The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-02-01
FEW CHANGES IN
FOOTBALL RULES
Forward Pass Regarded as Most
Objectionable and Worthless
in the Code

Few changes will probably be made
in the football code when the Rules
Committee meets at the Hotel Cum
6erland. New York, on Friday and
had hard job of it last year reYis-
ing the rules to make the game safe.
and the 3esults obtained during the
last Sc; IN were satisfactory enough
to mos of the critics Of the gridiron
game. 4saS that the policy this year is
alone.'i Some new ideas and many
old ones may be suggaHed. especially
in relation to encoure lg a means for
higher scores. The an object OF
the radical changes J. he rules last
year was fairly wei accomplished
the reduction Of injuries on the grid
iron. There is now no sweeping pub
lie demand for a safer game such as
was heard last year. no threatening
cries of abolishing the game such as
spurred the rules-makers to action at
that time
Many OF the coaches of the teams at
the larger universities do not approve
of the forward pass. This was shown
by it's infreouent use in the larger
games last fail They refused to en-
courage it because it was at best q
speculation whether it could be played
successfully. In a few cases it did
work according to schedule. but in
most instances 1T failed completely.
The forward pass has strong enemies.
and their influence may be felt at the
meeting. Harvard led the forward
pass contingent at last years meet
ings and won by small vote. Prince
ton. it was said, lined up behind the
Crimson in favor of the play because
the Tigers wished to be in favor when
the suggestion to resume relations
with Harvard on the gridiron was
brought up. Now that the Harvard
Princeton game is assured. Princeton's
Endorsement of the forward pass may
not be so strong. The forward pass
Yale's position in the matter may crop
out at the meeting.
e. K. Hall of Dartmouth. the secre-
tary of the committee. strongly favors
some arrangement whereby a team
will have a better chance of gaining
ball in four downs. Teams were not
able to do it last year by end runs
and consequently one of the most
spectacular plays of the game was
somewhat souelched. Princeton built
u pan end play around a fleet half
Mr.. Hall favors rule requiring a
gain of 10 yards in five downs, or 8
yards for each down. With the in
creased number of opportunities to ad-
vance the ball. it Is argued. teams
would be more willing to try end plays
to allow but one Of the five center
men in the line to interchange with
the man ordinarily playing behind the
line.
The new four-periOd rule will be free
ly discussed. The three-minute inter
mission between periods has come in
for some criticism. but there is gen.
ieral favor for the changes Of goal. be-
cause it seuualizes the, advantage Of
wind and sun.
The eight members of the committee
from the National Collegiate Athletic
Association. appointed last fall are S.
c. Williams. Iowa; Lieut.. V. W. Coop
err. West Point; DR.. Harry L. Williams
Minnesota: DR.. w. L. Dudley. Wander
bilt: G. w. Savage. Oberlin: DR.. James
A. Rabbit. Haverford. and E. K. Hail.
Dartmouth. This committee will con-
fer with the old committee made up Of
Walter Camp. Yale: Park ii. Davis.
Princeton: Crawford Blagden, Har-
ward; Alonzo A. Stage. Chicago: Prof
L. M. Dennis. Cornell: DR.. Carl Will
liams Pennsylvania. and Lieut.. Ber-
rien. Annapolis.