New-York tribune., 1905-12-13
FOR REFORM IN FOOTBALL.
Committee Ready to act, and Rddi-
cal Changes Assured.

When the football rules committee meets IN
philadelphia on Friday there is every reason to
believe that il will be prepared to act Walter
cam. said in a dispatch from New-Haven yes
,erday that the changes suggested on Saturday
would probably be adopted in the main. Further
,ban that it is said on good authority that the
various members Of the committee VIII go into
conference as the accredited representatives of
the various colleges they represent. If such is
the case. whatever action is taken will have a
--ore far reaching effect and render unnecessary
to some extent the proposed action Of the college
conference some days ago to call a meeting Of
all colleges interested for the purpose of ap-
rointinr a general rules committee to revise and
reform the game
The committee will go into executive session
Friday evening. and in all probability 1t will be
late Saturday night il then, before its labors
are completed. 1t is no easy task to so modify
tbe rules as 70 stamp out the evils and make
the sport safer while retaining the tactical beau
ties and the essential features of the game
7rbich now ranks as the most popular Of all
college sports
The meeting last Saturday was for the pur
pose Of exchanging views as to the best methods
for reform, and the committee unit in
that changes and notifications were necessary.
Something definite was accomplished. moreover,
as the committee. by a resolution unanimously
adopted, stands committed TO the opening up
OF the game. the lessening of brutality, the
placing Of the appointment of officials in CEN
traI body and rendering an evasion of the rules
Improbable.
Il now remains to legislate and amend the
rules that the reforms can be accomplished in
the best and easiest way, by eliminating far
as possible the almost continual use of mass
plays as a means of advancing the ball. the
7icI,o ala
heap and the uncaIled for and unnecessary
roughness against which both the friends and
enemies of the sport have cried out. This ac-
complished, 1t remains for the officials properly
to interpret and enforce the rules, and for the
college authorities and coaches and captain Of
The team to develop the ethical side of the game
50 that brutality and unsportsmanIike methods
shall be duly punished and treated with the
same contempt and scorn as cheating a cards.
''doctoring' a score at golf or spiking in base
ball.
When the rules committee adjourned last Sat
urday it for the purpose Of allowing its
members to confer with their constituents get
il possible credentials from the colleges they
represent, to consider the various suggestions
made and to wait for the report of the Har-
ward committee appointed for the purpose Of de-
Gliding and defining Harvard's position and
suggestions for reform. The Harvard repre-
sentative was the only one who did not offer
any specific recommendations 1t will he renem-
bered, but Reed. the head coach of the eleven,
said enough to indicate that suggestions offered
by Harvard would be If anything of an even
more radical nature than those submitted at
the meeting.
In talking with a number of men prominent
in the football world IT seemed TO be the gen
eral opinion that the rules would be amended
or changed in al least six particulars:
Frst-By increasing the distance necessary to
a first down from five to eight yards
Secondly permitting the forward pass back
of the scrimmage line
Thirdly prohibiting tackling below the knee
Fourth-By so weakening the defense that
end and a general opening Of the play
would be possible
Filthy imposing heavier penalties for un-
necessary roughness and foul play even TO the
disqualification Of player for a certain time
without substitution.
Sixth-The appointment of officials by a CEN
tral body
other innovations may be considered among
them the of two umpfres instead of one
and dual set Of rules-one for colleges and
one for schools. The two last named seem
hardly essential in the opinion Of some experts.
II is pointed out that the game should be en-
tirey abolished at the schools or else continued
without the consequent confusion which two
sets Of rules would induce. Princeton, Annap-
oils and Chicago openly favored two umpires in
the suggestion offered Saturday but Pennsylva-
MIA and Yale opposed it on the ground of it
being unnecessary with more open game and
the division Of responsibility. Harvard's and
CoTnells position on the subject was not eX-
pressed.
Of course. some doubt because Of Harvard's IN
declared position, and Cornelrs rather indefinite
stand. Yale Princeton, Pennsylvania Chicago
and Annapolis formally declared in favor OF IN
creasing the distance for q first down without
agreeing as to the exact method.
Chicago. Pennsylvania and Annapolis are in
favor of the forward pass behind the scrmmage
line with Cornell and Harvard likely to agree.
Princeton, Cornell Chicago, AnnapoLs ana
fence by some method and the committee IS
likely TO be unit in this respect, while the
imposing of heavier penalties for undue rough
ness and the appointment of officials by CEN
tTal body are already agreed to.