Omaha daily bee., 1906-10-02
FIRST @aslAL or NEW RULES
Nebraska University's First Shy at New
Foot Ball Game a Success.
FORWARD PASS WILL PROVE POPULAR
Coach Foster Much Pleased with
Result of First Game-Three
Strong Players Missing
from Lineup.

LINCOLN, Neb., Oct. 1.-(Special.)-
Nebraska universitys frst say at the new
foot ball rules, the figures considered, was
a stunning success To run up ffty-six
points an opponent in short halves OF
twenty minutes was such an unexpected
achievement that Coach Foster and the
Nebraska rooters were highly elated. The
Cornhuskers had Hastings college out
weighed in last Saturdays initial contest
by safe margin, but the weight question.
as a matter of fact, cut but little figure
in Nebraskas harvest of points. The Corn
huskers displayed speed and a quality OF
team play which completely smothered
Hastings and it is these attributes which
cause most of Fosters elation
Crudities of play, due to inexperience in
| the new rules and to lack of practice. were
apparent but the performance of the
Cornhuskers, as a whole, was more than
satisfactory to Foster. who had not an
| ticlpated so many as thirty points and
! therefore feels some pride In the knowl-
| edge that none of the big eastern teams
the same day was able to pile up a score
even approaching that made by Nebraska.
| Foster. however. is not exultant for he
realizes that the Cornhuslxers had the
Hastings collegians outclassed and also
| that il is too early as vet 10 form any well
| defined opinion concerning the new rules
and whether or not they are TO accomplish
all that was desired by the committee
which framed them.
Foster Pleased with New Rules
| In discussing Nebraska's initial try of
the new rules Foster said.
| Not a man on either team i'm our first
+, game was hurt or forced TO retire during
us progress because of injuries. This fact,
| however, does not imply in any sense that
I n he
/ a game as before. My personal opinion
is that most of the severe Injuries in the
! DO not anticipate any material change in
: the situation so far as pertains to In
jur;es Foot bali is not designed to be,
and never was. parior game. It is for
| strong, sturdy young men. who play the
| game for love OF the sport and who are
willing TO take a chance at a sprain or a
wrench. Rule tinkering. in my judgment,
| which would completely eliminate the dan
| ger of injuries, would so revolutionize foot
| The American public long ago gave evil
dence that foot ball was the most popular
OF an sports; and the line must be drawn
on the tinkerng or the game will be ruined.
Some Of the changes are radical but
! on the whole, l think the new game II
destined to prove even more popular than
ever. There Is no gainsaying the propo-
sition that the game has been opened up;
the forward pass is an. innovation and
one OF the showiest plays ever attempted
Of line plunging has been checked. forcinp
s e5d 70 pubs greater tTssggsey
| successful, which features the spectacu-
lar and popularizes the game with specta-
/ tors. -
Forward Pass Popular.
In our frst game Nebraska tried the
| forward pass ten times. More than. hall
! of these resulted IN substantial gains
| while once a touchdown resulted. The
| crowd was IN an uproar whenever we at
tempted the forward pass and made Il
| work, and I am ready 10 say right now
that this play was happy thought Wher
the Tulemakers adopted It,
The olfense has been weakened by the
rule t0rbidding the pulling back Of amy Of
overcome In part by the provision per
4 hitting the center 10 pass the hall direct
| to one of the backs. Many of our best
gains in Saturdays game were dpe 70 the
| center swapping the ball quickly to ont
of the backs. following whteh. the latter