The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-02-21
PUTS QUESTIONS
ABOUT FOOTBALL

That even football experts are more
or less at sea over the changes pro-
posed by the football rules committee
and their possible effects on the game
is apparent. Recently DIR. Mccarthy.
assistant coach of the University of
Wisconsin eleven, charged DR.. Harry
l.. Williams, University Of Minnesota
coach and member Of the rules com
nittee, with conspiring with the eastern
colleges in reforming the sport black
ward" He insisted that DIR. Williams
wanted to return to the old style of
mass plays. In reply Dr. Williams
denied that he was in league with any
one or that he was reactionary in his
ideas. E .. .'..
DIR. Mccarthy seems to have a doubt
about the intentions of the committee,
and in letter to the sporting editor
Of The Record Herald asks some point
ed questions OF the rules committee.
another member of which is Professor
A. A. Stage of the University of Chi
cago DR.. Mccarthy writes:
Madison. Wis, Feb. 15.--There are
some statements from Harry Il. Viii
liams, coach at the University of Min
nesota, relating TO the new football
rules. Now, I wish this as an open let :
ter to Mr.. Williams and to the football
rules committee. In order that we
in the west understand the football
rules committee. / would like to have
this letter answered by some one con-
nected with the committee.
The rules committee has sent out
certain propositions for the betterment
Of the football game in America. I
would like to have the following ques-
tions answered:
/. Is 1t not fact that Yale and Har-
ward men in the football rules com :
mittee are opposed to the forward pass
and the onside kick?
2. Does not section ten of sroup A
of the proposed changes eliminate the
onside kick?
3. Does not section four OF group
B limit the forward pass to back OF
the line of scrimmage?
4. Does not section seven OF group
make the distance to be gained i'm
three tries seven yards?
5. Does not section Ave of group C
limit the forward pass so that 1t can
only be got by players standing behind
the line Of scrimmage as the bsll was
put in play?
6. Does not section seven of group
G read as follows: 1.-THE distance
to be gained in three tries shall be ten
yards between the two twenty FIVE yard
lines and five yards between the TWEEN
ty-five-yard line and the goal line"
Z. Did you Mr.. Williams, advocate
certain rules before you went east to
the meeting? BY rule six did you not
advocate doing away with the onside
kick? Did you not, by rule seven, limit
the forward pass so that the men trying
to run with it must touch the ball to
the ground before taking two steps ?
Did you not also, by rule eleven, provide
for an extra man behind the line when
you were within the twenty five yard
line? What particular provisions for
open play have the majority of the rules
committee asked for? What particular
phases for open play, Mr.. Williams. dc
you advocate?
| know that / am sofewhat at a
disadvantage in talking with an exper
upon these matters, but am guided by
persual of the eastern papers. an
convinced from looking over these pap
ers that the eastern colleges. where tn,
open play has never been popular, arr
now striving, under the guise Of reform
Il