The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-11-05
COLLEGE HEADS
FAVOR CHANGE
!. !. IN FOOTBALL
Less Mass Playing Necessary
T. to Reduce the Annual
Death Rate
ABOLITION NOT NECESSARY IF
DANGER ELEMENT IS ELIMINATED

Games Which Are Devoid Of Danger,
However, Lack Fascination for Both
81 Participants and Spectators-Cour.
age Developed in Young Man.
Washington, Nov. 5.-The death
Sunday of Cadet Eugene A. Byrne,
left tackle of the West Point Military
Academy team, as the result OF In
juries received in the Harvard-Aca-
denny football game at West Point
and the deaths of Michael Burke and
Roy sypback, in other games. all play
ed last Saturday, has awakened col
lege presidents throughout the coun-
try to. the dangers of football under
the present system of rules, in which
mass plays are allowed. Sentiment
among the heads Of institutions OF
learning throughout the country al
ready has crystalized into demand
that radical change be made in the
rules Of the game.
Il Ofiicers of the war and navy de-
partments are awaiting official reports
+. from West Point. and Annapolis before
taking any action in regard to the
future of football at these institutions.
No report has been received at the
war department on the death of Cadet
Byrne. The war and navy depart
ments will probably allow the super
lntendents of these two academies to
handle the question.
The disbanding of the football team
Ut West Point will result in the aban-
donment of the remainder Of their
schedule and will necessitate the can
sellation of the army-navy game
which was to have been played on the
Saturday after Thanksgiving. AL
though the navy department is leaving
the matter to Capt. John M. Boyer
superintendent Of the naval academy
Beekman Winthrop. assistant secre-
tary OF the navy. said yesterday that
1t was probable that the navy team
would complete Its present schedule
with the exception Of the army and
navy game. y
Symposium of Opinions.
Herewith is presented a sympos-
lum of the opinions OF many college
anu uAANCAoASy plCoAuchSS lAIou6AOus
the country. and from these opinions
It will be seen that change in the
present rules of football Is likely.
President. Wilbur F.. Thirlkield oi
Howard university said yesterday that
tome change in the rules ought to be
made at once.
THE English or rugby rules" !" said
DR.. Thirlkield, should be adopted.
Under the rugby rules mass plays are
net allowed. 1t is these plays that
cause deaths and serious accidents,
and ito them can be traced the death
Of Cadet Byrne. and the fatal injury
to- Cadet Earl d. Wilson, reported to
10 Cadet Earl D. Wilson, Football is a
noble game, and am in favor of it,
out 1t should be safeguarded by prop
sr rules. Evidently the present rules
allow plays that are very dangerous.
"The rules must be revised, and this
Should be done at once, so as to avoid
any more deaths on the football field.
Football, makes young men courage
ous. and teaches them self-control. 1t
should be encouraged, but at the same
ame should not. be allowed to degen-
srate into 2 deadly struggle between
opposing teams. There never in any
loss of life in English games, and we
must model our present rules along
that line, IL we would avoid any more
fatalities"
Should Change Rules.
The Rev. Father Himmel, g.. j.,
president Of Georgetown university, is
out of the city, and the Rev. Father
Fleming, vice president of the institu-
ton, said that he preferred that the
president should express the univer-
sity's opinion on the revision of the
football rules. He said that the rules
ought to make the games safer than
theyhare at present.
Il do not feel like saying anything
IN, regard to changing the rules in the
absence of President Himmel, but evi-
6ently they are dangerous to life and
limb at present." said Father Fleming.
Charles w. Needham. president of
George Washington university, said
= that tho American way Of playing
football ought, to be speedily reform
ed. ~,
81 am not opposed to football" de-
clared Dr.. Needham, "but under pres
ent conditions the game is attended
with evils and dangers. The game
ought to be played more openly. for
the mass plays are dangerous. Foot
ball today 10 confined to too few play
ers What we need in our colleges
Is to develop more general athletic
activity"
Favor the Rugby Game.
Patrick J. Lennox. professor of
English, and literature at the Catholic
university of America, also favors
changing the rules, but does not be-
heve in abolishing the game. He was
/ rugby player himself in both Rock
we'll college and the university COL
lege Of Dublin.
my feeling on the subject" said
President Lennox. has been well ex-
pressed fn few lines. by, believe an
Austrian poet:
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