Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-29
PRESENT CANE IS FAVORED
Fifty Colleges Would Revise Foot Bail
Rules to Lessen Danger.
SOCCER AND RUGBY FIND FRIENDS
seventy-seven Installations I'm ses-
sion In New York 20 Act on
Reforms In College
sports.

NEW YORK. Dec. S.-seventy-seven col
leges and universities were represented
today at q gathering In this city OF sth-
letic Interests which Is expected to give
force to the demand for reform In the rules
OF foot ball.
The convention was the fourth annual
of the intercollegiate Athletic association
Of the United States, an organization,
which now includes fifteen CT the twenty
four largest Institutions Of learning in the
country and Is so representative OF the
trend Of modern collegiate athletic ideas
that Its action is considered certain TO
shape the foot ball rules committees sc-
tion in revision Of the rules OF play.
Sentiment among the delegates is strong
for reform in a game which OF late has
fallen under such r~eprobstion through fire.
quent accidents.
West Point has taken the lead In pro-
posing a number Of reforms, and these
have found support among numbers of the
college representatives.
They were submitted to the convention
today. They include the elimination OF
neutral zone, modification OF the forward
pass, limiting the number Of men in the
interference and other changes designed
TO make the game safer. English Rugby
or soccer foot ball is suggested by some
Of the colleges as a substitute for the
present game.
A general discussion OF foot ball at ses-
sions open to the public vas one of the
interesting features on today's program.
The attitude OF leading colleges through
out the country is already shown by the
canvass taken by the executive committee
Of the intercollegiate association, In this
n.r.- NFNa.- H--AHsNgz-. Nv.w.a aegaNfA
Of the rules of the American game, with
such changes as would eliminate mass or
other plays OF unusual danger to life or
limb. Among these are Beloit, Delaware,
Hsverford, Iowa Wesleyan. Johns Hop
kins, Kenyon. Lehigh, Northwestern,
Swarthmore, Syracuse, Tufts, University
Of Chicago, University OF Idaho, University
of Nebraska, University OF Minnesota, Uni
verslty OF Pennsylvania, University of Ten
nessee. University OF Vermont and Wash
ington and jefferson college.
Phil Kings suEEestIons.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2s.-Phil King, three
times quarterback of the Ail-American
foot ball team and now an advisory coach
at Princeton, has forwarded his suggestions
for changing the rules Of foot ball to the
intercollegiate athletic association, as fol-
lows:
Plays the backs five yards back Of the
line OF scrimmsge.
Play seven men on the line of defense
all all times. In order to offset the line
on defense spreading against that forma-
tion, allow the quarterback to run any
where with the ball.
In the event that the forward pass is re-
tained, remove all restrictions, allowing
passes over the line and allowing any
player to recover the ball after it has
been touched and fumbled
Arrange one minute rests at the end OF
each ten, twenty and thirty minutes per-
Tod, giving the captain ample time to look
over his men and note their condition and
fitness to remain in the game. No coach
or other man connected with a contesting
team to be allowed on the field during the
period Of rest.