Evening journal., 1905-12-09
THE WORLD OF SPORT
FOOTBALL SITUATION
A Wilmington Man Makes Some Clever
Suggestions Relative to Changes.
Wilmington. Dol, Dec. q

Wilmington, Del, Dec. Q.
sporting Editor Evening Journals
Seeing that your paper is the only cne
in the state that is catering to the sport
loving public my article ON football may
please some of them and 1 would be
glad if you should see nt TO publish IL.
The National Football Rules Committee
meets IA Philadelphia today to discuss
probable changes of the rules relative to
the elimination OF the dangerous features
of the game. No doubt they WHY be de-
luged with suggestions of the most radi-
cal nature. and also. no doubt, they will
not at this time adopt amy. No change OF
the rules in itself can In amy way relieve
the unnecessary roughness OF play, be-
cause IL is beyond the power of rules to
control the individual conduct OF the
player.
II it is possible to have clean and heal
thy football. it will not be through the
medium of changed rules alone Back of
the rules Is the spirit of craftsmanship
either for sports sake which is the ideal
spirit, or for winning at any cost which
Is the mountain TO be removed. and for
which the paid coach is entirely rospon-
sible To maintain his reputation as a sue
cessful coach he must develope winning
team, and he unscrupulously uses every
means IN his power TO attain this end.
Through him the novice learns all tho
dirty contemplate tricks OF quietly
putting the opposition out of the game"
and through him very often the efforts
of AN entire team are concentrated on an
individual player with the one object of
disabling him. Some years ago promi-
nent coach. during the intermission, said
TO a big guard through whom many large
gains had been made:
you must stop up that hole next half"
The guard repllod Jones" (the opposing
guard. kicks my shlns when he
charges" TO which the coach remarked:
what was the solar picks blow invented
forY' The next half Jones was carried
to the side lines and the hole was stop
ped.
The coach with the "wln at any cost"
spirits alone responsible for unnoces-
sary roughncss. Admitting that hard
GUS and dangerous game, 1t is stin more
true that the elimination of instructed
violence and the Installing into the in-
divdual player the principle of being a
gentleman no matter how painful" will
solve at least onc-half of the problem.
Ono-half of the remaining half is depen-
dent on the officials and the quarter re-
manning is the hazard IN the game with
out which it would lose It's interest both
with player and spectator
Unfortunately oompetant and fearless
officials are scarce rho hack of stand
ard Interpretation of the rules compels
each Official to interpret for himself. lhs
should be rcmedled. YIN onelals like
Edwards OF Princeton clean football
would be assured: but Of even such a
competant umpire the watching for the
ofsido plays, holding and ungentlcmaniy
play OF twenty-five players Is asi1ing too
much. An assistant umpire Is greatly
needed and part Of the duties now im-
posed on the umpire should be assigned
10 him.
No matter what changes arc made IN
the playing rules, IL is much more inn
portant that the spirit of honorable
sportsmanship be instillod INTO the play
crs
Tho commercial feature OF the game
with its abuses is another interesting
subject which may be considered later.
Full Back"