The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-09-16

Several years ago they reduced the
value OF such goal from to 4 points
They argue from the standpoint that
a touchdown is at least equal to two
field goals. and that helatter method
of scoring places a premium on chance
On the other hand. the advocates of
the kicking game claim that the chief
criticisms against the field goals come
from those teams which persistently
neglect this method of scoring. For in
stance, Glenn Warner, of the Carlisle
Indians. insists with good reason that
field goal kicking is something that
can be developed with the same GER
tainty as other scoring devices, ana
that IL other colleges would devote
more attention to coaching men for
goal kicking no team would have an
undue advantage There is no doubt
that the kicking game is sadly neg
lected. Indeed 1t would be pertinent
to ask if the committee would not be
doing the game a service If 1t increased
rather than decreased the value of the
field goal.
Fairness to the Defending Side.
No student of the game can have
anything but praise for the action of
the rulemakers in giving the defending
side the option of a kick out or putting
the ball in play by scrimmage on it's
25-yard line.
Any one who has witnessed many
games will recall instances in which
the side kicking off, with the aid of
the wind or an exceptionally strong
kicker, has been able to kick the ball
over the goal line. This play robs
the defending side of a chance to
properly protect itself, for 1t gives the
team that should have been on the
defensive an opportunity to run back
the kick off asad put the ball in play
by scrimmage within striking distance
of the opponents goal. 1t also takes
away from the offending side the OPP
Iportunity to make a fair catch and then
kick a goal from field
The purpose of the committee in
fixing zone within which an end must
stand to be eligible to receive the for
ward pass Is for the benefit of the off,
Gals. There have been numerous in
stances in which touchdowns have been
disallowed because the officials did not
agree as to the position of an end in
taking the forward pass. Inasmuch as
1t will not always be an easy matter
for the officials to determine just what
is the position of the end, there will
probably be some conflicts Of opinion
about 1t, but the new rule will reduce
them greatly.
i Players Should Be Numbered.
Although the committee has been
quick enough to make such changes
In the rules as will simplify the work
LOT the officials they have been ex-
ltremely slow to make changes to bene-
fit the spectators. A case in point IL
their refusal to pass rule compelling
the players to be numbered according
to their positions. The principal bene-
At to be derived from such a system
would be that the spectators, by refer
ence to their programmes, would be
able to identify the players.
/ Nowadays it is virtually impossible
for one in the stands to recognize his
own brother in helmet, headgear and
the other habiliments Of modern foot
ball. This is the system that is fol-
lowed in England where the uniforms
are extremely much greater reason for
such system in this country.
The first intercollegiate athletic tour
nament of the new scholastic year will
be the tennis tournament to be held on
the Merton Cricket club grounds al
Haverford, Pa, the first week in Oc-
tober. At the present writing the ia
vorite for individual honors is Wallace
johnson, of the University Of Pennsyl-
vania. Johnson was the American in
lterscholastic champion before entering
Pennsylvania, but on account of schol-
astic difficulties has heretofore been
unable to represent the Red and Blue
He has participated in various national