Arizona republican., 1909-12-27
So As To Make Football At
 Least Ks Safe AS War CONFERENCE NEXT TUESDAY
At Which Most of the East ern Colleges Will be Rep resented For the Purpose oi Mitigating the Horrors of the Game

New York, Dec. 26-The men who are in control of the athletic activi- ties at many of the leading colleges will assemble at the Murray Hill hotel on Tuesday to consider the re- vision of football rules and regula- tions. It is expected. before the con- ference is over, that football will be reformed to an extent that will rem der it at least as safe as war
 When the football season of the leading institutions of learning and sports closed last month. the list of the dead and injured loomed up like the mortality register of some bloody battle. Captain Palmer E. Pierce. T.. <. A. president of the Intercollegiate Athletic association. immediately de- cided that something must be done to lessen the terrOrs of football as it is now played. and in this opinion he has the support Of the other members of the association. At Tuesdays meeting the matter will be thrashed out. and it is altogether likely that football in 1910 will be subject to radical changes. Just what these changes--should be is a mooted ques- tion on which the critics and coaches do not agree. Speakers on the pro- gram of the meeting include Chancel- Tor Day of Syracuse, Dr. Sargent of Harvard. and Prof. Moran of Pur- due. Delegates from all sections of the country win be present
 It is alleged in some quarters that mass plays are largely responsible for injuries and fatalities and a plan will be suggested for opening up the game.
 The scheme outlined is to draft q rule which will require the quarter back or any other player to be five yards back Of the center of the scrim- mage line when the first pass from the snapper back is received. That is. instead of the ball being received from the center by man playing right up against him. it must be passed directly back fifteen feet to be q legal pass.
 With five yards to cover before the scrimmage line is reached by the runner. it will be impossible to charge through the opposing forwards. who would have ample time to break through and get the man with the ball before he was fairly started forward. no matter how strong the opposing line. This would force run outside the tackles. a forward pass or quick kick of some sort. and would of necessity open up-the game.
 Practically all of the leading col ieges of the country are affiliated with the association. with the excep- tion of Yale, Harvard. Princeton and Cornell. It is likely. however. that any changes in rules made will be adopted by these institutions.
 The objects of the association arc to put collegiate athletics on a com nonsense basis throughout America. to encourage sport for sports sake. and to support various rules commit ees-particularly those for football and baseball.
 The reports of several presidents of prominent eastern universities decry- ing the extreme prominence of sports in modern collegiate life has stirred up the officials of the Intercollegiate Athletic association, and considerable has been manifested by them that these heads fail to give their hearty support to the organized movement. for their proper control