The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-08
some new RULES
Coach Stage Advocates Improve
ments i'm Football.
The Vests Representative OBJ
jects to Deep Rooted Changes.
MINOR ALTERATIONS.
Thinks for OneThing ThatPres-
ent Game Is Too Short.
Better to Use Old Rules and
Tackle Below Knees.

Chicago, Dec. S.-Coach A. A. Stage.
representative of the west on the
American football rules committee,
will favor a number of changes in
new football when he attends the
annual meeting of the all-powerfui
gridiron body in New York during the
holidays.
The maroon director announced be-
fore his departure for his winter va
cation that he would propose or sup
port some six notifications in the 1906
rules at the eastern gathering, the
suggestions being intended not as a
blow at the new" game but as
remedy for minor flaws discovered
during the tryout season just finished.
Coach Stage left for Mudlavia, IND,
where he will take trea tment for his
rheumatism, intending TO travel east
and south later, returning in February
or March. Previous to his goodbye
to the Midway he announced that he
had scheduled two indoor track meets
with Michigan for this winter. one to
be held at Bartlett gymnasium and the
other at Ann Arbor. He will occupy
q part of his time while away in fgur-
ing out more dope" on tie playing
rules. sI6
Opposes Radical Changes.
The changes recommended by 1Stagg.
if accepted by the committee, are
aimed to affect the game only at the
surface. The larger principles of the
new rules will not be touched. The
maroon professor is opposed to the
most radical changes which have been
offered, but agrees that several of the
new statutes must be struck out.
Following are the changes which
he will favor;
In case of a forward pass touching
the ground before being touched by
player, allow the attacking team to
retain the ball with a f1fteen-yard pen
atty instead of handing it over at the
point where it was passed.
Allow tackling below the knees.
Increase the time of halves from
thirty to thirty-five minutes
Allow the backs to pass the ball for
ward without first taking a position
five yards out from the center.
Instruct the head linesman to keep
the yard sticks three yards out from
the side lines.
Make a more definite rule in regard
to protecting the player catching
Three Downs Are Enough.
Coach Stages opinions in regard to
several other proposed changes are
likewise clear. Following are the
changes to which he will stand op-
increasing the number of downs to
Allowing two forward passes to
each Scrimmage.
Allowing the 1inemen to be drawn
back five yards or less to help out the
offense.
Substituting the zone umpire" sys-
tenn entirely instead of the present
lone or two system
The Midway director believes these
notifications will be necessary in view
Of the failure of coaches in general to
take I'D with the new game. He be-
lieves that they will induce all coaches
to take up with the new game, a con-
dition that was noticeably lacking in
the old-fashioned tactics used by the
majority of them this fall
Il want to keep the new game as
near intact as possible" said the
coach. but I am convinced that a
mum Der OF small changes must be
made. For instance. if a fifteen-yard
penalty is given a side failing to nego-
tiate a forward pass, the penalty will
not be so great as giving the ball to
the other side, and so the pass will be
used oftener. The same will be true if
a forward pass can be made directly
from position.
Present Geme Too Short
There IS Just as much or more
chance Of injury from tackling above
the knees as below the knees. and it
IS hard to differentiate between the
two. It would be better to use the old
rules here and allow tackling below
the knees. I also think we should
have thirty-fve-m minute halves as we
did before this season."