The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1907-12-10
FORWARD PASS NOT
FAVORED IN EAST
NEW oR,piRoN PLAY 10 LloHTLy
REGARDED BY HARVARD
AND YALE.
FAVORED on WESTERN FIELDS
New Formation Gives Greater Action
and Variety to Sport, Say Some
Coaches, While Opponents Declare
!. Il Makes Game Only q Variation Of
Basket Ball.

Coaches, Whtie Opponents Declare
II Makes Game Only Variation Of
Basket Ball.
Football rulemakers and experts the
country over are beginning to figure
up the success or failure of the new
style of gridiron game and analyze the
results. The forward pass Is regarded
with disfavor in the east; in the mid.
die west II Is judged the most efficient
play of tho season.
Eastern coaches DO not appear to be
thoroughly satisfied with the present
game, especially the forward pass, and
some of the leaders are dropping that
particular play except In SO far as II
is useful for keeping the opponent
I'm the air" and spreading the de.
fensive line so as to make 1t easier
to puncture By regular line-plunging
formations.
The forward pass. as Chicago's Ma.
rooms have developed 1t, has proved
the favorite in the middle west. Coach
es in this territory have seen and be-
come convinced after one game that
Stagg has brilliant play in this for.
nation. Inability to gain ten yards
In three downs under line-plunging
plays has made western experts will.
ing to adopt Stages methods In every
possible instance. 1t has equalized
the strength of the various elevens
and the rooters like the game, as 1t
gives greater action and variety as
well as sensational plays a-plenty.
Football under the new rules is SO
well liked by the rooters in the mid
die west that any change would bring
strenuous protest. 1t Is not the style
of game that has caused the marked
slump in interest in the middle west,
but the conference rulings that have
robbed 1t of the rivalry that once ex.
listed.
Eastern football has not been ham.
pered by reformatory measures such
as were put in practice In the western
intercollegiate conference and the sen.
timent there is based entirely on the
style of game in vogue.
Reports from eastern camps say that
the rules governing the forward pass
may receive another shake-up this
winter at the hands of the rulemakers.
The trouble lies in the distance pen.
atty, inflicted when pass Is not COM
pleted-i. e., when the balIfalls to the
ground before being touched by q
player of either side. Under these
iC hA
down, penalty of Is yards is i'm
posed on the team attempting the
play.
Last year the penalty was immedi-
ate loss of the ball. This was re-
garded as too great penalty. and
play fer fear of losing the ball. So
the change was made inflcting a dis
taacc penalty instead OF loss of the
ball.
Arguments arc being made In the
east by well-known coaches and lead
ers in football favoring a return to the
first rule-loss of the ball on uncom<
pleted forward passes--Or the aboli:
tion of the. play entirely. That the
play is not great success Is apparent
ly the opinion of many
Yale, it is said, has practically
dropped the forward pass. using 1t
only once or twice in game for the
sole purpose of making the enemy
know 1t may be worked any time and
compelling the opponents line to play
wider, thus weakening It against line
plunges, to which the easterners are
showing decided tendency to return.
Harvard, too, 1t is said, Is following
Yale's example regarding the play. as
are most of the other big schools In
the east. The smaller fry naturally
cling to It, knowing that such a play,
successfully executed, may enable
them to score against vastly su
perior team. which they could not
possibly do undei TIE old-style game
The strongest argument advanced
so far by eastern opponents to the
longer football but variation OF
basket ball. now icing given or the
gridirons, Carlisle il is Acknowledged
has this style Of game mastered better
than any eastern oleyens An Incl
dent Is related OF an old Penn player
who offered TO wager. after seeing tho
Indians trounce the Quskers. thai lie
could take the Penn basketball team.
add to it couple Of sprinters from
the track team, coach 1t for p fort!
night, and beat the Tenn varsity foot.
ball eleven by a bigger score than
Warmers Indians rolled up.
1t Is against this sentiment that
prevails throughout, the east that the
forward pass has to contend In that
section. 4
Several experts in the, middle west
argue that the play is now used to ex.
ress because 1t is new. but that when
1t has settled to its normal place In
tho usual repert0y of a. gridiron cap
tain " win be held IN reserve In the
nature of fake play offgreat danger
and efficacy. for the sole purpose Of
'rreading the defensive line sufficient
y T., permit line attacks to plow
trough for the necessary ten yards In
three downs