Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-04
BIG SCORES SURE
IN NEW FOOT BALL
Rule Allowing Players to Re-
turn to Game Helps
Big Teams.

Are we about to revive the days OF big
foot ball scores. similar to those made
when Hurry Up Yost OF the Uni
yersity Of Michigan was In his prime?
It certainly looks SO. One year 1t was the
boast OF Michigan that her team had
scored a total OF more than 600 points In
a single season, one game alone netting
something In excess Of 100 points There
is small likelihood that the present sea-
son will witness anything so extraordi-
nary as this, but the new rules are condu
Give to big scores.
The particular rule which Is likely to
produce this condition of affairs is that
which permits a team to remove player
in one period and then allow him to re-
turn to the game once during the succeed
ing period. This rule. IT Is true. was pass
ed for the purpose Of preventing injuries
to players when In an exhausted state.
It will especially work TO the advantage
Of the big team and to the disadvantage
OF the little one. In fact. II will reverse
the condition which has existed since the
introduction Of the forward pass. That
play did more to equalize the chances or
two teams than any other amendment.
II gave the smaller team an opportunity
to successfully work a long forward pass
and thus 70 score when Ii was helpless
to gain ground by straight foot ball.
The big college elevens are the gamers
by the new rule regarding substitution
II takes a lot OF scurrytng by the minor
colleges to get together a foot ball squad
of more than a dozen able-bodied young
men. The new rule regarding substitution
will bring little relief to. them, because
they won't have the men to substitute.
One of the games on Franklin Field last
year furnished an illustration OF this. The
University of West Virginia was the OPP
ponent. Two of the southerners' players
fell by the wayside during the game, and
as there were only thirteen men In the
squad. this used up the available supply
of substitutes. In the second half two
more players. one OF them a substitute
himself, had to quit the game. West Vir-
ginia was In quandary. and In their
dilemma sought aid OF Pennsylvania by
making the unusual request that the
players previously removed from the game
| be allowed to return. Their request was
granted and the incident published far and
| wide as an example OF good Sportsman
ship.
The amendment win. OF course, aid the
small colleges. but not IN tho same pro-
portion that II will their big rivals. IN
der the new dispensation the coaches Of
the big colleges will use from two to
three elevens during a game They will
not be afraid TO make substitutions be-
cause they will know that IL a new player
| fails to make good he can speedily be re-
moved and replaced either by another man
| or the veteran who has already been In
the game. For the same reason the
coaches will endeavor to develop two or
three sets of backs. patterned after the
Yale system. which has always been to
use one set OF backs against Princeton.
and. II needed. another set against Har-
ward. The team that possesses two or
three such sets Of backs will have a big
advantage over its rivals not as fortu-
nately situated.
This rule regarding substitution means
that speed will be more at a premium
this year than ever before. There won't
be time to waste on slow players; 1910
foot ball will demand action every second
of the game.