Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-07
BY n. c. BYRD.

D W D I 1kOs
Jim Colliflower. the former Georgetown
University basket ball player. has been
secured by the Naval Academy officials
to referee all the games scheduled for
the five representing the government IN
stitution this season. Collifower ofhcdated
IN all the games played by the Sailors
last winter, and his work was so salts
factory that he Is to be retained for the
place this year.
Although Collifewer only began work
last year as an official, he has moro than
made good. and at present he Is the only
man In the District Of Columbia who is
registered with the Intercollegiate Assoc
citation. He did better work for the Navy
in its big games last year and gave more
satisfaction than any other official VINO
has worked for the midshipmen.
Colliflower is also coaching the George
town University Ave this season. and II
present prospects count for much he Is
sure to turn out good aggregation OF
goal-tossers. He has developed the quint
rapidly 80 far and In its practice 1t has
shown better form than has any five since
the ono on which he played himself and
which was generally considered the equal
Of any Of the big university quints. me
Georgetown man was an excellent player
into the game in which he Is officiating
the knowledge of the finer points which
Is so often lacking in basket ball.
In picking his Al-America team
Walter Camp has selected backf1eld
which it would be practically impos-
sible to stop in any way. With q man
who could kick goals so accurately
that he would be almost sure to score
three points once his team got within
rHa nf
other who is the best line plunger IN
the country. and perhaps the two best
punters who could be selected, and are
at the same time good line breakers.
and one of them exceptionally expert
in the open-running game. it would
seem that combination has been
formed which would be able to pene-
trate the defense Of any aggregation
of players that it might meet.
The only question in regard to the
that there is bound to be some objec-
ton for not having included Mercer
of Pennsylvania in the list. Mercer
has shown himself to be a great
ground gamer through the line and
around the ends. and has been placed
on the majority of the teams picked
so far this year. The Penn man,
though, has been given a place at
fullback on the third team by the man
whose selection is generally consider
est foot ball perfection.
Mr.. Camp also takes q slap at the code
which governs the game at present. He
does not believe that the rules as they are
admit of real comparison between two
teams. and that the element which does
away with all ties and disputes and no
score games is lacking. and the condition
should be remedied as nearly as possible.
Mr. Camp has the following to say in re-
gard to the rulings which he thinks are at
fault and which he considers advisable
to change:
Now just a conclusion and a warning.
This game does not at present answer the
test of a true sporting proposition. 1t
lacks a rule that eliminates, as far as pos
sible, ties or disputes and rules that say
the better team must win decisively. Two
years ago the rules committee passed. by
a small majority, plan OF game similar
to that now most urged, but at later
meeting this was voted down.
In advocating four downs instead OF
three in which to gain the necessary ten
yards there is that which should always
apply to rulemakers, namely. further
extension of principle we know some
thing about rather than plunge into the
dark. Perhaps some foot ball Napoleon
could, even with the present three downs.
so vary the play Of his team as to thrust
1t along the field for touchdown. l be-
lieve that would be quite possible. but the
Napoleon would have too many other
things to do-like tackling, passing. punt
ing and getting into interference. Hence
the Napoleons are too few to make the
matter of any practical interest or value,
and therefore we should find q modlnca-
ton which will enable the average
quarterback to get some results out OF
his team If that team has reasonably good
PLAYS AS to the other changes, we
should check the present continuous string
of substitutions, allow no coaches to walk
up and down the side lines or speak 70
the officials and we should simplify the
rules which require so much watching OF
5-yard and 2O-yard spaces, even though
doing so may affect the forward pass and
on-side kick.
'If there be any additions or alterations.
such as perhaps cutting out the kick-or
or some special legislation relating to
tackling that will still further lessen the
liability to injuries, such suggestion should
have the fullest consideration. But sim
plicity should be aimed at
In discussing the forward pass and on
side kick plays 1t is the opinion Of Walter
Camp that both are more or less useless
It is held that while the forward pass
was supposed to be productive OF sensa-
tional plays 1t has failed In that respects
and that more often 1t has proved a
boomerang to tho team using 1t. The on
side kick is simply chance play and IL
good only when the ball takes false
bound. as when the onside kick bounds
straight it Is an easy matter for the
defense to get possession Of It, and the
result is that the side which made the
kick lost many yards which would have
been gained had 1t been a straight punt
Sprackling of Brown is displaced by
Howe Of Yale this year for the All-Amer-
lea quarterback position. The Brown
man this year is given the second choice
while Howe is placed first. The reverse
order was the selection last season. Com
petent judges say that Howe's judgment