Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-22
FOR WARD
PASS rs
KNOCKED
SIX MEMBERS or THE RULES
COMMITTEE AGAINST 1T
GRIDIRoN soLoNs THINK FREAK
PLAY Is ABUSED
Wise Ones Say That Throwing the
Oval" Has Ruined the Grand
Old Game Of Straight
Football

NEW YORK, Dec. 20--Until after the
meeting of the intercollegiate association
Of the United States called at the Murray
Hill hotel for December 27. 1t is useless
to speculate on tho possible changes to
the football rules, the abandonment OF
the forward pass and other measures
that have been suggested since the clos
ing Of the playing season last Saturday.
The meeting Of the Intercollegiate assoc
ciation will have an important bearing
on any changes that may be made In
the rules, and until the questions which
will come before that meeting are set
tied there can be no accurate idea formed
of what will be done by the next rules
committee. Seven of the fourteen menu
bers of the rules committee will be named
at that me ting, and the question OF
amalgamation with the old football cous-
mittee must be considered again before
the new football committee can get down
to the consideration OF actual changes
on the playing field.
The attitude Of the larger colleges to-
ward the new association Is occupying
the attention of football legislators at
present far more than the question OF
rules themselves. Pennsylvania and Chi
cago have joined the new association,
and Cornell is likely to enter the fold
any day before the meeting is convened.
Yale is also expected to become a men,
ber of the body.
Before Capt. Palmer Pierce, president
OF the general association, went west he
was very hopeful of inducing Yale to Join
the fold. He felt the disposition at Yale
was much more friendly toward the asso-
citation than at any time since the asso-
citation had been formed. No definite
action was possible, however, because
Walter Camp was abroad when President
Hadley might have cettled the matter
last summer, and President Hadley has
been abroad since Camp returned. The
question must be met this month, and
unless Yale feeling takes new turn
there is reason to believe she will join.
The association has formulated the
amendments that are necessary to bring
about the results that the larger colleges
wish. If those amendments pass the col
leges that were formerly members Of the
old rules committee will secure perfna-
nent representation and the term of all
members of the committee will he in
creased to three years. This will secure
the presence on the committee of the men
who have had the greatest experience in
football legislation and who are respon-
sible for the development of the game.
sonnel of the committee before the new
men appointed have time to acquaint
themselves with the character of the
work and to become really useful.
There is not likely to be more than one
change in the personnel of the present
committee. The seven men who derive
their offices from the association are e.
K. Hall of Dartmouth, DR.. j. A. Babbitt
of Haverford, Prof C. w. Savage of
Oberlin, Charles D. DAILY of West Point,
Prof Dudley of Vanderbilt. DR.. J. L,
Lees Of Nebraska and DIR. Harry L. Will
liams OF Minnesota Every one OF them
has done notable work in furthering the
best interests of the game and some of
them have rendered conspicuous services
or the old members. w. T. Reid. jr..
will be the only one replaced Joshua
Crane takes his place as Harvard's rep
resentative. Walter Camp for Yale.
Prof. Fine for Princeton. John G. Bell
for Penn, Prof. Dennis for Cornell.
Paul Dashiel for Annapolis and Lon
Stagg for Chicago are sure to serve
again.
There is not likely to be any very
radical change in the rules OF play. no
matter what the outcome of the meet
ing this month. There is general sat
isfaction with the general tendency of
the game, though great many minor
changes are again necessary. It is
improbable that the committee will
wish to abandon the forward pass.
though there is strong disposition to
do SO. relying on the onside kick alone
as a relief measure. Walter Camp is
not alone In feeling that the pass has
been abused rather than used. There
are many that believe that the latitude
allowed has occasioned the promiscu-
Gus use of the pass until 1t has become,
except in the hands of a few teams.
anything but an evidence OF skill: until
it has been tried, simply trusting to
the lucky chance OF recovering It, The
possibilities OF its misuse are so many
tn t 1t Is almost certain that measures
will be taken to curb It. and II this
be impossible in the opinion of the new
committee. it is not impossible by any
means that 1t may be abandoned OF
the present committee at least six
members have declared that they Will
vote to abolish 1t II a satisfactory
means of preventing its misuse cannot
be found
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