Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1912-11-17
FOOTBALL RULES
Of 1912 ELEVATE
CR|D|R0N GAME
General Verdict Is That the
Game Has Been Greatly
Benefited by the Radical
Changes.
BY W. ] Macbeth.

by W. m0CpStUs
New York, Nov. ia game that Is
a game Is the general verdict on foot
ball as placed under the 1912 rules The
gridiron sport pleases first of all the
spectators; it phases the coaches. the
players and the great student body. 1t
took a great deal of tinkering and ex-
pertinent to resurrect the blood
tingling autumn pastime from the
debris of popular disfavor following the
crusade which wrecked the good, old
fashioned game of six years ago. The
new game seems to have been we'll
worth the wait and the trouble.
The old game came into disfavor be-
cause OF the dangers incident to 1t.
And these same dangers had a dis
couraging influence on the element
most directly commemorative student
body. For getting right down to
cases. it was test of muscle and
Drawn and not a competition of skill.
1t was smash. smash, smash through
the line all the time with now and then
an end run or variation worked in
just to keep the opposition on the
anxious seat. Naturally human bat
tering ram would pick out the weakest
spot in the line on which to center an
attack and woe betide the object of the
charge.
Speed, under the old rules, was a
natural advantage but not necessarily
a vital issue. Brute strength came
first, last and all the time. The prim-
tive qualification of class was stamina
to stand up under punishment; power
to grind through a wall OF human re-
sistance. Under such conditions the
game naturally devolved into q sur
vival Of the fittest. None but a giant
might play with any amount of safety.
Weaklings had no place on the grid
iron. Speed and cunning combined
counted for but little unless supple
mented by exceptional physical power.
Objsetional Features Eliminated.
The game as played now seems to
have eliminated all the Objectionable
features of the old style OF play and
at the same time retained all the more
desirable fundamentals. 1t Is quite
: true that football was never meant for
invalids. 1t is game that requires
certain physical Projections. But no
longer is bulk and beef the first requis-
lite. Speed counts as much as Drawn
and the agile. light fellow IL perfectly
sound has a better chance to shine
than the big slow thinking giant.
Modern football Is more than ever a
game of skill
One of the greatest objections to the
old style of play was the fact that th,,
general attack was confined to mass
formations. There was practically no
open field work. 1t was. impossible
Provv, kh> 81 A. ~ Pollo,,, hall ,>lo ~
by play. Invariably the man carrying
the spheroid was completely screened
by his interference. Except for d
punt, q criss-cross. an end run or
some Of the few variations from the
battering ram style Of attack the spec
tator was in q sea of bewilderment
from start to finish.
The forward pass was mapped orig
jnally to open out the game through
the necessity of scattering the defense.
In this It served its purpose to some
degree. Yet the forward pass at first
was looked upon with great disfavor by
the coaches. There were too many re-
strictions attached. and penalties Tor
its failure to be properly completed
made 1t rather questionable weapon.
This year these restrictions have been
eliminated and the play has immedi-
ately come into great favor. It is very
spectacular and appeals to the general
public. 1t leaves an opening for a light
team to make consistent gains where 1t
would be utterly impossible to gain
through q heavier line. A team now
has four chances. without penalty
whatever save the loss Of the ball IN
cGse Of absolute failure to make thu
necessary 10 yards distance. One
properly executed forward pass Is good
for double or treble this amount. With
any degree Of proficiency, a well
schooled eleven should max, good on
ct least one Of four attempts.
Undoubtedly tina forward pass has