF
Syracuse University. a short time q go declared
that football, In his opinion. has come TO be
Just about as brutal a sport as prize fghttne
and that unless q change was made. he would
no longer sanction II at Syracuse. President
Wilson Of Princeton has. 1t IL reported. also
aid that the game would have to be altered
n II u TO continue TO have place on Prince
tons calendar Of sports. DR.. Wilson 10 an
enthusiastic cha mpion OF all legitimate sports
and Ia a member OF the Princeton faculty
athletic committee. He is said to be one OF
the most active Of the college authorities
who are working for a revision OF the code
He has written this letter to western edu-
Il believe TINT the game Of football when
governed by the proper rules and played
with true sportsman.ke spirit. ~ an sitoSes dsd
the men and boys who '.a.n i,5r i and play IT,
are kept under "A .prop.. rr ideal supervision
to st the they incident to the
0'.s' q 81 game for Which very careful train
son: |: Sts *. yhdsT ese
before they are properly hardened and sea-
soned for the work. There is no sport, there
fore. which needs more careful SUPERVISION
4 think that Just at the present time the
game " clearly In the way to be dtscredited
in the direction OF making all the success Of
the game depend upon mere weight and ma "a
and strength Thsse hs "a sn mad the
on not only. but very, much more danGerous
70 the PLAYERS. and In a. s Sle
the players RS have been tempted to. do very
some instances they were Instructed to do
e Zane SO Spon
In the development Of the game.
Of spirit can be brought about. and ! believe
@ the sb bstsf than an ams
legislation aboiishine. a sport which, with
proper control. leads to admirable results in
the sraHrs q tee stsf contains broad hint
may do II the rules COMMITTEES does not take
s sSosS The sort spo OF from Ths
SsTslsis. have not TIE authority e alter re
10 wrr Of "a wing whether the game as governed
by the laws Of the rules committee shall be
So ss ., ys nSt ss, iR' t@' the
they maj. make ers sars 70 be weighed Oare-
ful's sy n ssss Sc q .e. though it though.
likely that the rules committee would De glad
TO have the college authorities behind II
t Thsn Would from the
shoulders Of the committee members the re-
the c;ess formations are used almost exclu-
% sys s ADMIT TIA. g sSs
On S SEss rS S tSs play on Tie attack VIII
% n V ire o ruie ne. eommitsee eliminates mas.
football. az II s played to-day. win Just about
nations have gained IN popularity steadily
fer shs : ve sGn tSs ba Al ns s
sSusrd.SS ck and ~ les Tackle-bs cf' lorna
tions are the best examples Of this style OF
,S. shf: es: Been and Sp sa
OPEN plays that have skili and speed. more
Of success Cess and which add to the spects cuar
intersst Of the game have disappeared almost
that mass piays IA We Seen evolved nec.ssa Tiy
from natural conditions, and that before this
the conditions which gave Il birth will have
10 be corrected. The defence Of an eleven.
faster and much more evidently than the
attac and TO overcome q Il undue pre-
ponderance Of defensive strength. tie open
and resort had to the present met DDS OF
dra wing one or more line men ba ok to help
advance the leather, II mase plays are
ruled clean out. some means they decia re,
will have to be discovered Of weakenin g
the defence, or other conditions just as OBJ
jectionn bic will spring M and the committee g
legislation will be wnsted
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