New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-16
FOOIBALLON PROBATION
HarUard OUerseers Want Radical
Changes or No Game.

Boston Jan I5-FootbaI IS on probation at
Harvard. pending reform in the game that WEI
be acceptable TO the board Of overseers' accord
ing to an Official announcement to-day Inc
dfscontinuance of the game is a result OF u VOC
taken last week at secret meeting OF Ihe oo"4
Of overseers when il was decided that lll'ei
collegiate football at Harvard would not be per-
rnitted until the rules and regulations mao zee"
SO changed and amended as to remove "haI inc
o,,e-reers regard as the evils Of the present
game.
The overseers accepted unanimously the opih-
ions Of special committee that the game Dis d
present played is essentially bad IN every
enect that the method of formation encourages
trickery and foul play, and that the result Is
bad for the morals of the players as Wen as ~.
the bodv. The committee declared that II
changes were to be made no man now a hlelloel
OF the old rules committee should have mana
In If. the committee believing that these persons
are so far committed to the present system tllal
they could not agree to such changes as are az
solutely necessary to produce decent cieai
measurable contest, instead Of the present aFo
ogy for a rough and tumble light
Under the ruling of the overseers footpah -
now in allegiance at the university until the COM
7rittee on the regulation Of athletic sports has
made its report to the board and until the oo0t u
has accepted the new rules and regulations IN
every particular Whether the reformed rules
can be arranged and accepted in time Tor the
RESUMPTION of football next season IS probleIl-
atical. Some determined action by the ooaro Oh
overseers had been anticipated in Harvard alh-
letic circles. but the radical attitude caused
great surprise among students and graduates
The report of the committee follows:
Your committee considers the game s OF T00 Tespect
The method Of formation aosouteII!Xe en- -, Sea
+riclery and foul play. It is very dlfncut 70 see
al that IS done even for the most care1nl ana 40
sharpest eyed umpire. but the Iestte T. Is nearly
impossible TO line up twenty-five Po~eFtu s aq n9+
eressve young opposite each ot4eI az 49, is
have some one lose his self-controi anu 10 "i-' -
wrong. u,., ION, pIav is deliberately
made in order 10 gain some advantage at crllSal
moment the player doing it running me TK % some
coaches and older men persist in teach14g o me
IS 70 oailed. in many adroit and remarkable
So long as the larger universities play me SANS
in this way, it is bound to have Pad eneSt e On
the ne n IN aoes The result IS bad for the
morals as well as for The o fa aud more i'm
rdrtant universities, considering not alone their
own condition but the bad enects outsloe' 10
Tour committee is thoroughly convinced that in
f es5ge IS ecessaTy either to adopt different kind
Of fGo as or Fa eiss rG 81 fa5s the e
If changes are TO be made your committee pc.
eTgS J ne es Committee Should have hand
in them believing that they are SO lar coIninl1leo
such changes as are absolutely Necessary 10 pro
duce a decent, clean, peasuraoie contest llsteao
of the present apology 1or rough-and-tumnie
Football is fine game when properly played d 6ht
to he stopped absolutely and finally
ANY university taking this action VIII later ne
considered as a benefactor by many players ana by
ali lovers Of healthful clean sport and fair play:
There is no desire to crtieiSe any special set OF
PLAYERS: all seem more less TO blame; it is the
system that is wrong. T., :.
Your committee does not feel called on nor Is II
competent TO saw exactly what charge, elther IN
the game rules, should be made. but II does feel
that change is imperative
The action of the overseers was unanimous.
all believing that the game as it is played to-
day was impossible
The report of the special committee and the
action of the overseers was submitted to the
Harvard athletic committee at a meeting last
week. It is understood that the report and
action of the overseers influenced the commit
Zee in adopting the two resolutions, which were
considered -eliro' At nat time. and which Led
10 Harvard Withdrawing from the ola rules
committee and casting in her lot with the con-
ference committee. That the two committees
have now amalgamated does not change the
situation.