Los Angeles herald., 1909-11-18
AMERICAN GAME
FOR METHODISTS
DR.. BOVARD SCORES ENGLISH
STYLE OF PLAY
SAYS BERKELEY-sTANFoRD CON-
TEST WAS POOR EXHIBITION
U. s. C. Will Stick to American Game
If Conference Redistribution
Gives Expert Opinion of
Rugby

That the University of Southern CAL
ifornia is not contemplating a change
from the American game of football TO
English rugby, even in its most modi-
fed forms, was the statement given out
by DR.. George f. Bovard, president OF
that institution, yesterday. This was
further backed up by the statements OF
Warren BoVard, assistant treasurer,
and Stan Burek. assistant coach of the
Methodists school, both of whom were
In Palo Alto for the big game between
Stanford and the University Of South
eTn California.
In regard to the game Warren Bo-
ward said yesterday: 81 like the rugby
game far less since seeing last Satur-
DAYS game played, as ii was between
the two best rugby teams on the coast,
than | did before | went north. 1t
may sound strange. but 1t was hard
matter for me to become interested In
Saturdays game. 1t was either serum,
serum, serum, all the time or else the
ball was out of touch and had to be
thrown in, and these features consti-
tute very uninterestlng kind of foot
ball The only excitement OF the day
was one long run of perhaps eighty
yards, but with this exception ! had
hard time keeping awake during the
contest. Rugby is a success in the two
northern institutions, and the game Is
drawing well. They will undoubtedly
continue to play it there, but the old
game seems to be far preferable for us
down here.
Regarding the injury Of players,
there seems to be nothing in the pop
ular idea that fewer players are in
1ured In rugby than in the intercolle-
giate game"
MouIten Talks
pad" Moulten, the veteran trainer
at Stanford, made the statement to
Prof. Bovard that, as far as he knew,
more players were injured in rugby
than In the American game. Accord
ing to his statement, the only thing in
favor of rugby is that the players are
not so badly injured. This sentiment
also was predominant among the Uni
versity Of California players
Neither does it do away with, to any
extent, the using of mass plays, ac-
cording to Mr.. Bovard. During the
first half of Saturdays game the play
was fairly open, both sides attempting
by this method TO score. However, as
soon as the California team was ahead
they would rush behind the Stanford
serum and break up all the open plays
and Stanford was forced to use tactics
similar to the American game in order
tc make any headway at all. Their last
touchdown was gained by massing
their team around the ball and bucking
II across the line as if they were play
ing the old game, and in this method
both teams were exposed TO as much
danger as in the old style Of football.
The only reason for the Methodists
considering rugby at all was because
relations for the past three years have
not been cordial between the colleges
Of the South. and 1t was trought that 1T
would be well TO have something to fall
back on in case arrangements could
not be made for continuing the present
conference college association. The
faculty and athletic managers at the
university are both in favor OF con-
tinuing to play the old game and no
change will be made unless they are
compelled to adopt the newer football
in order to secure games.