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

depended its continuance. It is especially
gratifying to those who regard the game
as the most virile and beneficial Of the
hardy outdoor games that it has come
through the severe test with the most
creditable record. The changes wrought in
the sport have been generally helpful and
there has been scarcely a quarter whence
encomiums have not been showered upon
Il. In a few minor technical details there
has been a disposition to criucise the play.
but with the tenor Of the sport, the spirit
Of the play and the general atmosphere Of
healthful rivalry manifested there has been
no cause for complaint. 1t is not too much
to say that the experimentation with the
rules was regarded in most instances as
highly impractical 1t was felt by those
who had been taught to develop mass for
nation that no other style Of game could
be produced that would be successful. Yet
without them this year there have been
a succession OF contests played that have
been extremely spectacular and pleasing.
To be sure, when evenly matched teams
have met, It has been difficult, II not Inn
possible to advance the ball and the game
became too often an indeterminate kicking
duel that was monotonous and disappoint-
ing to the technical man, but to the spec
tator the game lost nothing on this score.
.
When the reform movement that brought
about the change swept over the college
world last year there were few that
thought the sport could survive. The evils
complained of were legion and seemingly
lneradicablc. If they had been approached
with a spirit Of intolerance they would
nave meant the games discontinuance, but
the sport had influential friends, who ex-
erted every influence to secure a fair trial
for it, and the wisdom of their temperance
has been amply justified The evils were
divided and those Of its moral side dis
tlnguished from it's technical abuses, and
by different treatment each has been
largely corrected. The moral difficulties
are the concern Of the faculties, the tech
nical OF the rules committee. The strict
definition Of foul play and the stringent
regulations against it were further causes
Of satisfaction. They have been disquali-
fications for rough play and frequent pen
alties for fouls in all the games, but the
severity of the punishment has tended 10
discourage this sort Of play more than
any other means could and It is prob
able that another year will see the almost
complete eradication of the evil.
Now, as to the changes in the rules that
affected the game itself. it is natural that
the ten-yard rule. as the most talked-o
change, should be the first subject of COM
ment. The ten-yard rule, carrying with
it the necessity of advancing the ball in
three tries, double the distance of the
previous years, while the most formidable
and certain methods of attack, the mass
plays, were eliminated. brought about the
frequent interchanges of kicks. While these
are desirable beyond a doubt, 1t is possible
too severe limitations have been put
upon ingenuity in attack and that kicks
have been too frequent The effect has
/ been to give a team possessing one player
| of exceptional ability in kicking a pre-
ponderant advantage that rather minimizes
team effort, one of the most important
and desirable factors in the old game
1t is felt by all those who have a wide
practical experience in the game that
something should be done to counterfeit
this tendency, to reduce kicking to its
legitimate place, it's proper relation to the
other details of the game. outside of this
there is no complaint with the game. II
was felt that the two new factors, the
so-called onside kick and the forward pass
would afford the relief that the situation
! demanded. II was also felt that end run
ming, that extremely spectacular and in
| teresting phase of the play that was char.
acteristic of the game fifteen years ago
would be stimulated and revived. Expert.
ence has shown, however, that between
! teams of equal strength end running al
ways has been and always will be i'm
| possible until some means of limiting the
end defense is found, so that only the new
tangled devices proved practicable Botf
! of these were attended by too much un
certainty and hedged about by too many
restrictions to prove of sufficient force Il
relieving the situation. The onside kicl
lost the ball as often as 1t gained auC
served to emphasize and put a premium
on the chances of misplays. Poor playing
rather than good determined the outcom,
OF too many games, though, taken all II
all there is no one who would wish t
withdraw the onside kick rule.
AS to forward passes the fact that Their
were so many ways in which fouls could b.
committed TO vitiate their good effects pre-