Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-12-09

from Spectators standpoint and consid-
erably less dangerous. The reports OF ac-
cidents have been icssened by over one
half, and all who attended games this fan
will attest the betterment from a spec
tatore standpoint. Last year the teams
we're constantly plunging the center and
TO man not thoroughly posted on the
game or acquainted with the teams a large
part Of the interest was lacking. But this
year, with the ten-yard rule forcing the
ball 10 be in the air most OF the time, the
game has been vastly more interesting
to the thousands who line the sides OF the
gridiron. The kicking feature has not
been alone IN making the plays more APP
parent but also the forward pass the
crisscrosses and the double and triple
passes have all been made I'm the open sight
OF the spectators, who were able at ali
times TO see what was going on. The new
game also requires more skill on the part
Of the plays, for more men handle the
ball. Under the old rules lively men were
needed back Of the line to carry the ball,
and a few line men were taught the same
game, but green men could be put in the
line and taught to block off the opponents
until the back field men could get of with
the ball. Now. to compete with any de-
gree OF success with a good team the en-
tire eleven must be skilled in handling the
ball, which is no easy task. for the ball
is a clumsy thing to handle and requires
days OF training. The teams with the
ends and backs most skilled in catching
punts and passing the ball had an immense
advantage this year.
.
bo11
will soon come up for discussion at tn
meeting Of the rules committee. No doubt
the Nebraska team was not we'll trained
physically this fall, because no strict OBJ
servance Of training rules was enforced
Michael Sheridan, who Is perhaps the best
all-round athlete in the world or who
ever donned a spiked shoe. has been quoted
as saying that he never found 1t necessary
to train when taking part in track events.
Another worlds champion, William Sher-
ring, takes an entirely different view Of
the case. He won the Marathon at Athens
last year and says: Hard and continu-
Gus work is the way we prepare for long
road runs up around our way. One day
/ it's ten-mile run; the next fifteen miles
at slower clip; then twenty-five miles
/ walking, then back to the run of ten miles
/ again" That's the way, according to the
man who dashed the Greeks Marathon
| hopes, the Canadian runners fit themselves
to run the great twenty -fve-mile races
which have excited the admiration of the
athletic world. President Jesse Of the
! University of Missouri says that training
! is the whole thing and that trained ath-
lete with plenty of room for the expansion
Of his lungs will not be hurt so easily.
What the general rules committee will
do with the rules is an open question
which time will have to settle. The rules
have been given a good try-oUt and fount
quite an Improvement. After the Army.
Navy game last Saturday a meeting Of
the prominent foot ball men who were
present at the game was held, among whom
were Walter Camp. Prof. Dennis Johr
Campbell, Carl Williams, Paul Dashlel
John B. Pine and w. H. Corbin. They
adopted several suggestions for changes
which will be sent to the general foot bal
rules committee. They advocate a fifteen
yard penalty instead of the loss of the
ball when a forward pass hits the gound
A majority favored the abolition of tn,
Vineyard rule from center in the forward
Favored allowing two forward passes ii
one sCrimmage If the field did not cross the
line of scrlmmage. 3 ~. t.
Opposed to increasing the number o.
downs in ten yards.
Favored giving linemen the privilege o
exchanging with the backs, provided tina
| such a shift will not produce mass play 3
Favored the abolition Of the rule pro
hibting tackling below the knees.
Favored keeping the Ave men on the sidt
! line back three yards from the-gFidiron.
Favored increasing the time of play Il
thirty hve-minute halves and that time o.
taken out for distance penalties.
Favored aboishing the second umpires
] Favored clauses clarifying under wha
conditions a man could recover the forward
pass.
Favored a ruling definitely protecting tn
man catching a punt.
Voted that in further legislation III
referee be given control Of the condition
and progress of the ball and the umpir
the players.
With the finish OF the foot ball season
the athletic managers Of the universitie
OF the west are looking around TO arrang
games fer next year. Several change
have been made by the western conferenc
which look to the betterment of the game
One Of these seems to contemplate NOR
games for next fall and heavier schedule
for each team. Director Stage Of Chicag