Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-10-29
THE NEW FOOTBALL RULES IN THE
WECT

WEST.
Tho Western coaches who seemed dis !
inclined to accept the notifications adopt |
cd by the football rules committee have |
suffered no hardships from the changes. |
Or the other hand. their teams thus far
nave shown speed and power to roll
up big scores that seem to indicate that
their style of play has been helped rather
than hindered 1t was inevitable that
the West should develop characteristics
to distinguish football school differing
from the methods of Eastern play as
soon as the teams were able to rely on
homo talent. instead of being wholly
dependent upon coaches from Yale Har
ward, Princeton and Pennsylvania. as
was true of the early days of Western
football
Fast play and sensational scoring ability
have lately marked the work OF the best
Western cleVenS. ana their claim that
they have advanced beyond the tactics
common among the Eastern teams must
be treated with respect until the test
is made I'm competition. Certainly, in
the question Of speed IN the baCk-field.
such teams as those of the Universities
of Michigan and Chicago need fear no
comparison with the strongest of the
Eastern football universities, and inter
ference has been perfected after fashion
that insures remarkably aggressive
and formidable attack. With such strong
J features OF the W cStefn school, II is
likely that the new rules. as they favor
fast and open play, will he no hnderance
tc the pupils of Stagg and Yost.
Captain Redden was sure of his place
| in the university eleven after his first
year, but this did not cause any let
| down in his game. and for three years
| he has been conspicuous for conscientious
endcdvor to improve the playing Of his
! position. Ills finest football has been
shown in the big games of the Western
series Two years ago Captain Redden
bloc kcd a kick of Paddock's in the game
with the Northwestern University, and
! gave Michigan her first touch down.
| Wherever the bah is Keddcn can be
| depended upon to be close at hand, with
| the faculty of appearing in the right
| spot. which was 50 notable in the career
of Frank lIinkey. of Yale. His team has
| gained many Yards of ground because
Eeddcn will never stop trying to help
the runner until the down is unmis-
taxable. He is fast at getting down the
field on punts and sure tackler. lie
dives ut HIS mal in fashion that blocks
| an advance with deadly certainty. Cap
tain Redden means business I'm every
| play he makes. In running with the ball,
! where he has been used more than is
usual for an end rush he lodges with
cool judgment and agility, and has no
| end of speed when the field is clear,
The football captain is one of the most
| popular men at Ann Arhor, and ne is ex-
pectod to make a brilliant years record
| III his double leadership of the eleven
and the nine. Coach Yost has in Rcddcn
the sort of captain who makes the
ideal chief -of-stan in - system whore
the strategy Of the campaign is almost
wholly in the hands Of the coach. The
| captains responsibility is within mar
rover limits than in the old days before
football had become so highly specialized
as to he raised almost to tive dignity Of
| the sciences.
The new football rules nave net been
shipwreckcd. and thoy are deserving OF
coInmcndation in certain ways. after
actual test on n hundred fields in the first
month of the season. 1t has already been
demonstrated. however, that they arc not
revolutionary: that they are hardly To- ho
called sensational and that football is the
Same old game" Panicky enthusiasts
who bemoancd the threatened "miidnes IS .
and dilottartc favor which they autici-
pated were about t. overtako the lively
| sport shed their tears wastefully aud
borrowed trouble too soon
| As for the spcctator II is true chat the
play is more easily followed than former
~. or midhcd. from the average point
of vantage. it is possible to see who takes
the ball from the ouarter-bacl where The