The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-03-05
FOOTBALL REFORM
STILL UNDER WAY
Coaches and Players Continue
to Air Views on Needed
Changes
Special to The Globe

Special to The Globe
u, NEW HAVEN, Conn, March 4.-The
the present game of football saws that
some of those who have been discussing
1ootbaii declare that If reform Of the
game is to be brought about il should be
left TO the students who play. and in reply
declares that there would be very little
reform II such were the case, and that
tne older men, the coaches. are RESPONSE
bic for the game and ought to bring about
sucn changes as are demanded by com
mon sense. The Bulletin quotes President
Eliots complaint that one of the most
approved methods of the game is TO di-
rect the attack against the weakest. and
declares that practically the same thing
is done in all games.
point of difference between football and
other games-in football the ordinary the
DRY OF the game seems to be to do ply
him So that he canot play. That is. one
of the means adopted for winning game,
and it is one of the grounds, for the un-
favorable criticism of football.
Difference In Games
mo one would ask that a game should
be changed simply because the best style
of play demands that the weaknesses of
the opposing team shall be taken adyan-
tage of. In baseball. for instance, the
pitcher does his best to throw the ball
where the batsman cannot hit it. 1t
would be different If the pitcher thought
he was justified in hitting the batsman
in the head, so that the latter would be
compelled 10 stop playing. In tennis one
player constantly tries to place the ball
neither tries to hit the other in the eye
and inJure him. But in football. players
deliberately attempt to make their OPP
ponents, physically unable to remain on
the field; If they cannot do IL under the
rules they are permitted TO do il to a
considerable degree through a violation
or them. Football is too useful a game
to be lost; even its most pronounced op-
ponents concede its good points. But it
should be changed in some ways, in the
spirit if in nothing else. if it is to remain
the great American college game.
William II Edwards, the well known
Princeton football player and coach. in
writing to the Illustrated Sporting News
great deal that could be said in this arti-
Gle regarding the cheering at college
games, the amount of money expended
on football, the question of professional
coaches, teams travelling great distances
10 play games. These are questions which
each college has to decide for itself. The
desire to win is carried TO the extreme
when school team travels great dis
tances TO play post season game. Let
us keep such a spirit out of our school
and college athletics. Let football be
localized. The desire to win has brought
about a perfection of mass play, which
characterizes football OF today, making
the game less attractive.
Advocates Open Game
Mass plays win simply because it is
continuous hammering which necessarily
comes. In order to correct this serious
evil and perhaps save this sport. the
game must be opened up. The men be-
hind the line must be placed at such a
distance and at such intervals that they
cannot form a compact mass or concen-
trate upon any point before the other
team has gotten the charge fairly well
under way.
Football when not abused offers the
best possible training of any American
game. Athletics offer to the student as
valuable returns as any course i'm the cur
riculum. Football teaches bravery and
courage to a marked degree. II develops
grit and power of endurance. The re-
sponsibiiities which are thrown upon a
man demand his best and he rises to the
occasion and realizes his power. Foot
ball at its best gives a man quickness of
thought and action. The ability which a
man gains in this sport to do things With
power and dispatch serves him well in
after life. 1t rests with the college facul-
ties, graduates and undergraduates to de-
termine what the future of football shall
be. Let each man exert his influence to
keep the game within proper bounds. and
to create a strong desire among college
teams TO have nothing but most hon
orable spirit devoted to the highest and
best interest of the sport. Then will the
great game of football be perpetuated."