New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-12-10
The Forces To Be Considered.

There are two forces to be considered,
the positive and the negative, the onence
and the defence. The object or the rules
SHOULD he to make these balance not Tor a
season but rather for an extended period,
so that success Will follow the best con-
ception Of these rules III the orlglnatlon
and development of new plays and the
higher efficiency Of the players. IL Is the
province of the defence to always meet
these new conditions. However, when the
defence can adequately meet these plays
owing TO the fact that they become stereo-
typed and rigid on account OF artlnclal re-
sfrictious such as exist this year, the play
itself becomes inelastic and uninteresting.
The fact that Fielding Yost, OF Michigan. IS
said to have 408 forward pass combinations
does not alter the case. 1t is possible TO
devise as many plays as one could make
words from the alphabet, tunes from the
scale or numbers from the numerals, put
If they are all fatally restricted success
will come to none OF them any more IMAM
the hundred tricks OF A;sop's fabled fox.
Why? Because they all lack the power
Of further development
Tom Shevlin, late Of Yale suggests re-
stricted defence. This would indeed prove
fatal There are eleven men on each team
and supposedly equal in personnel These
men on the defence must be absolutely Tree
from restrictive rules. otherwise an Of
fensive combination could be formed, based
on this defensive alignment that would
prove Irresistible. Consider the tackles
back" the flying wedge" and Woodruff :
guards hack" The offence initiates ac-
ton and the defence meets IT, III II is
necessary to restrict the defence then 1t
is clearly evident that the rule makers
failed to appreciate the factor OF invention
and the philosophy OF the positive and
negative elements that enter into all con
tests where personal equation Is sought
Consequently we may dismiss all rules de-
signed to restrict the elasticity OF the de-
fence.
The other suggestions as 10 number, of
downs and distance TO he gained are IKE
wise futile 10 q real discussion Of the
moral and ethical philosophy OF the game,
and should be considered only of sub
sidiary value as measuring the posslplll-
ties OF human force ana ingenuity FOR
example, I'm English Rugby and soccer they
have no continuity Of downs or distances
10 be made. An offence could be arranged
that would positively meet any distance
in any number OF downs
As the fox failed 10 possess the requisite
speAd to outdistance the hounds and all
his tricks were just in this measure UNI
equal to theirs. and the cat possessed the
power 10 climb. which the hounds did not
have and was saved, so all rules are UNI
availing on offence II they are In this
manner handicapped In other words, the
rules governing offensive tactics must be
Of that necessary elasticity that they are
subject to scientific elaboration and de-
velopment. Then there VIII be a future
10 the game. and II will have the essential
elements or endless embodiment. The de-
fence being perfectly elastic viii always
be able 10 meet the offence In the case OF
equal scientific knowledge on the part Of
the coach and players.
Game Ideal in 1906.
The game as IL stood in 1905. with "A
few minor notifications. was ideal 1t
had the elements OF future possibilities, but
was restricted because II was feared that
the offence was too strong This was not
true. hut this failure TO meet the offence
was due rather to "A lack Of ability on the
part of conservative coaches 10 understand