The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1910-05-20
Football a Fixture in College Athletics.
Opinions of Fight Differ.

Football a Fixture in College Athletics.
Opinions of Fight Differ.
What unquestionably means the re-
tention of American college football
was the action of the intercollegiate
football rules committee taken at its
meeting in Philadelphia last month
when it adopted changes in the rules,
which will go long way in ellminat-
ing the dangerous features of the
great college game, at the same time
simplifying the sport.
Since 1905, when the rules were
changed so radically because OF the
number Of fatalities and serious inJu-
ries, there has been an annual howl
from people opposed to the game who
wanted the sport abolished. The
heads of the various institutions were
compelled to bring pressure to bear
on the heads of the athletic depart
ments and in the winter OF 19O5-O6
the rules committee held a meeting in
New York and it was at this session
that the forward pass, one of the spec
tacular plays of modern football, was
adopted for the express purpose OF
opening up the game in the hope OF
making it safer.
After long and stormy session,
the committee finally agreed on two
things, which are the best results
which it possibly could have accom-
plished 1t was agreed to confne the
forward pass to the zone back Of the
line of scrimmage and reduced the
number of yards to be gained in
three downs from ten to eight yards.
The adoption of the rule in regard
to the forward pass means the ineVl-
table abolition of the play, which has
characterized football for the last
four years. 1t is mighty hard to con-
ceive of the play being of much value
when confined back of the line OF
scrimmage. Instead of the long, &C
curate throw to a player on one side
of the field, forward passing now I'M
doubtedly will be confined back of the
line between the tackles and the play
will be used to the best advantage on
fake bucks and split interference
there now will be the short hand to
hand pass with the quarter back
whirling for deception, at the same
time hiding the ball as much as pos
sible.
The reduction of the number of
yards from ten to eight means re-
version to the game of football played
before 1906. With the forward pass
confined to certain limits, the second
airy defense can now play up closer to
the line of scrimmage to reinforce it
at the points of attack. Instead of
the luoky touchdowns which often
have married otherwise good football
games when a forward pass went
astray, the teams from now on will
have to earn their five points through
ability and not by luck.
Before, when the forward pass
could be thrown anywhere, the sec
ondary offense was obliged to play
back of the line of scrimmage at least
ten yards to be alert for throws ant
never was in any position to reinforce
the forwards. Consequently when al
offensive team made a concentrated
attack of three or more players aimee
at one man, it was out of the question
for the defensive player to check sucl
an onslaught.
Now the secondary defense cal
play much closer to the line and i
in easy position to help out the fol
wards. Drives off the tackles an
end runs with the tackles or end
shifted will be the plays used mostl
TO gain the necessary distances. TIL
committee will meet again in Nev
York the latter part of this month
when final action will be taken on a
pionts, and if it adopts as good rule
as it did at Philadelphia, a safe, sane
and simple game of football is assured
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