Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-05
ROUGH FOOT BALL IS
TAUGHT THE PLAYERS
Coaches Are to Blame for
Many Accidents on the
Gridir0n.

Football. premiere college sport In
America, is about to undergo the most
radical changes since the days of guards
back, which play revolutionized the mod
ern style of the game, writes Expert En-
NETT Dickson. The rules committee is
already searching for data to be used at
the next meeting. and several members
of the committee have already announced
that they will favor changes that will tend
to make the game safer to the players.
Foot ball is at the zenith of its popu-
larity No other branch of athletics, not
even professional base ball, is so pro-
life of revenue. For that reason it will
be saved, If possible, from legislation pro-
hibiting it-for that will inevitably be the
result of another season so disastrous
as the one just closed.
Twenty-Five reported deaths. twenty
probably fatal injurieS-is the season s
total of victims. It is appalling, and none
knows better than the rules committee
that similar results next year will mark
the end of the game. Prohibiting the fly
ing tackle forbidding a plunge directly
through center or other changes that will
possibly lessen the danger are being con-
templated.
Haven't Lessened Danger.
To those keen students of the game
who rarely miss a contest, and who can
tel! you the name Of each player in the
last decade, the changes that occur an
nually in the rules book amount to just
so much more work for game officials.
They have not lessened the danger one
iota.
Back in the days when Hare. Nc
Cracker, Dewitt. Glass. Glase and p
hundred more brawny players were
the opponents Of the game open foot ball
was unknown. Grinding, grueling mass
plays. that struck the opponents defense
like battering ram and ploWed yard
after yard through seething humans. With
an occasional dash around an end with
eight or nine heavy, laundering bodies
before it to sweep all vestige of tack
lers aside, were the plays used. Then
there were not nearly the number :of ia
talities that have been recorded since
the old smashing game was abolished.
One asks where is the answer. To
the student who knows it will be found
In the tactics of those teaching the game.
Tricks of wrestling, Of placing weight
against an opponents body where 1t will
do damage, of a sudden deft twist of
wrist, shoulder in the pit of the stom-
ach. straight-arm jab with the heel
of the hand, all protected from the Off
cials' eyes by the swiftly moving mass.
are known SO well by the modern foot
ball player that they have become second
playing nature and from a manly en-
thusiastic opponent of skillful foot ball
he Is a menace to life and limb and is
bringing about the downfall of the most
popular Of athletic competitions.
Stories of Prowess.
At recent dinner honorary to several
widely known athletes, stories of athletic
prowess almost forgotten except by those
most vitality interested were told by the
athletes themselves. One Of them was
Bob Maxwell. fat and jovial. weighing
more than 300 pounds Bob was guard
on the All-America eleven of 1904 when
he captained the famous Swarthmore
team that vanquished Penn to o.
Penn had famous team that year, too.
On it were Andy Smith. head coach this
year. Vincent Stevenson. the most senSa-
tional quarterback that ever donned a RED
and blue Jersey; Big Piekarski, I.egler.
Hollenback, Reynolds, Weede, Sinisler,
Case and as many more. Even with THIS
array of players Penn feared Swafthmo.e
Walter Crowell was behind the big garnet
line, whose center was fianked by BOD
Maxwell and Bob Lippncott, two All
American guards
That game was the hIoodiest ever
played between the two eievens. Penn
dropped Swarthmore from her schedule
and Swarthmore abolished foot ball later.
dinner. Penn played for Maxwell and
Swartmore for Smith. Smith was unhurt,
but Maxwell was almost carried from
the field Before he was forced to retire
he had finished three of PENIS substitute
linemen and her regular guard, not be-
cause he played dirty, but because they
went into the game especially to put him
out and he was too good for them.
A Battle Royal.
1t was battle royal between giant
knowing all the tricks Of a good lineman
and men who know as much but were
weaker physically. Maxwelrs condition
was pitiful when he left the field. l saw
him lying face downward on table In
the dressing room. From the top OF his
head to the ankles of both legs he was a
mass Of bruised flesh, SO tender that each
touch of the rubber brought forth a cry
of pain, and Maxwell was game. r.
watched the conflict of the giants until
the second half was almost over. when
Maxwell staggered from beneath a scrim-