New-York tribune., 1906-10-22
ON COLLEGE GRIDIR0NS
Ten-Ydrd Rule Neutrdlises Posses
sion of the Ball.

| out once on Saturday. under conditions
| which furnished better test than has been pos
| slole heretofore. The forward pass and the n
| side kick gained new advocates these plays
| We're worked to good advantage for long IL not
| consistent games by those teams which, realiz-
| ing the possibilities of the open game, have been
| coached to make full of1them. The 10
| yard rule. however, came in for more unfavor-
| able criticism by those who have maintained
| from the first that the distance was too much to
be gained IN three downs, unless a constant
kicking game is to be resorted to. Possession OF
| the ball has always been important feature of
American college football, but with two elevens
fairly evenly matched 1t is difficult matter to
consistently gain the necessary distance and so
Keep possession. This becomes a particular
| hardship inside the 25-yard line, where kicking.
unless 1t be a try for goal. has rarely been re-
sorted to, and where possession of the ball Is
necessary for scoring purposes. In many games
| since the season opened, when teams Of about
equal strength met, the ball has changed hands
so often because Of the necessity to punt on the
second down that scoring absolutely impos-
sibie except by some brilliant through a
proKen held or some lucky chance made possible
py a rumble On October IS six games ended in
a to score. and on Saturday the scoring was
ngnt when one of the opposing teams was not
outcIassed. 1t begins TO look II a modffca-
tfon Of the 10-yard rule would improve the new
code without the danger of allowing the game to
fall back into the evil ways which constant line
Puck1ng and mass plays brought 1t to year ago.
George D. Robins an old Wesleyan player
d
he was graduated for coaching purposes. and Is
largely instrumental in building up one of the
strongest school elevens in the country at Hill
School. Pottstown. Penn, says that the expert
ence of four weeks has shown that possession of
the ball means comparatively little and If the
goal line is not threatened it is better to play
defensive game and wait for chance to score
on blocked kick. tumble or dashing run. In
speaking Of the revised rules as q whole he
says
The various rules pertaining to the details Of
line play have produced no change in the ap-
pearance of the lineup. and even the existence
Of the neutral zone between opposing lines Is not
noticed except by those near the play. The rule
against running linemen with the ball from
behind the line has not necessarily done away
with mass play, for at least of the backs
is chosen for his weight and ability to break
the line. while by playing both ends on the
side an extra man be used in line plunges
The great change has been brought about by the
ten-yard rule. Formerly the possession Of the
ball the matter Of chief moment as 1t was
frequently possible even against a strong op-
ponent to carry the ball fifty or sixty yards
for touchdown This cannot be done under
this years rules by line bucking, and the more
open style for gaining|. e., forward passes and
quarterback kicks-can never be relied on for
sure and consistent gains. since it affords the
opponents nearly equal opportunity for secur-
ing the ball.
In important contests. then, good kicker and
a pair of fast ends absolutely necessary to
keep ones own goal line from danger. and make
scoring possible from blocked kicks muffed
punts and field goals. The forward pass, while
affording plenty of opportunity for open play,
has been so carefully guarded by giving the op
ponents the ball on the spot where the ball was
passed in case the ball touches the ground before
the end can get It, that teams will use 1t very
little when the ball is in their territory.
In important games, then, we may expect to
with and then end run. and punting
the third down whenever there is any doubt
about gaining the required distance. When in
the opponents territory may quarterback
kicks for the backs to get, long passes to the
covered by any after the ball strikes the
ground and both teams following the ball closely
In the hope of chance 10 score in case Of any
mistake made by the adversary.
The play under the rules IS somewhat
faster than formerly, and the rule about taking
out time seems to work well. Heavy men for
the line are as necessary as ever, for to meet
possible long pass or quarterback kick the
defensive half must play much wider and fur
ther back than formerly, thus leaving the line to
meet line plays unsupported.
The rule about outside kicks presents a great
opportunity for accidents for, unless some one
tries for g. fair catch. there is bound to be q
wild scramble for the ball. in which there Is
more danger than in any mass play. The for
ward pass, too, presents some dangerous ele- |
as he runs. and in that position hard tackle !
IS likely to result in serious injury. On the !
whole. however the game seems freer from la |
bility to injury than formerly.
The games on Saturday showed clearly that |
the teams we'll coached IN the plays made pos
siole by the revised rules have distinct advap-
tage over those which are depending to a large |
extent the old formations and methods in |
advancing the ball. Harvard Princeton and |
Cornell made free of trick plays and COM
binations which so mystifed their opponents |
that big scores were run up in short playing |
periods. Yale and Pennsylvania had worthy op- |
ponents, and small the result the |
games being interesting contests in
From now the leading elevens
will find more trouble in running up big totals
as the so-called practice games are almost over
and the real championship struggle must begin.
There Will be no midweek games of any i'm
portance from now on, but the contests next Sat
urday will furnish the best sport provided so
far this season. with the Princeton Cornell game
at the Polo Grounds the leading feature.
Comparative scores misleading at best but
rarely. II ever. have the dope" fends of foot
ball found themselves In such maze as when
they began to try to figure out, after Saturdays
games, the relative strength of those teams
which have met on the gridiron this year. How
to reconcile some Of the scores is the puzzle
Yale beat the Springfield Training School eleven
on October 10. II to O. Harvard defeated the
same team Saturday a. to o. Bowdoin held
Harvard to a 10 to score on October g. while
Cornell swamped the Maine colegians on satur-
day by 72 to 0. On this line Harvard is stronger
than Yale. and Cornell towers over Harvard.