The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-01-11
FOOTBALL RECOMMENDATIONS.
Harvard Committee CIeverIy Dodge
the Real Issue

Boston, Jan. 1.-THE special football
committee appointed by the athletic as
ISOLATION of Harvard graduates to con-
slider the game of football and to rec
ommend such changes as are deemed
necessary for the ethical and practical
benefit OF the game, have submitted the.
following report to J. J. Storrow, presi-
dent of the association. The reDOrt will
be placed before the Harvard athletic
committee this evening at Cambridge. 1t
is expected that the Harvard athletic
committee will authorize Coach Reid to
present the views herewith contained as
those which Harvard holds officially re-
garding football, at the meeting of the
football rules committee, which will be
held in New York Friday night.
The adoption of these changes in the
rules would revolutionize football much
more than a casual glance at them
would suggest. The committee report
follows:
To Athletic Association of Harvard
Graduates, James J. Storrow, Esq,
President:
The committee appointed by your body
to consider the present game of football
has collected a great number of oral and
written opinions and suggestions from
expert players and those interested in
the game, has held many protracted
meetings and has arrived at the follow
ing conclusions:
l. That the game possesses too many
excellent features to be abandoned.
2 That it should be radically modified.
Your committee believes that the pres
ent rules are neither explicit nor strict
ly and courageOusly enforced; and that
the present game offers abundant OppOr-
tunity for brutality and cheating and
makes both profitable risks to take.
Your committee believes that the
game should be made more open and
visible. The following suggestions by
your committee naturally group them
selves under two heads:
A. The conduct of the game; and,
B. Technical changes in the playing
rules Under A the committee recon-
mends:
/. That in addition to the present Off
Gals there should be a second umpire to
watch the conduct of the players.
2 That the head linesman shall keep
such a position on the field as will best
enable him to watch offside play, and
that it shall be his special duty to watch
for and penaIize offside play and illegal
formations.
2. That any player shall be instantly
DISQUALIFIED by either umpire, by referee
or by head lineSman for any act of bru-
tally roughness or insulting talk to op-
ponents or officials.
That a player twice disqualified in
any one season shall not be permitted
to play again for one year from the
date of his second disqualification.
3 That rule 81, section B, as publish
ed in the rules book for 1905 shall be re-
vised and amplified, as follows: THE
players of the side that has possession
! of the ball shall not hold, block or 9TH
J erwise obstruct the opponents except
with the body; but the player running
with the ball may ward off an opponent
with the hand
Z That any interference with the
! player behind the line OF scrlmmage az
ter he has kicked the pail shall be pun
ished with immediate disqualification.
& That a competent body of officials
shall be selected in advance of the play
| ing season.
q That in general, all rules shall be
strictly interpreted and enforced.
Your committee believes that such
changes as are suggested above are es-
sentiaI to the preservation of the game.