New-York tribune., 1909-12-12
OPINIONS ON GAME
MR. CAMP RETTCENT.
Bill Ed1cards Liked Protection
for Catcher of Punts.

Walter Camp. dean Of American football
strstegists Ysle's representative on the
football rules committee and generally re-
garded as the most influential member Of
game Of Canadian Rugby at Van Cortlandt
Park yesterday with deep interest. He was
not prepared 10 say much about the game
and its possible adaptation 10 American
uses, although, unlike some of the other
expert. present it was not his first sight
Of Canadian football.
1T Is an exciting game he said. "snd
many of IT'S features are worthy of stten-
tion. l am interested in the rule giving the
back catching a punt three yards of grace
from tacklers. I hardly think that the
game will find much favor among lovers
of the American form of football
Professor A. A. Stagg, Of Chicago. repre-
senting tho Western conference. in a way,
on the rules committee was non-committal.
Il don't want 10 say much about the game
as yet" said he. Il think it's highly in
teresting form Of football. and ! am glad to
see these teams play. What use We can
make Of its rules I'm revising our own code
am not prepared Yet to say. But I
shall consider il carefully. and may get
some valuable hints
Lieutenant Nelly head coach at West
Point. where football is being discussed
pretty thoroughly. in view of the fact that
IL was the death Of cadet. Eugene Byrne.
that had much to do with starting the re-
vision compaign. was not much impressed
by the game compared with the Ameri-
can form. The absence Of interference ami
tactical possibilities did not please him and
his views were shared by the other army
officers present.
"Rill' Edwards. Commissioner of Street
Cleaning. expressed a terse opinion by say
ing: The American game is good enough
for me. This game has good features. but
most Of them are permissible under Amer
lean rules and legislation is not necessary
If the colleges want 10 adopt them. The
protection of the back catching a punt
strikes me as a good feature. like that
very well
Joe Pendleton. OF Bovdoin, one OF the
best known officials in the country found
nothing I'm the game to induce him to look
with disfavor on American football. Alec
Moffat. OF Princeton. found the contest
bringing back memories OF his own DAYS
on the gridiron. I'm the early period OF the
American game. but did not seem anxious
20 go back
Professor w x. GiIIett. Of New York
University, liked the Canadian rule against
Interference. and was OF the belief that its
adoption would make the American game
safer and better
Frank ID. Woodwork. of the Crescent
Athletic Club. Of Brooklyn, who held the
position OF secretary and treasurer of the
Ontario Rugby Union for five years and
helped in the work OF remodelling the rules
OF Canadian Rugby. witnessed yesterdays
game. He said: The Hamiltons have been
out of active training for the last three
weeks. and Ottawa has not played In
fortnight. so II is not surprising that the
teams are not in the pink OF condition
There was rather too much kicking. The
cold weather. too. interfered with good
passing. wherein lies the real beauty OF
Rugby. However. ] regard II as a fair
exposition OF the style that is played across
the border. although the tackling was a
bit under the mark. II is difficult for any
one new to the game 10 get a thorough
appreciation OF it after only a single con-
test. II is a pity arrangements could not
have been made a bit earlier for a series
OF matches Of this kind
Harry Manley. president OF the New York
State Football Association and chairman
of the Staten Island Football Club. said
II have enjoyed an afternoon OF really
good entertainment. such as I have not had
since my visit 10 England last month. You
can say this for me without equvocation.
This Canadian game surpssses the college
game here. but soccer has them both
skinned 10 death"