The Washington herald., 1912-10-29
POSSIBILITIES
IN USB OR THB
FORWARD PASS
Eleven Basket-ball Players Can Win
Under 1919 Code, says Expert,
Advancing Sound Argument.
OTHER SPORTING condEE1
By WILLIAM FEET.

A theory has been advanced that un-
der the football code this year . team
composed Of expert basketball playerA
|lskillsd in handling the ball. could for
ward pass themselves to victory against
any sridiron eleven in the country.
Four tries for q forward pass apd not
q penalty attached to q single failure.
until the ball may be lost on downs. II
Tremendously big odds In favor Of the
play. and such are the conditions under
the existing rules.
A New York football expert in dis
cussing the case. presents q good the
ory. substantiated by sound argument,
as follows: You get four chances to
mako a forward pass" he writes. with
out penalty. Now. give me q basket
hall team Of eleven men. and I'll make
more than ten yards In at least one at
tempt to use the forward pass This
gives me a first down. After that I
have four more opportunities, and I'll
guarantee that I will get another ten
yards or more with q forward pass. and
In that manner I'll work the ball over
the field and into the goal Of the oppos-
ing eleven
In order to make good with this play.
a team must be composed Of men who
can handle the ball quickly and accu-
rately. It might not be bad idea for
rome one Of the local teams to pay q
little more attention to the forward
pass.
American League in Lead.
Owing to the unsettled condition of
affairs in three of the National League
cities. the Fogel scandal In Philadelphia.
Bresnahan incident in st. Louis. and the
Murphy Chance controversy in Chicago.
b. -A~l.
lot Of unfavorable advertising. while the
American League II pursuing the even
tenor Of its way and gaining friends ev-
cry day. while the older organization
Is rapidly losing ground.
II II came to a question of popularity
among the fans at large right now. It 10
plain to see which league would gain the
verdict
Byrd Game Loser.
Coach Curley Byrd. Of the Maryland
Aggies. took his team over to Annapolis
Saturday to play the only game on the
Johns battle.
Undergraduates at the College Park
institution would rather cheer for VIC
tory over St. Johns than any other team
in the country-rivalry has always been
coach. virtually staked his reputation on
this one game.
The result, as everybody knows. was
an overwhelming defeat at the hands of
the st. Johns cadets.
Claims had been made that fearing the
Aggies speedy backs. the football field
at Annapolis had been soused with water
Just prior to the game. and that st.
Johns had resorted to every known SUBJ
terfuge in order to win.
When asked about these charges Coach
Byrd replied: st. Johns beat US fairly.
have no excuse to offer. My team did
its best. but We were properly licked.
and that's all there is to be said
1t Is refreshing to hear a football coach
come out hat-footed with such q state
ment. instead Of making all, sorts of ex-
cuses. blaming the officials. &c.
Byrd has proven himself a game loser.
Would we had more like him in WASH
ington.
To Manage from Bench.
Joe Birmingham. the manager of the
Cleveland Maps. hopes-so be able to pick
up a capable outhelder next spring In
order that he may manage his club from
the bench.
According to Birmy. the majority Of
the Clevelanders who will be in the game
next season are youngsters. and Joe be-