Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-04
RUGBY RULES
ARE UNPOPULAR
ENGLISH GAME MAY NOT
PROVE SUCCESS
innovation Has Not Taken Hold
Among Eastern Enthusiasts
and American Game
Has Sway
BY Edward L. Moriarty

The question as to Whether or nov
American football Will be eventually
cast aside as a college sport in South
ern California is attracting widespread
attention at the present time and there
are many who believe that the day Is
close at hand when the gridiron Will be
thing of the past.
Although considerably agitated among
the schools and colleges of the south
there appears to be no desire among the
students of the various institutions for
an abandonment Of the game, and prep
arations are even now being made for
next years play
Whether the proposed innovation of
English rugby Will prove popular re-
mains yet to be seen and the first few
try-outs will give an insight as to its
future reception by the American out
of-door world. Occidental college has
consented to give the sport fair trial,
but thus far the men most prominent
In the athletic affairs of the Highland
Park institution do not appear over
enthusiastic concerning the proposed
acceptance of the new game and claim
that next season will find them at the
old gridiron pastime, which has stood
them in ~ood stead during the past
years.
Not Popular in the East
The English rugby has been heralded
as the sport to succeed the national col
lege game of this country and team
of English players recently visited the
United States for the purpose of exhib-
iting the advantages which were held
to exist. The play did not prove popu-
lar in the east, where football has taken
a more consistent hold than ever be-
fore.
But little opposition has been offered
beyond the usual decrying which has
occurred at the fag end of every sea-
son and the spectacular exhibitions
which have resulted from the continual
resort to punting tactics has caused a
greater interest than ever before in the
history of the checker-board sport.
The greatest social event of the mid
die west has occurred when the army
and navy elevens met from year to
year. and Saturdays contest. which
took place in the presence of President
Roosevelt Saturday last, with 10000 or
more spectators gathered about the
gridiron, was no exception to the force
of attraction which has drawn the same
thousands season after season to wit
ness the struggle.
That some change be made which
would do away with the heavy massing
of the present game has been strongly
advocated even by those who would set
themselves against an abolishment of
the sport To this end rules may be en-
forced which will call for more open
play as factor in ground gaining. Ten
yards in three downs was one of the
first remedies suggested, as mass play
would to any extent be impracticable
for sufficient advancement. Five
yards in two downs is described as an
other solution of the question and It
may happen that before next season
rolls around one of these propositions
will stand in the official regulations.
1t is generally conceded and appears
plausible that the game may be rem
n
so far IS roughness is concerned if the
change is necessarily to be made.
Tuesday has been set as the day for
partially initiating the Occidental men
into the new game and the success or
failure as regards the first impression
may have a marked effect on the out
come of the proposed innovation for
Southen California