The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-12-10
!. SPORTS
WALTER CAMP HAS
Il. AN ORIGINAL IDEA
Would Make Ten Yards the Dis
tance for Downs in Foot
! ball. HI a.
New York Sun Special Service.

New York Sun Special Service.
New Haven, Conn.,, Dec. 1O.-Yale stands COM
mltted to the policy of opening up the game of
football. Its position was clearly outlined today
when Walter Camp, head advisory athletic coach,
not alone IN football, but In all branches of SPORT
issued statement in the Yale alumni weekly
recommending mo less a. radical change than
making 1t necessary for@tte eleven which has the
ball to gain ten yards in three downs else sur
attacking team to hold the ball if it can gain
five yards. .E...,. .-
While agreeing to the change as desirable
Mr.. Camp contends that the rules at present
not proh1b1t1Ve of brilliant plays, and he quotes
the star plays made western gridirons this
fall for examples rather than eastern team plays.
This is the first time Mr.. Camp has quoted
western elevens for examples of star football.
Mr.. Camps suggestion is made reply to
the letter sent him by J. Mott Hallowell, the
old Harvard end rush. demanding that close
plays be cut out hereafter.
New York Sun Special Service.
Chicago Dec. 10.-The news of Walter Camps
suggestion to increase the distance necessary to
retain possession of the ball from five to ten
yards, in order. to make a more open style of
game necessary, was received by local football
men generally with appreciation. Almost without
exception the men who have played prominent
parts in the gridiron game expressed their agree
ment with the idea. "It will be good th1n,''
was the general sentiment.
The idea Of increasing the necessary distance
for downs Is not altogether idea. 1t
| first sprung over two years ago by DR.. H. L.
Williams, coach of the Minnesota team. There
IS 10 question but that it would make the game
more open-more spectacular and more exciting
from the spectators standpoint.
On the ether hand, there exists doubt
as to whether. there is demand for "open play
In the west. In Minneapolis, Chicago, Madison
and other places which turn out large crowds to
football games the public is educated up to the
finer points of football. It is rare indeed in Min
neapolis that a fine bit of close play gets away
from the appreciation and applause Of the stands
Much could be said on both sides of the propo-
sfton. : ~x,~ :-.5 ''''-...>
Nothing could be done which would change
the present style of play more than the adoption
Of the ten yards idea said DR.. Williams this
morning. ''Further slight notifications of the
rules regarding the number Of men in the line
would make it still more OPEN. I havt not had
time to go into the matter deeply enough to form
! an opinion as to the real value and final effect
| such rule would have upon the play
! Th1rty-sfx representative students Of the Uni
versity Of Wisconsin We're chosen last night by
the special students conference committee, and
| from these three dozen men the committee of
twelve will he selected to represent the student
on Athletics The aHmni of Madso
representatives IN the advisory committee: The
other alumni members VIII be from the Chicago
and Milwaukee associations.
| The purpose of the present upheaval in ath,
In Is fort e an to
store the department to its old-time healthful
Coach Phil King of Princeton and Yost of
Michigan are doomed for football coach next
season. Powerful friends of Eddie Cochems.
assistant coach this season. still working for
selection of Cochelns as head coach.
The athletic board of control of the state uni
nFht sio coveted e ann @ e%be%
awarded to strefr, sehwinn. Rockwood Moore,
Atkinson, R. White, stoltenburg Griffith: Chnl'
| 10. A, White. knapp. Kent and Kerry.