The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-12-28
FOOTBALL RULES
TO BE CHANGED
EXPERTS GATHER AT NEW YORK
TO-DAY TO CONSIDER BEST
CODE FOR GREAT COL
= LEoE GAME.

New York Zee. 2S--Oncc year
me chosen representatives, of the lead
ing colleges and universities of TIL
country, comprising the organization
known as the National Collegiate Ath
letic Association, get together to-
agree on uniform rules and to discuss
other matters tending to keep athletic
sports at American colleges on higa
plane and free from faint. Today at
the Hotel Astor, the association began
its sixth annual meeting with an at
tendance cf delegates from nearly four
score of the prominent educational in
stitutions of the country
| The morning session was made not
able by. the presentation of addresses
/ BY several eminent men in 'itcd 10 adj
dress the association The speakers
and their topics included the following
The Military Value CT Athletics to a
! Nation Major General Leonard Wood,
chief of stan, l.. 5. A.; Collegiate
Athletics from the Viewpoint of the
President OF a University" Chancellor
mccormick, of the University of Pitts
burg. and The Influence of Collegiate
Athletics Upon Preparatory Schools"
Professor Scudder, Of Rutgers Pre-
paratory School.
Defenses Too Strong.
There seems to be a definite feeling
IN the eastern football world that the
rules need thorough ovorhauling and
revision before the coming Of another
season. The football solons agree
changes are necessary, but eacn one
Iof them has his own pet plan for the
betterment OF the game, and it Is rare
~ any two of them agree.
There are certain generalities how
ever i'm which they all concur. Plays
occurred during the season which are
mot specifically covered by the code.
IOther happenings brought to light the
fact that certain obsolete rules had
never been stricken from the book.
These are minor things. however, which
can easily be adjusted.
The main subject of contention lies
In the fact that the defense under the
present system seems out of proportion
to the offense Princeton, generally
considered the champions of the grid
iron world. made one first down by
rushing against Harvard and none
against yale. Harvard made six FIRST
downs against Princeton and five
against the Blue. Yale made five first
downs against Harvard and four
against the Tigers. That is to say,
| II. PC
made total OF twenty-one first downs
by rushing In three games, or a dual
average OF seven to a game-an in
dividual average Of three and one-half
drst downs apiece
Forward Pass Ineffective.
Some persons call attention to the
fact that few years ago a gain of 10
yards through the line by plungins
back on a single play was no unccm-
mon thing This is true but at that
time there was no rule against assisting
the runner and man was pushed or
hauled along for yards after he was
tackled.
The only play which now seems 10
promise 1O-yard gain is the forward
pass. and against n team OF equal
strength this is rarely effective.
Coaches have taught their teams to
block IT, and this Is made easier by
the restrictions under which lcgal
pass must be made.
Princeton did not attempt this play
ia either of its games. Harvard tried
Il nine times at Nassau for a total gain
of 80 yards and six times against Yale
for total Of % yards. The Blue tried
liz twice against Princeton and four
times against Harvard without yard
OF gain. The Crimson was therefore
the only eleven to gain ground in these
games by means OF the play. and u
gained an average Of slightly over
yards per pass.
The Brown team developed the for
ward pass to about Its highest point
lof efficiency and yet could do little viii