The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-04-06

One is to leave the rules as they are;
another to extend the rules now in
force on the checkerboard to the
whole field; the third to go back to
the rules of 1902, restoring massplays
and cutting out the quarterback run. Il
The first alternative is practically q
compromise; the second, an unquai-
fed Endorsement of the movement to-
ward more open play; and the third,
confession that massplays are the
most desirable style Of play
Almost unanim ously the men inter- |
viewed by h e Journa al favor re-
tanning the rules in their present form !
for at least another season. Most of
them hold that one year is not a fair
test Of the new system, and that a
better opinion can be formed after !
the season of 1904, but there Is no
disposition to favor a return to the
old rules. A change in the wording
Of the rule regarding the quarterback
run is desired. At present the rule
states that the runner must cross the
scrimmage line at least five yards
from the point where the ball was
snapped. It is felt that less dispute
would arise in games If the rule sim
ply required the runner to cross the
line outside the tackle position. The
opinions Of the football men follow:
Let SFeSent Rules 0CaNo.
DR.. Fl. L. Williams, Coach Of Minnesota
Team-The rules should be allowed to
stand as they are for another year. One
years trial is not sufficient to develop
play under new rules, and it would be bet
ter to try the present rules another season
in order to fully discover their possibilities
and defects before attempting a change.
George K. Belden, Former Halfbaok,
Minnesota should favor leaving the
| rules as they are for another season. The
| more open play On the checkerboard Is
good thing, and it has been proved that
| there is no ground for the objection made
last summer that teams could not gain
| ground consistently against elevens Of the
| first class without resorting to mass plays.
| After another years play we can see bet
| ter just what are the possibilities Of the
new rules, and what the coaches can do In
the way of utilizing the quarterback run.
If any change is desirable. think the
! first move should be to eliminate field
goals front the scoring. At least the num-
Der of points scored in this manner should
be cut down. If field goals were elm
mated, I should favor extending the
checkerboard plan, including the prohibit
ton Of mass plays and the quarterback
run, to the whole field. AS it Is, II mass
plays inside the twenty-fve-yard line were
prohibited, 1t would be much harder to
score touchdoWns, and the temptation to
try field goals would be greater. Field
goals never should count as high as a
touchdown.
Present Rules the Best.
Charles Van Camper, Former Quarter
back, Minnesota think the rules are
quite satisfactory as they are The check
erboard plan Is a good thing, but should
not favor extending it to all parts Of the
field. The two systems Of play are to my
mind desirable, because they usually give
victory to the team which is most versa
tile and most resourceful. The old rules
permitting mass play placed premium
on weight, while to go back and eliminate
mass plays altogether would make the
game less varied and less enjoyable.
The experience Of last year proved that
it Is quite easy to gain ground thru the
line when the forwards open a hole for
the runner as to send half a dozen men
against a certain point and try to push
ahead by sheer weight I can think OF no
changes which would have reasonable
certainty Of improving the game.
James B. Irsf1eld, Halfback Minnesota
!, The change in play effected by the rules
adopted for last year was not so radical
as we expected. That is, 1t did not pro-
duce running game in the center Of the
field. Still the changes made some diff
ference In the style Of play. and 1 would
favor trying the present rules year long
err IN order to develop them further"
William G. Leary, assistant county at
torney and former hafback, Minnesota
|, Altho the new rules governing play on the
: E"checkerboard'' did not prove to be the
. innovation last season that some. Of theil
originators claimed for them still believe
they have merit and I am in favor Of re.
tanning them In their present form FOR a.
least another season, when their worth
may be more fully rested and an oppor
tunity afforded for the fuller development
of quarterback and other open plays.
Personally, I must say that during the
games last season the changes occasionet
by the "checkerboard" plays were 81
slight that I hardly noticed them. Thu
principle they involve, however. IS good
and think has been sufficiently demon
strated to warrant their retention for an
other season, altho hardly enough to cal
for their extension over the entire field a
has been suggested by some of the enthu
siasts.
E. P. Harding, former Captain, Mime
sota-Try the present rules another year
There Is no chance Of going back to tn
old gridiron and an advance would max
the game less diversified I think tina
the present rules are very satisfactory.
Sunny" Thorpe, Halfback, Minnesota
The old rules are the best. The f1ve-yar
rule Is hard to enforce. as 1t Is Difficult
for the officials to whether the ma
with the ball runs outside the limit. II W
had the old rules there would be les
wrangling during the game. Under the OIL
rules the game was much cleaner.
Bobby Marshall, End, Minnesota '03-
I like the game as it is The rules max
the game faster in the center Of the feel
and at the same time prevent fluke touch
downs by quarterback plays near the goa
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