New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-22
FOOTBALLS TIME OF NEED.

The stand which the Harvard overseers have
taken in practically abolshing football until
such time they can pass judgement on me
revised rules the total abolition Of the game at
Columbia for the time being, the position or The
big Nine" IN the West and the action Of the
Union College athletic committee, that the game
be abolished for one year to await developments,
emphasize the importance OF the work which
the American intercollegiate football rules COM
mtttee has before It This body, which foTtu
rately IS well qualified TO save the game If it is
sincere. stands IN q somewhat delicate position
IT q sense II must work out the salvation or
football for while the game Will be played next
season even Il Harvard and some OF the other
universities decide 10 take an extreme stand
there VIII be an undercurent Of feeling against
it. ana many other colleges would be likely TO
follow tbs example OF one Of the leaders IN the
college athletic world. The committee has
full and complete understanding Of the impor-
fa-lce Of The work and every member OF the
committee must realize the compelling and
urgent need for a borough and even radical
revision of the rules. There can be no clubbing
over details, no politics. halfway measures, II
American football IS 10 hold the place II has
occupied IN the last few years. The changes
must be of such sweeping nature that even the
extremists viii be satisfied IN part By sweep
ing 1t is not meant TO imply that the game must
be so altered that ii could not be recognized as
American football II the chief characteristics
cannot be retained 1t would be better TO give II
I'D altogether There IS q demand for just sucn
q strenuous game, as Captain Pierce, OF west
Point so ably brought out in an address at the
conference of universities and colleges e few
weeks ago Changes can be uade, however
which viii so improve the game from an ethical
standpoint that the worst features will be eradi-
Gated. As within T. Reid. Jr-. said short time
ago: 1T is the little bit of holding, the little bit
Of off-side ulay the little bit Of starting before
The ball is put in play. the little bit Of roughtng
that gives one side IN immense advantage over
the other coached TO observe the rules strictly.
L Is as matter of fact, these little things that
caused abuses TO creep in which have now
brought the game TO its present pass These can
be legisIated against-n1st be legislated against,
in fact Dr. Eliot himself has said that It was
not the general roughness Of the game that he
objected TO so strenuously. but the petty deceit
and l,nderhard methods which took the game
out of the realm Of pare, or even respectable,
Sport Dr. EIiots opinion IS likely 10 carry
much weight with the Harvard overseers when
The final decision must be made. and It IS hoped
that the rules committee will be able 10 satisfy
him that the changes, which il will make IN the
rules viii accomplish the ends he has in mind
II is confidently believed that such VIII be the
case in spite Of the Harvard Bulletins" opin-
ion 10 the contrary. Il says editoriaIly on the
subject:
The Bulletin" has no special information on
this subject and no right 10 speak for any one
We think, however, that majority OF the ath-
letiC committee is inclined TO regard as fairly
satisfactory the changes in the rules suggested
fv the committee OF the Athletic Association OF
Harvard Graduates. We feel certain that that
report was by satisfactory 10 the over
seers; that they will demand more radical action
and perhaps viii insist that intercollegiate foot
ball be given up for year at least. SO that
satisfactory experiments may be made 10 deter
mine accurately the effects Of proposed changes
IN the rules President Eliot believes that this
last mentioned step should be taken. No one
can tell how these circumstances will work out
II Is possible that the new intercollegiate foot
ball committee will make changes IN the rules
which viii meet the objections Of the board Of
overseeTs and the athletic committee, and that
intercollegiate football viii be permitted TO go
on at Cambridge. but If 10 make
guess it would be that Harvard would not next
pear play any team representing another col