The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-03-02
ABOLISH FORWARD
PASS, SAYS COY

Concerning the change of football
rules, Ted Coy, all American fullback
for 1909 says:
To the lover of football the cry for
a change in the rules comes close to
home.
If the public could only understand
the details of every death laid at the
door of the game, feel that it.
would show a little leniency in the
attacks against the present rules. But
they censure blindly without knowing
the true facts.
College faculties demand revision in
nearly every department of the game
till those of us who have been through
seasons of playing end know the sport
from a players standpoint. throw up
our hands i'm DISCUS.
But to come down to sound fact
and intelligent criticism even the
most ardent supporters of the game
are willing to admit that a few
changes could be adopted with sue
cess. There were a few deaths this
year which everyone deplored and
which seem to justify a change in
rules of today.
How can we so revise the rules to
eliminate the chances of death from
the above causes?
Tackles Need Help.
Let us first consider the principal
cause. namely, the continuous heavy
attack upon defensive tackle
Recently the perfection of the for
ward pass has made 1t necessary to
pull the halfbacks away from the
line. where they were formerly placed
to guard against trick passes. This
has left the tackle on the defensive
practically alone and unaided. I'm
der the present ruling FIVE men, pre-
ceding the man carrying the ball, can
he sent against this one man and It
is perfectly clear to any one that such
an interference is bound to cause
trouble TO any one man. good as he
may be- To perfect this artillery at
tack in which an end, a tackle and
three backs form an interference is
difficult, by some colleges-Harvard
especially.
IL the forward pass were not allow
ed the defensive halfback could play
close behind the tackle to assist him.
He could aid sufficiently II the for
ward pass were allowed only behind
ones line of scrimmage.
Make 1t a rule that seven men play
always on the line of scrimmage and
then an end could not be brought to
be an extra man in the interference.
Cut Out the Diving Tackle.
How can we prevent the diving
tackle In the open?
! We admit beautiful diving tackle
| is a thrilling play to witness and the
sensation to the tackler is an ex-
perience he lives for, provided he Is
successful, but we must look upon
the danger of 1t.
| Make a tackle illegal unless the
tackler has at least one foot on the
ground when he makes his tackle
This would bring 1t about that the
tackler will always be in a safe posi-
tion. No man standing on the ground
| is ever unable to protect himself
against any situation 1t is when he
| is in the air that he cannot adjust his
fall or collision so that he may not
be hurt
If ever a play were full of danger
that play is the forward pass A
man who is about to receive the ball
is always so intent on completing the
play that he never is able to protect
himself against the opponents who at
tempt to prevent him.
/ A quick blow on a man unprepared
is very apt to strain his back, his
neck, or in fact any part of his body
The snap / heard this fall on Yale
field made me dread the play, and al
though nothing serious resulted, had
| my eyes open to the chance for q
| very serious accident / would advise
/ the abolition of the forward pass en-
/ tirely. although to allow 1t only behind
| ones line of scrimmage would prob
ably have the desired effect
Danger in On Side Kick.
since the on-sfde kick has been ii
the game, 1t has made kicks more fire.
quent, and 1t has made foot ball O.
greater interest to all. both spectator
and players. | hate to criticise fhi
Feature. but feel must The lon,
kick Is ideal, but when q short kicl
lis executed, and 1t Is any ones bail
Ii often causes dangerous situation
ITO recover a rolling iall IL not easy