New-York tribune., 1911-11-14
TIMELY BITS OF SPORT
Freak Goal Demands Change in
the Rules of Football.
JACK FIELD SPEAKS OUT
Head Coach of Yale Eleven in
Accord with Other Students
of the Game.

Judging by the comments of a number
OF football coaches and critics, TO say
nothing OF players, that part OF Rule de
hning goal from the field must be amend
cd to prevent a repetition OF De Wits
freak goal from the field which gave
Princeton victory over Dartmouth OF
Saturday The writer in discussing the
subject with a number Of close followers
OF the sport. failed to find one who was
in favor OF a bounding ball counting as a
goal. even though the rules committee has
decided that such should be the case.
Jack Field. head coach OF the Yale eleven
this year. was outspoken in his opinion
that the rule should be changed. as he be-
lieved It was against the spirit OF the game
and its best ideals TO allow such kick
to decide victory. He added that w. S.
Langford, the referee, had no choice in
the matter at Princeton but insisted that
In the best interests OF the game and good
sportsmanship the present rule should not
be allowed TO stand.
Frank Cavanaugh, head coach OF the
Dartmouth eleven. is quoted as saying
That section OF Rule s which applies to
goals from the field is a miserable thing.
cobweb, and a disgrace TO football 1t
should be amended at once. TO prevent the
recurrence Of a happening which marred
the Princeton Dartmouth game"
Parke II. Davis. Princetons representa-
tive on the football rules committee and
close student OF football. has expressed
the opinion that the play which won for
the Tigers was an anomaly, and dozens Of
others Who did not care to be quoted were
loud in disapproving OF the present word
ing OF the rule.
W. S. Langford reiterated yesterday his
statement of Saturday that while Il was
unfortunate that the game should be won
as IL was. he had no recourse in max
ing the decision, and that he followed not
only the letter but the spirit Of the rule
as he understood II and az It had been IN
| terpreted.
The fact that the play which aroused so
much discussion occurred IN two games on
| Saturday and brought about opposite rul-
ings was a subject for further comment
A number Of persons could not understand
Mike ThompsNn's position in calling such
play In the Exeter-Andover game a
touchback, and then saying that he would
have called II a goal from the field IL the
| struggle had been close. One man sug-
gested that Thompson called 1t touch
| back in the interest Of fair play and sports
manship, but the fac: remains that Thomp-
/ son thought one way and acted another,
when according 70 Walter Camp and Mr..
! Langford the Interpretation OF the rule
was clear. and there is no question about
goal being scored IL a ball bounds over
| the crossbar Andover could well spare
| those three points. but the truth IL that
| Andover beat Exeter by a score of 26 to 3
' and not q 10 3. as the records will show.
The Harvard Crimson lays the blame
for the defeat Of the eleven by tho Carlisle
Indians on Saturday to the undergraduates
says there was not enough singing and
| cheering to encourage the team. Better
| put the blame on Thorpe. the brave, who
kicked four goals from placement.
! The Providence Journal" in comment
| ing on the Yae-Brown game. says:
| The crushing defeat sustained BY Brown
! at the hands OF Yale kills the eleven's
| chances for a ranking among the first six
| teams and makes the season a failure.
The hill men have one more big game
| that with the Carlisle Indians on Thanks
| giving Day, but even a victory over Glenn
| Warmers charges. remote as IT seems will
not offset the Harvard and Yale disasters.
1 ~
overrated 10 such an extent as the hill
/ team has been this season. The fierce
| drubbing at the hands OF Harvard at the
| stadium was passed over lightly by the
| experts. the impression prevailing that the
eleven had an off day. After the rout at
| New Haven, however. there is only one
| conclusion 10 draw, and that Is Brown has
nothing but a second rate eleven. The
| coaches have had excellent material from
which 10 build a powerful line and a strong
| backffeld, but IT no stage of the season TO
Team work has been lacking from the
! start.
An interesting decision was handed down
yesterday by the National Baseball Conn
mission, which protects. so far as possible.
| the players who are back in salaries when
a club disbands. 1t reads as follows:
! On the disbandment of the Holyoke and
| northampton clubs Of the Connecticut
state League during the season of lslI
! in arrears Of salary TO their respective
| players. the commission holds that the
| amount of draft or purchase money re-
| ceived for any Of these players by clubs
! with which they as free agents subse.
quently signed should be applied pro rata
| 70 the settlement of the salary due TO the
| drafted or purchased player and his for
| mer team mates. the balance. IL any. to be
turned over to the club from which such
player was drafted or purchased. The
commission also decided that protection
should not be extended 10 the city which
J the defaultng club represented or it's suc-
oessor in that circuit until these obliga-
/ tiOns 70 players are fully satisfied
on September l the Pittsburgh club Sc
| lccted Averett from the Charleston club
/ Of the South Atlantic League. That club
| had dlsbanded without discharging its sal
/ airy obligation. The question arose whetl-
er the claim OF Averett for $3.50 should be
| allowed or that the draft price paid for
! him should be equally distributed among
him and his team mates The PLAYER did
nor sign with another club. but remained
a free agent ana submitted to selection
by the Pittsburgh club on the understand
| ing that he would receisa all the back
| salary due him from the Charleston club
| Under these circumstances the commits
! sion directs Secretary Farrell TO pay this
| players claim against the Charleston CLUB
| I'm full and 10 pro rata the balance OF the
other players Of the Charleston team
! The Boston Red SoX will report fo- their
spring training at Hot Springs, Ark, on
March 10, according TO an announcement
/ made yesterday by John l. Taylor, one Of
/ the CLUB owners. The 1912 treasurer Of the
| club, Robert Mercy. of Chicago, Will start
FOR Hot Springs within a few days to COM
/ plete the arrangements. The team will re-
main in practice at the spring camp until
! April 8. when it will go TO Cincinnati for
three games on April s, and 5 with the
I Reds. AS both Brooklyn and Cincinnati
will train at Hot Springs. there Will be
plenty Of opportunity for practice games