The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-16
CAMP SPEAKS UP
Yale's Representative Gives
Ideas on Football Changes.
Declares Committee Must Meet
Public Demand.
RULES TO BE UNIFORM.
Ten Yards Should Be Gained in
Three Downs.
Low Tsckling Dangerous and
Should Be Barred.

ter Camp. secretary of the intercoI-
legiate football rules committee, has
deliberately outlined its position on
football reforms as follows, ANNOUNCE
ing that the proposed meeting had
been postponed one week because of
the Harvard representatives failure to
attend the meeting this week:
cit seems too bad that there is to
be further delay in the matter of &C
ton by the rules committee. The
public and the various faculties
throughout the country certainly ex-
pected prompt action by this COM
mittee, and I think the members of
the committee would for the large
part have been ready to act last Sat
Urday, and certainly all expected to be
able to by this week Friday. If Har-
ward, however, asks for further delay
as 1 understand Mr.. Reid does, we
must l., IN courtesy consent.
Ihe rules committee, which was
originally q number Of individuals
asked on account of the football in
terest by the university athletic club
to formulate rules, never did more
than this. No one was obliged to ac-
cept their rules unless they wished to.
1S7D @ANCL lVAAS OLAAdAAus
IF the committee fails to answer
the demand that has been growing for
decided action along two points-the
opening OF the game and the lessen
ing OF accidents and unnecessary
roughness-it surely will not live up to
the very object of its being. Last
year the ten yard rule was proposed,
but was not adopted. When the
original five yard rule was adopted the
cutlery was similar but at that time I
/
than l am now in favor of the ten
yard rule.
Let me make perfectly clear what
1 think about this ten yard rule, as it
seems to me to be important that
every one interested should under
stand the situation.
A team is now required to gain
i've yards in three attempts or forfeit
the ball. The proposition is that they
must gain just double that distance
in the same number of attempts. Mass
tandem and formation plays are, att
the best, figured on to net about six
yards IN the three downs, hence the
fact that team must do one of two
hings-either open 4he game by max
ing longer runs or else kick the ball
means that the heavy hammering
plays defeat themselves.
Argument Is Not New.
1T has been argued that this will
mean simply a kicking game; that if
a ~NeAAAt mas ONl14E Q411AEQAty now III gam
ing its five yards in three downs it
cannot possibly be expected to gain ten
yards in three downs
THAT is just what was argued re-
garding the original flve-yard rule, and
so far as it goes, may be true, but any
one who studies it must see that the
value OF possession of the ball Is thus
greatly lessened and hence a quarter
back viii do just what we want him to
do, namely, take a bigger chance on an
open play because he feels that even
if he does lose the ball on it, his OPP
points, when they secure it, will not
then hammer by short gains of two
yards at a time straight down for half
the field to a touchdown without losing
possession of the ball.
1T is very probable that the enact
ment of this rule would lead to more
kicking, but even that would be- in
the eyes of the public, an Improvement
on the present close plays Still further,
it will make unnecessary roughness less
possible of concealnent.
This brings up the question of the
should be coupled with the ten-yard
rule. Accidents are inseparable from
any game like our modern football, but
we wish to minimize them as much as
possible and to free the game from I'M
necessary roughness.
No TackIing Below Knees.
1T the opening of the game is eff
fected there should be a return to the
old style of tackling, at any rate no
tackling below the knees, and as cOrOl-
larry to this a rule fOrbidding hurdIing.
This means that man when running in
the open viii not be seized by the feet,
as he is at present, and at the same time
forbidS a man who is running from at
tempting to jump over his opponents
head and thus leading to the very kind
of tackIing which is most dangerous.
Upon these points, opening the play
and lessening the accidents and unneces-
sary roughDess, am most earnest.
have reason to believe that, although
the experience of the players here at
New Haven has been such as already
mentioned, TO make them (the players)
feel that the game, even at present is a
very good game, yet the authorities at
responsibility in view of the position
yale has maintained in the game, will
stand absolutely for these points.
II would not be arbitrary on the ex-
act wording of these two rules, but I
am sure we must insist absolutely that
the purpose for Which these two rules
are offered shall be carried out. I feel
that the committee has now reached a
point where its effort is foredOomed to
failure if it does not meet the public
demand on these two points.
Rules Must Be Uniform.
ct do not wish to seem too overinsist-
eut. but how can Yale meet her re-
sponsibility if the committee will not
answer to such a demand as the pres
ent one? It does not do the sport any
which are contrary to public demand.
because that viii merely result in very
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