The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-10-13
PART I.

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PART I.
BY John B. Foster.
MEXICAN football paid the penalty
~ Of popularity by becoming impos
sible from the viewpoint of NOR,
communities and interests than one. Il
is without much question the only one Of
our sports which has demanded a recon
strucdon because of it's unsuitability tt
all ages, and a persistence o the part Of
all ages to take part in it.
Had it been possible to restrict thu
game to those who were its original pro
genitors and who, from the game Of
Rugby, devised a sport which was better
adapted to the American Temperament,
than the English pastime, with its lest
clearly defined characteristics, it is with
in reason to believe that American col
leges would be playing much the same
game to-day as was played ten years ago
The sport has too much fascination. II
got completely away from the ''olde,
boys" and was picked up by the younger
generation. They were not fitted for il
physically. Yet in spite of admonition
from parents and teachers the smaller
boys would play football, and they would
be satisfied with no other game than that
which was played at Yale, Harvard,
Princeton and Pennsylvania.
Unsuitable for All Ages.
Five years ago the writer called atten-
ton to the fact that the spread Of foot
ball would bring Its revision. Some agreed
with him. Some did not. The latter ele-
ment could not conceive that a sport
which was absorbing the attention Of
millions more Of persons than 1t had in
1889 by its publicity and growth was
more likely to invite restriction thar q
sport which was the pastme Of q few col
leges. Indeed. there were not a few who
failed to realize the growth Of football.
n there are some to this day who have
no conception Of the hold which the pas
time has attained with young America.
There is no other sport in the country.
with the exception Of baseball. which has
such q Arm grasp on the boys from fifteen
to twenty years Of age.
One may liken football and its American
career to that Of some Of our public men.
In early youth. isolated in their own i'm
mediate neighborhood, they have been ad-
rnired by their friends and companions for
their good qualities. In later years with
vast attainment in letters and knowledge,
they have become the target for the criti-
cism Of q nation. Increasing popularity
not only has gathered them friends but
has created them enemies.
DO American sport has been obliged to
undergo 80 much reconstruction as foot
ball. Its first o~verhauling was due to an
endeavor to get rid Of mass play. This
was the outcome Of the attack Of two
forces moving from two different stand
points but both having a common purpose.
Reasons for Attitude.
The smaller colleges attacked the game
because men had been hurt and killed.
Critics attacked the game. not only because
Of the injuries which had arisen in play
ing 1t, but for the reason that it had re-
solved itself into a stupidity slow pushing
match.
1t to to be doubted whether 1t will ever
be possible to play football without injury.
1t is certainly never likely to become a
game feasible for grammar school boys,
unless h boys are Of exceptionally good
physique. and to my mind much Of the
criticism Of football Is due to the fact that
young boys have tried to play the game
who had no place on the football field.
Some Of them who ave tried to play foot
ball shoul have had no place on any ath-
letic field where violent exertion was es-
sential to play perfectly.
In attempting to open the game and At
the same time obviate the possibilities Of
injury to players. the committee Of rule
makers introduced into the sport at least
one play which Is ever likely to be a bone
Of contention. That is the forward pass.
1t 10 the hobby Of certain college men. but
1t b not a football play. nor is 1t ever
likely to become a football play. It be-
longs to basketball. which 10 a game en-
tirely apart from football. and it IL one Of
the plays Of the new football which were
responsible for the revision Of the rules
which has been made within the last year.
1t was the possibility of the forward
pass which 80 scattered the line Of defence
in the game that the style OF attack wa
devised to %overwhelm and embarrass op-
posing tackles. and so much Of the play
centred around the tackles that 1t wa,
only the giants who were able to stand
W. under the strain.
First Practical Use.
In the first year Of introduction of tn,
forward pass. before it's future had beer
worked out to any extent. or before an,
one had grasped how much of an elemen,
1t might be toward the winning of foot.
ball games. little was seen of it in a sat.