Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-14
WATCH TIE CANE CLOSELY
Such is the AdmonitiOn Of Eastern
Followers of Gridiron Contests.
HAVE A PHYSICIAN AT GAME
Men shOpId Not ne Permitted 90 Play
After They Are Too FatiEued
20 see what is GOInE ON
Around Them.

AE0hMM ~
NEW YORK. Nov. 13.-The remedy for
foot BAH docs not lie in the abolition OF
mass plays as they are row executed nor
does suitable protection for young athletes
necessitate the abolition OF the game IT.
self. There is nothing seriously the mat
ter with the game as II Is played today,
but there is something seriously the mat
ter with the chances eager coaches permit
their players to take.
A capable official. with a medical train
ing and with the authority to remove from
the game a man who is physically and
mentally unfit to play longer should be
on the field during every contest. A con-
slant, close range observation Of the men
rhould be his only duty. He should be the
safety valve for the ambitious and gritty
young fellows who would rather fall help
less in their tracks than give up volun
tarily.
che coaches who have the interests OF
the players at heart are too far away to
Judge always OF their condition. and the
Judges Of plays are too busy with their
manifold duties to see the signs Of ''ol-
lapse in q player, as a medical man, with
nothing else to DO, would be able to see
them.
Foot ball Is a strenuous game, and those
who play Il are likely to be hurt from
time to time. But there are many ways
to get hurt in every outdoor sport. There
is no necessity for those who want to
see foot ball abolished to harp on the
danger question. Admitting that the game
is not one for men who cannot stand
- --.N.. -. - 1NfII ~ 49, @nlhann
that in a game between two well trained
%elevens, with every player capable Of clear
thinking, there is no reason why anybody
should be killed.
Only sound Players.
There is no reason why a well condi-
toned, clear minded foot ball player should
be fatally injured in the most fiercely con-
tested game that is cleanly played. and the
college game today Is clean. notwithstand
ing the I~nslnuations Of people who do moi
know what they are talking about. A foot
ball player who has competent instructors
knows how to fall when tackled. and nov
to go into a scrimmage both on offense and
defense. To suppose that every ~sorimmagc
is q rough and tumble fight Is ridiculous
There is plenty Of give to the bodies Of
players who come together before the dan
ger point is reached, and in the majority
of cases the men know Just how to receive
the shock.
But the situation is entirely different
when q mar has a befuddled brain, and Il
is no credit to the sport to say that player;
often 60 through a game or a part Of &
in such a doubtful mental condition after
a hard knock on the head-which the wear
ing Of a hAadgear might heve prevented
that later. when their brain has cleared
up again, they can remember only a small
part Of HI transpired. While the con
test was on they had only an idea tha
they were on the field to oppose with al
their strength in some way the men VIII
did not wear the same colored jerseys tina
Trey wore.
Clear brain Needed.
A man in such a condition or wen on
not so bad cannot be expected to take car,
Of himself, especially on defense. He ha
lost the fine balance Of mind and Tod,
that is a natural protection against in
jury. The opposing players do not siz
him up as q medical man would. Tho.
only see that the road to a touchdown
leads through his position, and they direc
a steady attack on him, the point of Ieas
resistance.
That's the way they got Byrne. TIL
right side of the Army lire had success
fully withstood a Crimson attack. Th
Harvard general tested the line at othe
/ points, and finally Byrne's position locke
best for a target. Already weak, III
] Army man could not stand IT. That tn
! Harvard players knew Byrre was not ca
> pable Of taking care Of himself Is not I
he OOngiHaraH for a VaAwaant TVH..r ~
know, however, that he was weakening
! Once again, we say, the need OF a medic;
man close to the struggling teams becom,
{ apparent.
There can be no reason why the additlc
9 of such a man to the staff OF officia
should in any way interfere with the VOL
2 Of his associates. A competent man Will
out any partisan feeling ought to be alb
to do great work in such a position. I
those who pay to see foot ball games l
"a nprfainIu xuouIN ha a v1nIa.u.. a.