Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-10-05
Public Demand Is for an Open Game, as
Against the Old Style of Rush
ing the Line.
MASS pLAv MADE 1908 A DULL YEAR
Good kickers Wi Always Be at Premium in Spite
Of the Change Made in Scoring
Points.

the contestants is assured. AS matter OF
fact, this was caused because those who
pad the development of the new game In
hand, which proceeded. of course, immedi-
ately after the changes in the rules.
sprang their new theories in some album
dance and then Immediately set about to-
lind plans which would circumvent them.
The reason behind this is the same boyle
man which filed the hearts Of the coaches
under the old system--loss of the ball.
american america football steadily retrogradsd
coaches would not be convinced that It
might be possible for team occasionally
to lose the ball and stu continue to play
good game, and barely had the new
game been able to get good start when
all attention was centred to devise
methods which should nullify the. excellent
fort to make the game OPEN
there was disposition In 1908 on almost
al o. the varsity elevens. with notable
| In perfection with the open formations
which had given such unqualified pleasure
TO the public IN the year preceding.
Wanted Their Touchdowns.
Yale, Harvard and Princeton particu-
larly the former were possessed of the
IDEA that their greatest glory was to be
obtained in making their strongest ad-
lie na game Of the f meat
me Tigers did open their attack against
Yale and 'I,lay with 4 variety of forma-
tions which had not been expected nv
those who had seen their prior contests,
Yet the wear through there seemed to he
j cking progress In carving ont the gem
oral system of NAV which had been out
4 nned IN 1907. and there was corresponding
j dtsappointmant on the part OF the specta-
4 tors when thew attended the preliminary
4 Ramas and saw little save the pounding of
i the line, which had heen the universal ood
most objectionable method Of attack under
the old rules.
4 Pennsylvania was unduestionablv an ex-
Intervals in which the ouakers rlavea
their contests we've full of the effort "a
advance the hall by some method varying
! from the old line method of tack, even Y
| they did lose the hnll now and then They
were willing to take "a chance to make 6
no'nt. Other e,evo-c ~ tt-nts -e,,~ar,tr a.,
thew did not win. Sometimes when ,hey
Iar'v r,e~itor'ors wo~s On their part
To escape this reversion to condition
!. which was found TO be SLOWLY chokine
football to death is the general wish 81
: the leadin g opponents of the game. and 7
: is no secret that a great majority Of cnl
lege non who are interested in football
!, especially COLLEGE men Of the last five
. 4 years. are hopeful that The present season
! will see more open. football than has bee1
: changed
Rnles,SOr This Year.
4 Notifications of the rules for the season
] of 1909 were few, There have been oppo
3 Inents of the forward pass from the tirn'
liit was incorporated In the game b,
the alteration of the playing code. At thu
s last meeting Of the Rules Committee they
!; We're as emphatic In their objection to /
! as they had been from the start, but 4
was agreed by a large majority that the
play had not detracted from the Interest
In the sport, but; on the contrary. had in.
: creased It. and therefore 1t would be pool
policy to legislate against sometime
(which was proving satisfactory in the
main to those interested in football.
Old timers have insisted that the for
; ward pass has invested football with .
basketball flavor. They inveigh against
~ on the ground that the arms should MOI
! seems as If this is rather far fetched. tc
say the least. American football at its
best, is game in which the arms have
as much to do as the legs. for we carry
4 the ball SO far as our players are able
{ Ito do so, without being checked by oppos
much fuss because the ball OCCASIONAL,
Is passed forward that 1t may be carried
|further2
A clearer definition was made as to tn,
/, position which an end must assume to be-
!, Eeligible to catch a forward pass. The code
t scrimmage line. extending back one yard
film which an end may leeally piav, hui
: while there he is not eligible to catch
q forward pass. Either he must pla,
-isquarely on the line or he must play a
: least a. yard back of the line. If he is goinf
RI to receive the ball
. New Scoring of Points.
: Football enthusiasts this year must no
i overlook the change which has been mad,
film the scoring Of points. and it Is not i'm