The Washington herald., 1910-12-01
BELIEVES FOOTBALL
MUST Be IMPROVED
Coach Wheaton, of Middies,
Airs His Views.

While there is much talk going the
rules and how good and bad they are,
there Is one man who has a decided
opinion that there IS room for consider
able Improvement and that changes
must be made or the game viii go to
the eternal bow-wO1s. That man is
Coach Wheaton. who played a big part
in bringing the Naval Academy team to
the high standard which entities il to
be rated among the best OF the 1910
elevens.
Coach Wheaton. when interviewed yes
terday, minced no words In talking about
the football code. He does not consider
1t a mere coincidence that the list Of
killed and injured was considerably less
this year than heretofore. but does not
give full credit to the change Of playing
rules. He says as soon as the coaches
have another season 10 study theni-pro-
yided no changes Of Importance are made
during this of season-they will learn
the vital spots In the code, uncover pays
that will concentrate their forces there.
and keep smashing at that one spot. IN
the grave Importance 10 the matter OF
Injured that the public does. but he
should remember that While the game is
college sport, practically for college
folks. the public must be given no small
consideration.
0nense Weak.
Where this years football rules are
lacking. according TO the Wheaton idea.
is in the UNNECESSARILY weakened Of
| Tense. According 20 the former Yale man.
a team must be vastly superior 10 an
other before it can even think Of scoring.
He sounds a note of considerable i'm
portance when he says that he believes
the rules committee viii find it next TO
| Impossible 20 keep from going back 20
the rule which gives assistance TO the
man carrying the bah. This is the one
rule that undoubtedly caused the greatest
amount Of discussion and which 10 most
minds played the greatest part in keeping
up 10 a high mark the list Of dead and
/ injured.
Mr.. Wheaton is not exactly advocating
a rule that would bring conditions back
10 the old style Of mass playing but he
| does say that some assistance should be
I given 10 the man carrying the ball As q
compromise, he suggests that II the
rules committee deems it inadvisable TO
allow this anywhere on the field the
/ permission should be given 10 a team
once IL reaches the 25-yard line Mr.
Wheaton says that The last . yards are.
by all means. the most difficult to make.
and that a team getting that FAR should
be rewarded by having assistance for
the man carrying the ball
Does Not Decry Long Fling.
While not what might be termed a
stanch admirer OF the forward pass,
neither does Mr.. Wheaton decry its use
and call the sport basketball. which mas
been done in some quarters The Mid
| dy" coach. however. does Insist that
the principles OF the game must not be
| lost.
OF All-American candidates. the An
napolis man said that he considered
Dalton the greatest punter in the
country to-day, not only for his ex-
eeptional kicking on last Saturday but
| for the work he did throughout the sea-
/ son at the Academy. Mr.. Wheaton dared
| 10 venture the opinion that the Camp
| selections would include Dalton among
/ the backs, and he stated his willingness
/ to back his beliefs along this line 10 no
small extent