The Washington times., 1906-09-09
WILL FOOTBALL RULES
HAVE DESIRED EFFECT?
John B. Foster Points Out That Even Coaches Are Not
Sure What They Are Now Doing-First of
Interesting Articles.
By JOHN B. FOSTER.

chance 10 ponder over tn Triss, are
quite agreed IN their ovyH Tn!::as as to
what football viii be ike. bat they be-
lieve that they have legislated success
fully against repeated and monotonous
mass plays. against all kinds of abuses
for transgression Of rules. By providing
stringent legislation for onenses on the
field. and they are also OF opinion that
they have adopted -wo or three pro-
visions which shall result in decidedly
more OF a running game being played.
IL the new game doesn't happen to be
so interesting. as those who have ap-
pealed for a new game anticipated. IT
viii be necessary TO rearrangs the play
ing code another year.
The Basic Principles.
The three principal changes which
have been made provide.
First. Tor ten-yard gain on each
down; second, for one forward pass dur
ing each scrimmage; third, that the ball,
after being kicked and touching the
ground, puts the team on side which
made the kick. In other words that II IS
''anybody's ball" If "a fair catch is not
made.
cal departure from the system which
has been in vogue. The idea OF n ten
yard gain. briefly stated. is 10 eliminate
the persistent mass plays The idea Of
the forward pass IS 20 provide more run
ring in the game. The idea or any
bOdy's ball' after punt. is 10 encour-
age general kicking. which has come 10
be something OF a lost art. All these
HrHa
by the coaches, and from them a game
be evolved which shall take the place
OF that 20 which the American public
has been accustoms =, and against which
the fight Cf the + N o. 1905 was made.
Because OF t.ese changes II is almost
out OF the question TO make a forecast
as 20 the probable strength Of the
elevens which shall compete in the
games scheduled Tor the coming season
1t was possible last year TO anticipate
that Pennsylvania would make a good
showing en- the gridiron, and in the for
cast which was made by the writer IN
September attention was called TO the
fact that the PEN sylvanla eleven was
possessed Of streI 9Th. which should
make 10 formidable throughout the sea-
son. So TT proved tc be. - ...
Further attention was called to the
possibilities IN the Yale eleven, which
had been put together for a fast. rangy
game. and Yale proved It's right to be
considered. respectfully in that respect
None Can Tell.
This season. however. what Yale may
do what Harvard may do. what Penn
sylvania and Cornell and Princeton and
a.
which viii shortly begin football prac-
tice, devolves almost entirely upon their
method Of applying the new rules TO the
players connected with their elevens.
There is. II IS true, at the beginning
OF the season a mutual footing on
which all colleges may stand, as all
encounter the new rules IN common It
need not be exUeated to last long
The first coach 10 realize the posi-
bilities Of the men who ara 10 play
under his instruction will be the first
20 place an eleven I'm the field which
shall exemplify thoroughness and ability
TO win under new conditions.
To figure out a champion in ad-
vance for any eleven this year viii be
quite out OF the question for more rea-
sons than one. Faculty interdiction has
shut down on the games OF the big
Three" in the West. II VIII be I'm
possible 10 take any line on the com
paratlve strength OF the players in that
section. because there will be no mu-
tual exchange Of contests.
Yale. in the East, viii play Harvard
and Princeton, but Harvard has no
game with Pennsylvania this year, and
as neither Yale nor Princeton plays
Pennsylvania, the Quakers are com
paratively isolated for the first time
in seasons. Michigan viii come East
20 play a game with Pennsylvania,
but Michigan has been shut out at
both Chicago and Minnesota, so the
Western basis for comparison is lost.
That the game viii be general In
spite of the crusads made against II
by some Of the cole &c faculties at the
close of the season Of 1895 is certain.
In fast, there are comparatively few
colleges at which It Will not be played
Columbia Is Out.
Columbia Is out OF the sport IN the
East. to the general dislike OF the stu
dents, who feel that so long as Colum-
bia made such distinction against the
old game &c should have been. the spirit
of the college TO attempt to assist IN
developing the new game on improved
lines,
In the West the most important col
Iege to abandon football is Wisconsin.
It Is said the faculty had more objec-
ton to the side issues Of the game than
to the actual sport itself. The creeping
in Of professionalism was distasteful TO
the Wisconsin professors.
The fight against football in the win
ter OF 1900 was aCtuated by different
motives. in some places there was
earnest desire TO remodel the game on
the lines urged by the public. Other
colleges wanted a change in order that
their material might have a better
showing on the gridiuou than had been
possible under the old rules. Stin an
other cause for the criticism Of the
game was the jealousy of petty profes-
sOrs. who unquestlonably were angered
because the football coaches received
more for their services than those who
taught the adult mind how TO shoot In
the proper manner.
II IS not claimed that the game OF
this year is likely TO be perfect by any
means. On the contrary, those who
have been labOring 10 modify II desire
hearty support from all colleges TO as
sist in adjusting any incongruities
which may be manifest after teams
have begun to practice for the coming
season.
No one knows with any positiveness
lust what kind of a game will be the
o11roorna since the change IN the rules,