Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-10-01
FIRST TRIAL OF NEW RULES
Nebraska University's First Shy at New
DOT 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 Sept. 30,-(Special)-
Nebraska unversitys first shy at the new
foot ball rules. the figures considered, was
a stunning success. To run up fifty-siN
points on 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 a safe margin, but the weight question,
as matter of fact. cut but little figure
in Nebraska's harvest of points. The Corn
huskers displayed speed and quality OF
team play which completely smothered
Hastings, and II 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 whole, was more than
satisfactory to Foster. who had not an
ticipated so many 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
realises that the Cornhuskers had the
Hastings collegians outclassed and also
that 1t is too early as yet to form any well
y
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 in our first
game was hurt or forced to retire during
its progress because of injuries. This fact
however. does not imply in any sense that
game as before My personal opinion
is that most Of the severe injuries in the
do not anticipate any material change in
jur ri s Foot bali Is not designed to to be-
strong. sturdy young men, who play the
game for love Of the sport and who arc
willing to take a chance at a sprain or a
wrench. Rule tinkerlng, 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 all sports, and the line must be drawn
on the tinkering or the game will he ruined
Some OF the changes are radical but
on the whole, ! think the new game Is
destined to prove even more popular than
sition that the gare has been opened up;
the forward pass is an innovation and
one OF the showiest plays ever attempted
on the gridiron. The monotonous system
of line plungng has been checked. forcing
teams to resort with greater frequency
successful. which features the spectacu-
lar and popularizes the game with specta-
tors.
Forward Pass Popular.
In our first game Nebraska tried the
forward pass ten times. More than half
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 II
work. and l am ready to say right now
the rulemakers adopted IL,
The offense has been weakened by the
rule BUT he This Safa q has Been
overcome in part by the provision per.
hitting the center to pass the ball direct
gains in Saturdays game were due to the
Center swapping the ball quickly to one
OF the backs ioilowl,ng wnich tne s aasasbb
The winning foot ball team this year
has q speedy pair of ends and quarter.
back. The possession OF such trio "
The line mn must G,c be sS SSm spssSa
and able to charge re the the SSUosng Hs
also Also fast on the offense. such team
would play spectacular foot ball, and Us
chief strength necessarily would be In the
open and Il Is a ong,estabiished truisn
In foot bali that the average spectator
prefers TO De tnrllleu anu - uiScheiShAON
unless he undergoes that sensation
IL is much too early TO pass a well
founded criticism on the new rules, but
right now / am willing 10 be quoted on
the prediction that the new game viii
prove a success.
Three Good Players Missing.
Despite the overwhelming victory scored
nv the Cornhuskers In their initial contest,
Coach Foster has encountered discourage
ments He had counted upon making use
of Wenstrand guard, and Burns,
tackle. both of them huskies, in the Me-
braska line, westrand reported for prac-
tice last week. but was suddenly tripped
up by a condition in his studies barring
him as a possibility for foot ball. Burns
is so, slow in returning TO school that
Foster has little hope OF the big tackle
getting into condition for the hard games
with Minnesota, Chicago and Kansas Even
Taylor. the giant negro guard, has been
snagged by faculty opposition and was