The Topeka state journal., 1911-08-26
WHAT WILL IT Be
Football Game This Fall Will Be
Like Last Year.
Still Hard to Tell Difference
From Basketball.
REFORM CRY ENDED
Last Winter Passed without
Game Being Changed Greatly.
Forward Pass will Again Be
GridirOn Big Noise.
REFORM CRY ENDED

What kind Of a game will football be
this year?
That question naturally arises at this
proximity to the open season for ath-
letically inclined Rah Rah boys. For
several seasons the rules committees
have juggled with the game un-il the
rules began to take on the semblance
of volume of more less associated IDEAS
which would reflect more or less
credit upon the makers and appease
more or less conscientious college pres
idents. faculty members and clamoring
refOrmers-
Football mentors who could get a
hearing in the committee meetings or
bring Influence to bear were more or
less successful in getting the game
fixed up for the especial talent OF their
particular squad and each 1all has seen
so much change that the average bog,
who has little chance to understand
what it's all about anyway, almost lost
his classifications for football and
basketball.
About the only thing they left tile
same was the size Of the pieces or
Duroc-Jersey hide which should be
sown together for the centers to chew
over. The old school of enthusiasts
naturally began to wonder Wnat was 10
become of the game and undoubtedly
they wonder just as mucn again this
fall.
Open Play the Order.
But the committee on ruras Will not
gall them again this season. In TACT.
they back up just a mite They 90 not
take down the flag Of reform, hoWeNS0'
and the thing viii hang ou- SECus the
same as last year. Evidently the new
rules" will be given further lrHoul'
open play again is the order
About the first thing to notice ABOUT
the 1911 rules is that the committee did
leave the section relating to giving as
sistance to runners. Like last fall, the
runner must run the line by himself or
leave it alone; if he falls down, he must
pick up himself. if he runs into
crowd he must push it over himself; II
he misses a hole" a teammate dare
not jerk him into it. This, plans the
rules committee will make the runhe-,
unless he be a Hercules, scout the
scrimmage and lead off in cross
country run.
Section s. rule II, declares: No play
er of the side in possession of the ball
shall use his hands, arms or body, to
push, pull or hold upon his feet the
player carrying the ball. The
runner with the ball may place his
hand on a teammate. but may not
grasp him, so as to be pulled by him.
A comrade may not lift a
fallen man to his feet to enable him to
continue his run"
That's what hurts the past heroes Of
the gridiron. To them football was the
one game where team work was the
greatest requisite; the strong might
help the weak. and the success # a
team depended largely upon how much
assistance one player could give am
other.
Forward Pass Still With Us.
The forward pass once more VIII be
the big noise on the battle ground. But
it is i'm this much discussed and dis
puted factor of the open play rules
where the committee turns more con-
servative and back up somewhat
There viii be no more scrambllnS i"r
the ball on the ground after forward
pass has been dropped The pass is
illegal if it is not caught. AS an off
set to this restriction the penalty for
an illegal pass, on any of the taltureS
as prescribed last season, has been re-
duced materially
If the offense occurs on either tine
first or second down. the ball is taken
to the spot of the preceding down ana
the play counted as a down Il the
omense occurs on a third down, the ball
win go to the opponents at the point or
the preceding down. Another feature
of the 1911 rules on forward passes,
which viii in a measure meet the pro-
lection thrown around a pass receiver,
IS that the player may be tackled i'm
lnediately instead of the designing
tacklers having to wait until lie has
taken two steps.
Another change of some importance
IS that the hnesman will judge an Cf-
side plays as we'll as violations by the
ends Also. the umpire will keep time
instead of the linesman and great
deal of running to the side lines by
CAPTAINS or other official will be spared
A rule concerning the 20 yard zone is
OF practical Importance in that t pro
vides that the field judge shall place a
conspicuous object, designated as a
white soft bag. on the line 20 yards
from the point of the down.
Still another change of some iLlpOr-
tance is the cutting of the three min
utes' interrnission between the first
and second and third and fourth
neriods to two minutes each This IS
the same amount Of time which may be
taken out at any time during the
ayame-provided there is some excuse
qhe officials will accept
A summary of the changes in the
rules include the following:
I. Lessening OF time between quar-
Allowance to tackle Immediately
a forward pass is received.
2. Umpire keeps time instaa1 ol
4. Iinesman may judge all off-sid,
s. Number Of men on side-lines GU
6. Suspension for unsportsmanlik'
conduct Including concealment of th'
ball. -.,-.
after ball has been declared dead.
g. Field Judge shall place white bal
at point marking 20-yard zone.
CLOSE RACE IN KANSAS.
Nrulvanc and Clearwater Fight 70
Pennant in Exciting Finish.