Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1910-10-22
REFEREE ROGERS DEFENDS
DECISIONS IN FOOTBALL GAME
Official Gives His Views on Academy :
Westerly Disputed Points.

Sporting Editor, Norwich Bulletin:
notice in your report of the Westerly
hIgh-Norwich Free Academy football
game, played at Westerly Wednesday
afternoon. reference to incon1petency
OF the referee. 1t is evident that had
the Academy team won the game there
would have been no outburSt of I'M
sportsmanlike criticism that appeared
IN the report of the game. Mention
was made of measuring the distance
on downs by the umpire. This only
occurred twice in the game. Now. if
your sporting editor has ever seen any
OF the large college football games,
he knows that the measuring downs by
the line or tape is a frequent occur
renee, and method productive of fair
ness for both sides.
For the information of Mr.. Ault-
man. the umpire. who, as coach for the
Academy boys, allowed his enthusiasm
for the success of his own team to
prejudice himself in faily fulfilling his
duties as an official | quote the follow
ing, rule 4, section 4: Time shall not
be called for the end of a period until
the ball is dead and in the case of a
touchdown the try -at-goal shall be
allowed
This clearly governs the case when
Spencer made the winning touchdown
for the Westerly team.
one of the touchdowns claimed by
the Academy was made after time had
been called. The Norwich team was
just giving the signals when both
timers called time. When the watches
were inspected a difference of only
two seconds was found, not a sufficient
time for the ball to be snapped back
and put in play. The ball is not in
play until put in motion, and not. as
claimed by the Norwich umpire when
the signals are given
Had the ball been in play when time
was called and was taken over the
line in that play the score would have
counted as it did when Westerly made
the winning touchdown.
In regard to the second touchdown
Mr.. Aultman to rule II, section g.,
which reads: mo player of the side
in possession of the ball shall use his
hands. arms or body to push, pull, or
hold upon his feet the player carrying
the ball. Penalty, loss of Is yards
The Norwich man was stopped be-
fore crossing the line and the ball was
dead, SO the referee decided, yet the
Norwich backs used their hands and
arms and bodies in pushing their man
over the goal line.
I am perfectly willing to have these
disputed points referred to three cap
tains of three well-known New Eng
land college teams. Yours truly,
D. H. ROGERS,
Westerly, Oct. 20. 1910. Referee.
Note-The Sporting Editor is not
unfamiliar with measuring by line or
tape, but this is usually necessary only
when the down is a question of inches.
Such does not appear to have been the
case in this game. The referee seems
not to have grasped the point that his
blowing of the whistle (even If acct
dentaD stopped Spencer's run. The
referee does not discuss this point. The
Academy was not contending to have
the run disallowed on the claim that
time was up while the run was being
made. AS to the touchdown, which the
referee disallowed for alleged pushing,
the nature of this play made pushing
almost impossible. The ball was down
within foot or so of the goal line.
Mccormick. quarterback, received the
ball direct on the snapback and dove
through the legs of Isbister, center,
crossing the goal line in the plunge.