The San Francisco call., 1909-12-28
REVISED AMERICAN
GAME Is FAVORE.
Fifty Out of Eighty-eighf Big
Eastern Colleges Stand by
Old Style Football

NEW YORK, Dec. 2T.-Fifty colleges
out of approximately eighty eight in the
intercollegiate athletic association
have voted for the retention of the
American football game with the elm
ination of mass plays and other danger
Gus plays.
This situation was made known to-
night by the executive committee of
the association on the eve of meet
ing to be held tomorrow.
Five institutions voted that the pres
ent game is satisfactory, except in
minor details; seventeen favored the
English game of Rugby; seven took a
midway position between the American
game and Rugby and nine voted that
either the American game should be
radically changed or Rugby substituted.
The executive committee. it was an
nounced. favored the changes proposed
by the athletic committee of West Point
and viii so report to the convention to
morrow.
The West Point committee has pre-
ball has developed dangers that are
recognized to be intolerable and that it
has become necessary to eradicate un-
due roughness.
Among the abuses of the game the
West Point committee names an eX-
cessive desire TO win at any cost. which
develops a tendency 10 semi-profes-
sional games; the practice OF employing
professional coaches not identified with
the college. and dependence on prepon-
derant weight and strength instead OF
mental alertness and individual skill
1t is a further contention that indis
criminate playing Of obviously over
matched contests should be prohibited,
and TO this end the forward pass is
condemned as-extremely dangerous be-
cause of the unprotected position Of
the player receiving the pass. Drag
Eing and pulling of fallen player is
condemned and penalties are provided
for players piling upon man who has
fallen with the ball.
Sixty-fOur delegates and Is nonmem-
bers of the association viii attend the
convention tomorrow. The association
IS not a governing body and has no di-
rect control over college sports, but
whatever il recommends viii more than
likely meet with the approval of the
rules committee. The fact that the
executive committee favors the West
Point Teconmcn nQatl0n indicates mat
Ire play viii he changed.
The executive committee consists of
Captain Palmer B. Pierce of West
Point. chairman. Professor Savage Of
Oberlin. Professor Nicholson Of Wes-
leysn. Coach Stagg of the University OF
Chicago and Philips Of Amherst.
Suggests Many Changes
WASHINGTON. Dec. 27.-Phil King.
three times quarterback on the All
American football team and now an
advisory coach at Princeton. has for
warded his suggestions for changing
the rules Of football 10 the Intercolle-
giate athletic association. as follows:
Play the backs five yards back to
the line Of scrimmage. Play even men
on the line OF defense at all times
IL offset the line Of defense spreading
against that formation. and allow. the
Quarterbacks to run anywhere with the
ball.
In the event that the forward pass is
retained. remove all restrictions. allow
ing passes over the line and allowin 2
any player to recover the ball after il
has been touched and fumbled
Arrange one minute rests at the end
of each 10. 20 and 80 minutes period,
giving the captain ample time TO look
over his men and note their condition
snd fitness TO remain in the game. No
coach or other man connected with a
contesting team 10 be allowed on the
field in the period Of rest