The Washington herald., 1907-11-10
By FOSTER ROCKWELL,

BY FOSTER ROCKWELL,
Former Yale playg and coach.
/ The echoes Of constant rUmbling on the
so-called new football as exemplifed by
the years code OF rules are beginning 10
/ be heard in many quarters. Formerly a
/ forward pass crossing the line five yards
from center, or in the event OF the pass
hitting the ground without being touched
by some player. entaned the surrender OF
/ the ball in the spot where the pass was
made The loss involved by a possible
failure Of this kind constrained the quar-
ter back 10 attempt the play only in the
center OF the field or in his own territory.
/ The forward pass play hemmed about
| by these restrictions was used sparingly.
I but net with universal approval So the
( rule committee argued that a play sue
cessful under restrictions would be equal
| ~ popular freely licensed. Is this not
somewhat OF a 1aUaciOUs argument?
/ Doubtless they could not see that the
limitations placed on the play last season
curtailed its use and thereby made il
doubly effective when employed. The
/ limitations were such that each attempt
bespoke an immense amount Of courage.
Recklessness seems now TO take the
place Of the daring Of last year. For now
an unsuccessful pass on first or second
down only means loss Of fifteen yards.
a comparatively insignificant penalty.
| Because teams show such willingness TO
take a chance on this play anywhere in
I the field a certain hit-or-miss complexion
now characterlzes football. Hence the
wisdom of this years change IN rules is
I being questioned, while the criticism
rightly focuses on the lack Of restrictions
on the forward pass.
Review of Games.
To ascertain the trend OF this years
football in the effort 10 foreteu its prob
/ able success or failure. a general review
Of the seasons games should prove some
what Illuminating
7 First, the salient feature Of the games
50 far is the undeT endabIe scoring power
I in evidence. And The question arises 10
what can we attribute the marked differ
ence in the playing form Of the same
7 team on two successive Saturdays? Per
/ haps the poor physical condition is re-
sponsible. Granted that every team has
a period when progress and development
are at a standsuIl. stiIl at the outside
I this slump lasts but two weeks. All signs
I Of brilliancy are absent during this time
/ Now. II a team can sandwich IN between
two games. remarkable for the dearth Of
team play and the absence Of cohesive ef-
fort. a game notable for IT'S drive. power,
and fine results. IL means the poor show
ing in one Of these games. az least,
springs from something besides poor ply
steal condition.
An analysis Of the games played shows
cOnvincingly that one week team meets
with success in all attempts at new foot
ball. only 20 play the following Saturday
and Tail 70 negotiate successfully a for
ward pass or 70 pick up an on-side kick.
Instances Of this kind are numerous.
Princeton regained neither a forward
pass nor an on-side kick in the Cornell
game, but against the Indians every new
play tried proved successful Cornell lost
more than 100 yards trying 10 make a
successful forward pass in the Penn State
game, only 10 succeed az every ny in the
Z Princeton game a week later.
CIOaked in Uncertainty.
The new rules have cloaled football in
a garment Of uncertainty. This tendency
/ does not seem for the best Even q poor
/ policy. If adhere TO zeaIously. is better
/ than vaciIlatng one And the football
Z players even prefer these present rules
20 the risk OF further damage from the
blue crayon in the hands Of the rules
committee In fact. many would Ike 70
see the rules committee disband for three
years and give the new rules a proper
try-0ut
Every coach realizes that the success
Of his team depends on rightly proper
,uoning new and old plays. The lesson
CLEANED from games played offer the
best measure 10 estimate the efficiency OF
these plays One variety without the
other spells sure defeat. The Carlisle
Indians is an example OF a team with but
one style of attack. The test must be one
IN which a clever general can alternate
new plays with the Old variety proper
tiOninE them in such way as 20 keep
the opponents defense wide and then
gaining ground with old style methods.
When the defense concentrates, The best
plan is 10 attempt a quick forward pass
or on-side kick thereby constantly be-
wildering the opponents. No offense %
quickly brings about The general r0ut OF
opponents as that in which an attack, be-
sides making short gains. myStifies and
piUnges them in a state OF mental worry.
II K was possible IN the past TO out
vancouver and OutgeneraI your antag-
onists. il looks 10 be doubly true now.
Should this be SO. il is the most en-
couraging sign in the football horizon. II
superior geuerdlship can win the big
games the abnormal conditions of mid
season viii have been forgotten and the
revised games stand pat. II the big
games. as many fear. are TO be won on
fiukes. then the downfall OF the new foot
ball is threatened. But optimism should
rule in the football realm. and here, as
in all things. We Ike to beIieve the best
is yet 10 be-