New-York tribune., 1910-10-31
ON COLLEGE GR|D|RONS.
Forward Pass Over the Line a
Boomerang at Times.
HARD TEST FOR YALE TEAM
Princeton and Harvard Show
Strength in Winning Their
Games on Saturday.

G2meS on Sal bUIUdg.
When the members Of the football rules
committee were struggling last winter with
7ba co5a 10 the end that the game might
be made safer and the players protected
against serious injury, the forward pass
was the rock on which they split Some
were IN favor OF abolishing IL altogether
after 3 more OF less unsatisfactory trial
for three or four wears, some urged that IL
re limited behind the line Of scrlmmage. as
was the suggestion advocated in this col
urnn last fail while others. and the ma
jority. as it turned out. fought for its re
rention. with the removal Of some Of the
restrictions with which X had been hedged
about II iS safe to say that the rule
makers are not Yet through with what
many now consider the old man Of the sea
10 latter day football. The rule governing
its use may not ne amended next winter,
as one season is hardly enough for a thor
ou1h and complete test. but / do not hesi-
tate 70 predict that in due time il viii be
modified in a more or less radical way and
limited 10 use behind the line Of scTimmage.
BY limiting the pass 10 a zone Of twenty
wards and 50 preventing the long heave
down the field. which the Yale eleven per
hans worked TO better advantage than any
other team. an effort was made 10 disCour-
age the reckless tossing about OF the ball
as 2 last resort measure. as well to pro-
vide better protection for the man receiving
the ball In doing this. however. the use
tllness of the play was restricted 10 some
extent or at least SO il seems 10 me. In
any case. the forward pass Is not winning
the favor Of the players and coaches which
fts supporters so earnestly hoped and ex-
II i- holm GssS md re-
FuI-e. bv some teams hut its value lies
more IN its menace than its ground gaining
powers. except perchance at Pennsylvania,
where the coaches have been quick to re-
alize and take advantage Of its effective
ness when used behind the line Of scrim-
mage
Some Of the other coaches and elevens
would DO well 70 take a lesson from Penn
sylvanla's book on all that has beer seen
10 date the Quakers are in the front rank
O the elevens Of 1910 in spite of their de
feat by Ursinus in the first game Of the
season. That defeat Is more or less Of
blot. as Harvard and Princeton, Of the
leading elevens. have not been beaten SO
far this season. But Pennsylvania showed
more versatility and strength against
Brown than Harvard did and for that rea-
son must be ranked close to the top FOR the
present
A careful ANALYSIS Of the more important
games played this year shows that the for
ward pass across the line Of scriInmaee has
acted as a boomerang in 50 many cases that
The field captains are beginning TO be chary
OF its use. Fully 10 per cent Of the forward
passes have proved better ground gamers
Tor the defending side than Tor the attack
ing force and under the circumstances il
IS no wonder that many critics have de
clared the PLAY a failure Under the rule
This result is only natural. as the defending
PLAYERS no longer are allowed to shoulder
or interfere with the man receiving the han.
Harvard scored one touchdown against
Brown By lnterceufinE a forward pass
when the men from Providence We're press
ing hard. Princeton was saved from a
touchdown only bv a brilliant tackle when
Tendleton brought DAILY down after the
latter had Intercepted pass on his own D.
yard line and had broken away with a
clear field. When a team loses more
ground than it gains hg the use "f play.
a. was the case IN the Princeton Dartmouth
game. thal play must he unsounc.
Under The rule rais result is only nat
ural as the defending players no longer
are allowed 10 shoulder or interfere with
1ae man receiving m ban. and consequent
J. devote an their ca--rgies To Intervening
j. ia many cases the defending PLAYER.
are IN much better position TO receive The
hell tnan the man on the attacking side
destined 10 take il. Unless the pass De-
wonderfully accurate. The latter may h,
forced 70 run with his back 10 the bah II
order TO get in proper position to make
The catch whereas the opponents are al
Ways facing the ban and consequently have
larly II the play has been properly dag
losed and the backs have not been drawn
IN. Under the circumstances the pass lee
hind the line Of sCTinroage is less risky
ard consequently is likely Il be found more
effective The Pennsylvania eleven is de-
Nelouing i IN practice somewhat along the
lines of Canadian rugby. and its use 10y
This method not only opens the way to
wide end runs. which always are danger
Gus. hut also spreads out the defending
PLAYERS and by weakening the centre han
dicaps the forwards in repelling a quick
plunge through the line.
do not hesitate 10 predict that the Ii
gers VIII be in perfect condition 20 face
Yale on November i, and that if beaten il
VIII he by a better football machine. I do
TOT hesitate 10 suggest that at this time
TIE chances are in favor Of a Princeton
victory. When the men were dressing af-
Ter the hard game with Dartmouth on Sat
Irday- there Was little no sign Of dis
messing fatigue. n indication of physical
exhaustion It spoke well for the handling
o1 the men 10y Keane Fitzpatrick: Il spoke
well for the game a. played under the new
rules. As 10 the team as a team. there is
crlv one "iticIsm 10 Offer. and by that
d NOT mean that there are not some faults
which must be corrected. and that there IS
-lot room for quite q bit of polishing in
welding the attack The main criticism
lies in the constant use Of Pendleton and
The danger Of Developing too much Of 4
one man team. 7 was flying in The
face q Providence. in sny opinion
when Pendleton. after saving the game
for Princeton 10y a brilliant tackle and
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