Omaha daily bee., 1910-01-09
CHANGING FOOT BALL RULES
Continued from First Pase.)

or four man interception that is a feature
Of true mass plays the game would be
made much safer. AS many others think
80 do 1, too, that the game of foot ball
never can be made absolutely safe. There
is no game of personal contact between
man and man that can be so arranged that
no one ever will be injured in some de-
gree. The deaths from foot ball, though,
are the only things the public sees and l
believe that in this point of view it is right
to make the cutlery against the game.
Il believe that the game cannot afford
to be continued If It is to cost the lives
that 1t has. In fact, the total now is al
together too great. But If the rule makers
have the courage of their convictions they
can devise a game that may not be so in
teresting, but will be safe. What are the
odds, if the game is safe? L have heard
folks complain even now recently, that they
couldn't see the ball very much and coldn't
tell much about the plays, although we
have all the devices for insuring the public
interest in the new game.
IF that Is the case now, why is it not
better to return to a game in which there
will be fewer hurts and of which the
public doubtless will see as much as it
does now? 1t seems to me that L can
recall tremendous interest in our games
Of other days, even when the foot ball
wasn't so open. There is no guarantee
that the games will not always be well
followed, no matter how close or how open
the plays are.
What puzzles the uninitiated onlookel
now is the beginning of each play. II
he can tell what player takes the ball he
can follow the play all the way through.
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across and If they were not permitted to
change, then the public would be able to
see all right, and that even though it were
a return to old principles"
AS a guide as to what the rules COM
mittee has to consider, the Recommended
lions as to rule changes approved by the
executive committee of the L. c. A. A.
U. S. may be cited. This committee re-
jected some of the West Point suggestions,
notably that against the neutral zone and
the other that permitted the quarterback
to run with the ball without restriction
as to the place of crossing the line of
scrimmage. The Endorsed and amended
suggestions were;
Abolish the present forward pass and
allow an unrestricted forward pass, to be
completed behind the line of scrimmage,
without penalty for its failure.
When a player is in position to make a
fair catch no player OF the opposing side
shall approach within three yards of the
catcher until the latter has been touched
by or has missed the ball.
On the offense at least six men shall be
on the line Of scrimmage; the others, eX-
cept the quarterback, to be at least five
yards behind the line, the quarter being
any desired distance behind the line. In
plays across the line of scrimmage within
five yards of the center not more than
three men shall be allowed to cross to-
gether and no others shall be allowed to
| nTngg within five NQ rAq nf tho mint nf nf-
tack.
AS an alternative to this proposition the
committee may legislate so as to require
seven men on the offense to be on the line
Of scrimmage, leaving the men behind the
line unrestricted as to positions and places
Of crossing the line, still restricting the
number that may cross the line together
as in the first alternative.
Prohibit dragging, pulling and pushing
OF the player with the ball, have the bal
promptly declared dead in accordance with
the spirit Of the present rules, and attach
penalties to both piling upon the player
with the ball and any attempt by him to
gain ground after his forward progress
has been stopped or the ball is dead.
Admit no one to the side lines except the
trainers and substitutes, and permit nc
unauthorized communication between them
and others during the playing periods,
Require removal of a player from the
field on request of the trainer, doctor oil
captain of the team, and make 1t the duty
of all officials to call the attention OF the
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a player. A player for whose benefit time
IS taken out three times shall be removed
from the game,
The vast mass of suggestions of this sori
and from many other colleges, associa
tions and individuals have been put in the
hands of the rules committeeman. Those
who will pass on the suggestions and viii
attempt to reform the game are L. M
Dennis, Cornell, chairman; Walter Camp
Yale; Crawford Blagden, Harvard: A. A
Stagg. Chicago; Parke Davis, Princeton
Paul J. Dashiell, United States nava
academy, and John c. Bell, Pennsylvania
Of the old rules committee and e. X. Hall
Dartmouth, secretary; II. l.. Williams, Min
~nesota; w. A. Lambeth, Virginia; w. l.
Dudley, Vanderbilt; II. b.. Hackett, United
States military academy; ]. A. Babbitt
Haverford, and c. w. Savage, Oberlin. o
the committee named by the intercollegiate
Athletic Association Of the United States
BenbFOOk Captains Michigan.
ANN b Mich, ian. S.-Albert Ben