New-York tribune., 1910-11-04

footoaH as played under the new rules
Is not meeting with the general approval
which those who worked so hard in re
vising the code had reason to expect. This
Is indicated. at least, in the results OF
symposium on the respective merits OF
the ola game and the new in "Old Penn
the weekly organ of the University OK
Pennsylvania.
Out OF sixteen former players, most OF
"Hom helped make football history at
PENNSYLVANIA, only two speak out strongly
IN favor OF the game as now played. Some
conteRt thai the old mass plays were less
dangerous than dashes in the open, while
some think that football is more than
ever likely to feel the weight OF public
opinion.
The most prominent feature. perhaps, OF
the replies is the wide divergence of optn-
ion in regard TO the leading principles or
tina game
Big Bill HoIlenback is the only one who
says that the type Of men demanded by
the present game is higher than that
called for in the old style Of play ana
thinks the game has brilliant future
There is no doubt In my mind he
writes, that man qualified 70 play the
game Of to-day must he active his feet,
speedy, weigh over the 170-pound mark,
and, above all have good football brains,
while in the older days men were known
to make the team by having weight
alone
Il also think that the game as played
to-day is more dangerous, due to the more
open character Of the play"
Edgar N. Church, who was captain Of
the Pennsylvania team in 1889 1890 and
1891. Is the only other man who agrees
with Holienback in approving, Of the new
rules Mr. Church SAYS:
The game az present takes the same
courage, brains and coolheadedness Of the
early days. and is much easier TO play
from a physical standpoint on account OF
its openness and lack of mass PLAYS The
evolution is a good one. II would be a
great shame to change the present rules
for at least five years. Let the coaches
and players work out a playing system
and develop these lines 10 their fullest"
c. A. Griscom Jr.. who was graduated IN
1887, SAYS college athletics and particularly
football are overdone from physical
mental and moral point of view He adds:
we have an amused contempt for the
Shah Of Persia. who after watching room
a ball in Buckingham Palace. remarked
that he hired people TO do his dancing Tor
him, and yet this is practically the situa-
ton with respect 10 football in his
country. Something like a million people
go 10 see the football contests every au-
turnn in which two or three hundred young
men exhibit their prowess. II is a very
unhealthy state Of affairs for both the
spectators and the participants Particu-
larry the latter lose all sense of the actual
value of what they are doing.
H c. Thayer, who played on The team
for the four years from SO 10 's2. thinks
that there is not the same opportunity
for strategy IN the new game as in the
old
F A Piekarski, who is perhaps the
greatest guard that Pennsylvania ever pro-
duced and is assisting in coaching the
eleven this year, says,
after several years of o observation, both
as PLAYER and coach Of footp Il, I have
come TO the conclusion that che grand
game of football has suffered tough too
much legislation.
Naturally there is always some danger
in anv game not excepting parlor games,
but when danger is eliminated any game
ceases 10 be q sport.
Il submit the fact 10 any thoughtful