The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-10-06
TWO POINTS ARE
STILL In DOUBT
Walter Camp, Stage and Williams
Explain the Football
Rules. ..
Journal Special Service.

Journal Special Service.
Chicago, Oct 6.-The football rules were
thoroly gone and interpreted by Walter
Camp of Yale, the father of many Of the
gridiron innovations, before an audience OF
sixty coaches, officials and players of the west,
at the Chicago Beach hotel yesterday. -Four
hours were spent in going over the code and
at the conclusion of the conference: Camp had
made everything clear to the westerners with
q few exceptions.
The meeting referred two rules to the rules
committee and asked for an Interpretation OF
them The doubtful points were those concern
ing the fair catch and taking, men out of the
line for pulling the line men back OF the line
of scrimmage
The rules read: s'That the catcher, while
advancing to the ball signals his intention OF
making fair catch by raising his hand clearly
above his head ETC.. The point w. was l,o ra,sea
made would have the right to interfere with
the catcher before he had actually made the
catch. Camp said that rule was not clear on
that point and asked the meeting to refer the
| question to the rule committee, which will meet
| in the east in about week.
The other argument was concerning the right
| Of team to take the linemen back and use
| them behind the line and then allow them to
return to the line afterwards. The concensus
| of opinion that the linemen would be forced
| to remain back or be taken out of the game
under the new ruling. The rule was not clear
and the conference asked that it also be re-
| ferred to the committee.
! On all points Camps interpretations were
| taken as final and the conference rendered
| vote of thanks to the Yale authority for his
| visit to the west in the Interest OF the new
| rules.
! The leaders in the discussion all men,
bers of the rule committee, Walter Camp
Coach Stage and DR.. Williams Of the University
| of Minnesota.
The meeting was called to order by the
! chairman, DR.. J. E. Raycroft of the University
of Chicago. After a short speech concerning
I the Importance Of the new rules and the neces--
sity Of every coach having clear understand
ing of the same, the chairman introduced Mr..
Camp.
| which led the discussion in the recent confer
ence of the eastern coaches and players. 1t
treated fully Of all the changes and gave the
| meaning of many of the doubtful points in the
| new code The paper was an exhaustive trea-
tise and covered the rules from every angle.
| About one hour was taken up by its reading and
! then the meeting became an Informal discussion,
| with Camp answering the majority of the .ques-
| lions. IT, L-
The conference lasted from 10 until after
} o. clock. and all of the doubtful meanings were
: discussed Most of the discussion was centered
l on the rules concerning the touchback, safety,
i quarterback kick, fair catch and forward pass.
There some difference Of opinion on the
! double umpire system during which Evarts
Wrenn of Harvard advocated the of but one
umpire, while Stagg declared himself in favor
of two.
The committee on officials met after the reg
ular conference and assigned the officials for
the western conference games. The list will
not be made public until the assignments of the
! men have been approved by the colleges con-
cerned. This proviso was adopted on the sug-
gestion of Evarts Wrenn. He held the col
leges should invite the officials and In this
way approve of the choice of the conference
committee. ~
Among those present at the conference were:
, Walter Camp. Yale: A. A. Stage, Chicago; DR..
H. L. Williams, Minnesota; Marc Catln and
J. G. Chalmers, Iowa; Ralph Bardbab and
Ralph Hoagland, Princeton; Phil Allen and
Captain Walter Eckersall, Chicago; Jimmy
; Sheldon Indiana; George Huff and Fred Lowen-
q thai, Illinois; Charles Baird, Michigan; Lieu
tenant H. P. Hackett, West Point; j.. W.
l. Esterline and F.. W. THAN, Purdue; A.. W.
y Chez, West Virginia; J. B. C. Eckstorm, Ohio
Il medic; l.. o. Gillesby, Northwestern; Walter
l. Mccormack Dartmouth; c. H. Fitzpatrick, Wis
/ consin: w. s. Kennedy, Albion; Fred speik'
. ! Chicago