The Topeka state journal., 1906-01-25
HASTE may MAR.
Football Committee "Makes
Many Good Rules"
But Are Undoubtedly Mixed
With Bad Ones.
CAN MODIFY LATER ON.
Final Result Will Be More Sane
Pastime.
This Is the Way College Students
Look at 1t.
CAN MODIFY LATER ON.

Chicago, Jan. 25.-It is believed by
conservative football men that the
members of the big nine college con-
ference have, in the main, hit the
mark. That the rules laid down by
them bear earmarks of hurried legis-
lation is apparent to all and to this
hurried work is laid, too, the force of
/ several of. the rules given out by them.
1t is generally believed that these viii
be modified by conservative action at
the various universities and that the
final result will be healthy, sound
minded set of resolutions which can
not but help the game immensely.
The rules which the average foot
bali student has expected for several
years are those which limit a varsity
player to three years; conhning the
game to the under graduates; the
charging of an admission of only so
cents; the strong scholarship require
ment; the abonshing of the profess
sional coach who acts for the football
season only, and substituting d trained
member of the faculty such as Coach
Stagg: the abolishing of training trips
preliminary to the opening of the
season and the cutting down of ex-
penses generally in connection with
the sport.
1t is believed that these rules viii
find Endorsement at every school by
the broad undercurrent which has not
been heard from as we'll as the freely
talking group of men,
These rules, which are open for dis
cussion and on which will be based the
fight, are, first. that rule which bars
high school, academy or independent
professional school games. The re-
stricting of the field of action is felt to
be d mistake in that the desire to
make football a game in which every
student who wishes may participate
is overlooked and the restriction curbS
this growth, which is natural. Then,
too. the rule removes a training tool of
the coach or member of the faculty,
as he will be called 1t is giving him
crude conditions to work under
Coupled with limiting the contests
to five intercOl egiate games it appears
more harmful to the spirit of the sport
of football. The cry not long ago was
that Chicago, in her early days, for in
stance, played many more games in a
week than is the occasion now and
that often two teams met twice the
same season. The game then was on a
basis to which the faculty evidently
would like to return it.
Regarding the training table there
will be much discussion. The argu-
ment is that this is the strongest evi-
dence that the game is not for the
general run of students. Its value as
part of the broad system Of teaching
the perfect care of the body, lnvalua-
BILE to men who may sometimes come
to have in charge the care of large
bodies of men, may not be overlooked.
1t is only known that the average foot
ball man would break a students club
with his appetite. Then, of course, any
game which gives a young man big
appetite should be curbed and abolish
ed, it is argued.
That the season shall end the second
week before Thanksgiving day looks
odd to those who know the splendid
fall climate of the west. If the game
is made pure and wholesome by in
tended rules, what is the use of limit
ing it? If it is to be made good
game, let it be played in all the cool
months. This rule looks as if the pro-
/ fessors We're planning for a season un-
der the old rules, it is argued
The conference then puts itself on
record as saying that if the rules do
not suit them they will make rules of
their own. Inasmuch as these men
have had little actual football knOwl-
edge. it is argued that their rules will
doubtless seem rather queer to the
growing boy, down whose throat they
will try to shove them.
One of the most radical changes de-
mauded by the conference conferees. aside
from abolishing the game unless suitable
revision can be made is doing away with
| the professional coach. This is meant to
strike at positions such as have been
given out a Michigan, Wisconsin, North
western, Illinois. and in fact all of the
/ conference colleges with the exception of
y