The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-10
move FOR
REFORM IN FOOTBALL
Minnesota Plan Would Have
Officials Named by Big Nine
Conference.

ing with the playing code, but thru the
impartial enforcement of present rules
by officials chosen under Big Nine con.
ference action, is the basis Of move
ment originating with the faculty coun,
Gil Of the University Of Minnesota. The
action of Michigan in saying that Rein
hard, the official who disqualified Cur
tiss, can never officiate in another
game for the wolverines, is cited az
showing the need for such action. Such
retaliation on an official is believed to
place premium upon evasive and Gun.
seeingo work, and to constitute men
ace to theweifare Of the game.
The subject came up for a thoro dis
cussion at meeting of the university
council last week, and after long DELHI
GRAFTON Dean F. s. Jones offered the
following resolution, which was adopted
and ordered submitted to the regents
at the meeting next Tuesday:
Dean Jones' Idea.
The imperative demand for football
reform comes from every part of the
United States. The game as played at
present has been declared too rough
and the athletic authorities have been
urged to modify the rules and eliminate
the objectionable features.
The standing committee on rules will
doubtless respond to President Roose
welt g request and make such changes
as will render the game less dangerous
but in our opinion the officials of the
game can do more than the rules COM
mittee to eliminate brutality and UNI
necessary roughDess.
At present the officials are chosen
by the two competing colleges. Their
selection is the cause of much undig-
nifed wrangling and frequently results
tention. An official who is known to
be acceptable to a college cannot but
feel anxious to maintain his standing
with that institution and may be dis
inclined to deal vigorously with its rep
resentatives on the field.
I We recommend that the inter
collegiate conference he requested to
call special meeting to consider this
subject and to appoint an official staff
of umpires, referees and linesmen IN
such manner as may seem best, who
shall be instructed to exercise the ut
most vigilance and impose the /. pre-
scribed penalties for any violation Of
| the rules; all officials for football
games in which conference colleges
| Participate to be detailed by lot or IN
some other impartial way to be deter
mined by the conference; charges OF IN
efficiency or partially to be made to
the conference in such manner as the
conference may direct, and the power
to remove officials from the staff to be
vested in the conference or In such a
committee as the conference may ap-
point.
We believe that this action will rem
| der officials independent and fearless
| in the discharge of their duties. will
make them realize the responsibility OF
| their positions and will compel them to
/ insist upon strict. obedience to the rules
of play If this is accomplished, bru'
| tality and unnecessary roughness on
the football field will be entirely eilml'
mated.
Your committee requests considers
ton of this subject and asks its REFER
ence to the board Of regents for en-
dorsement at it's next meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
Frederick S. Jones,
Chairman.
The need of some such movement II
manifest to every follower Of football
The west has many men who are com
petent to act in intercollegiate play and
some of. these have been avoided ane
declined as officials because they arr
known to be rigid in their rulings ant
prompt to disqualify men for brutality
The play at Chicago, following Curtiss
disqualification, could not hsve beer
cleaner, tho the incentive for rough pla.
was present if it ever was. The action
Of the Minnesota authorities is stel
in advance and the other schools o.
the conference can hardly fail to fal
in line.
DR.. Williams Suggestion.
DR.. II. L.. Williams, director of ath
letics at the university, believes tina
the idea advanced by Dean Jones is
step in the right direction. The move
ment is young yet" said DIR. William
.. yesterday, "and have an idea i
; furthering it that might be of value
Rather than have the faculty repre-
sentatives in the conference select tn
. staff Of officials, believe it would b
> better to have the Big Nine coaches
9 working in conjunction with the cor
q ference, meet and make up list Q
i officials. Many of the faculty repre-
! sentatives are not football men and d
: not know the good and the poor off
d Gals. The coaches know all of thel
and with nine coaches present it is nc
q Continued on Sd Page, Sd Column, Spol
- Section.