Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1909-09-29

form Of sport tnat
could put up with
W. S. DUDLEY. what football has
undergone and yet survive. Talk about
nniuial yivisection. Nothing to 1t. Foot
bali has literally been blown from the
csruon's mouth Of late years. and WIN
infinite care the scattered pieces nave
been gathered up and assembled into
something like their original entity,
and, after all, only something like 1t.
However sincere may be the pessl'
mistic grunts Of the admirers OF the
old time game, with its bone crushing
Joys, they cannot dissipate the cef-
tainty that the new season, soon 10
open, will be one Of tremendous inter-
est and activity. While the first con-
test of more than q meager local inter
est will be played Saturday, Sept ~,
the season of 1908 can hardly be stated
70 open before Saturday, Sept 20. on
that date about twoscore eievens
widely scattered over the country VIII
awaken into action on the grld1ron OK
play instead of practice and meet In
officially scheduled contests.
Among the teams that VIII play on
this inaugural day are those OF the
universities of Pennsylvania, Kansas,
Name Minnesota and Virginia and
Sewanee university. 81. Louis unlVer-
sity. Holy Cross, Kentucky state
Ohio State, Carlisle and Brown.
Over 1900 Games.
The fact that over 1900 games are
already scheduled to be played during
tho season Of three months between
teams of colleges, schools and otner
educational institutions IS indicative
Of the Importance Of football 10 tne
snort lovers Of the land. 1t Is pracu-
caI,y impossible to ascertain how many
games WIZ be played by athletic CLUBS
Y. NJ. G. AS; military ORGANIZATIONS
etc.
Many changes are noted in the new
rules. recently issued in Spaiding,s OF
fcial football guide. While a large
nercentage of the alterations are OF
minor importance, others VIII nave an
fmportant bearing on the tecnnlca'
side of the game, though not neces-
sarily changing the appearance OF
form of the game as played last year
therefore the changes In the rules
will be more noticeable to the players
than to the spectators.
The new members Of the rules com
m,ttee are Crawford Blagden OF Har
ward Parke II. Davis Of Princeton, W
Lambeth of Virginia and W. 3
Lan0ford of Trinity. New York. W. :
Dudley Of Vanderbilt university, south
ern member Of the rules committee
performed valuable services In the re
drafting Of the regulations fts thi
year.
Changes In the Rules.
The forward pass. although OILS
cnssed at considerable length by I'd
rnles committee, was allowed to n
main the same as last year. the onl
alteration Of any kind being that IN
-ules now make 1t clear and denni'
that there Is a zone lying behind IL
scrimmage line. In which space an er
m,.bt stand and by assuming this p
sition he not eligible in any event
receive forward pass. This posiu'
&c more than one foot back OF the ei
of the scrimmage line and not II
yard back. No man occupying u
nosit,ou is eligible to receive II
ward PASS. the object Of this rule I
Ing to make man stand either up
the scrimmage line or full va
hack where the official can readily
that he is not on the line.
A most vital change In the rules
that regarding scoring. For sevel
seasons the ACCESSIBILITY OF reducl
the value of field goal has been q
cussed, and particularly the advisan
ty of reducing the value OF a kics
GOA, from placement This year
matter took on form, and the value
q field goal was reduced from II
points to three points, regardless
how the goal from the field might
scored.
Option a. to a Kickout.
A second and possibly still more
nortant change was tho provision I
a side having q kickout (kicking
ban oct into play BY a member o
tea m which has touched the ball 90
behind its own goal line) may have
ont,on of taking the kick. as under
nresepk rules, or having the ball &c
for a scrimmage on their twenty
ward line. This, 1t is easy to see,
very important change, and 1t Prov
very great release to any team O
ON down Into Its own goal, particul'
when there is a strong WIND do"
ago,nst them. This change VIII pei
toor, that has been forced to NAL
touchback to have some chance 70
ont Of their difficulties even II
Wind Is against them. Formerly
,vera forced to kick the ball out W
the opponents stood waiting Tor II
roaav to make o fair catch, or, raj
IN that, still to have a good chsnc
drop kick.
The defensive side were forDidoe
kick the ball out OF bounds anu q
their heIpIessness for even Il the
try by the opponents failed TO maj
goal it put the ball across the goal
once more, and the defenders wer
the same dificult position again. \
,rder the new rule, in the nrst plas
side has all the advantages OF kic
out as under the present rules
none Of the disadvantages, TOT
may scrimmage the ball en- the TIVE
Ave yard line instead OF taking
kickout.
That gives them chance at the
ming game and an opportunity to !
the ball out little at least, witt
possibility of considerable gain: !
40 hoId thew ran paas e6o