New-York tribune., 1912-02-12
p Rwn : mCuntU Running Bowling = y = Foe

TO substitute some other form Of spike. IL
is hoped that Mr. Ward will get the ears oi
some of the other owners.
Who shall decide when the football doc
tors disagree? Since the rules commute
OF fourteen announced the changes maae
after two days of wrestling with the lFoo-
lem critics. coaches and players nave ca
pressed their opinions, and some OF thes7
opinions are as wide apart as the TWO PoIoS
I had my say a week ago. and feel con-
vinced that the changes will make for good
The subject, perhaps, should be dropped
until such time as the rules can be trleo
out in actual competition, but 1t seems 70
me that some persons have criticised the
changes from an entirely wrong point OF
view. I refer particularly to those ""o
contend that the committee has discrlnl-
mated against the smaller colleges IN t''e
effort to bring about a better balance pe-
tween the attack and the defence. Inns 10
an unfair charge, in my opinion ss tie
committee in bringing about a reasohd oio
game was forced Of necessity TO oullu oh
the assumption that two elevens were rea-
sonably well matched.
It IS not the purpose Of any set OF rules
to bring together teams or players OF vary
ing degrees Of skill. Hardicaps were ue-
vised for that purpose. AS no methou nos
vet been devised for handicapping footrah'
the smaller colleges Of necessity must ld'e
an uphill fight If they consider 1t important
for the sake of experience and educauon 10
go out OF their class. There has been arso-
lutely no discrimination, and the changes
have not been made with the idea OF favor
ing the larger colleges, for the reason lNat
the smaller frv are not called upon 20 meet
heavier and more experienced opponents
except by their own sweet Will. Ihelo ar
plenty Of opponents for all. Ihe cniel
trouble with football last fall lay IN the
fact that the hodge-podge rules theh III
I force brought about an uncertain, hapnal-
ard game, much on the order OF oasNetOalI'
The howl that has now gone dp from some
Of the smaller colleges is due largely 10 the
fact that for a time they began 10 1hllA
themselves in the same class win 1ar
stronger. better developed and more mn
ished teams.
II IS true that football is now and has
been based on variable and not on
constant, as Ed Cochems says. ana tCnoa-
mentally is unfair in the distribution OF ltS
time elements for an expression or offensive
strength. This theory, however must not
he confourded with the one that rUles
should be framed on the handicapping pasis
n bring the elevens of all classes together'
Tho smaller eleven Is now at dlsadVan-
| +age because of the fact tnat possession OF
, the ball is dependent TO a large extent on
the ability 10 hold II for rushing pays DuI
this fault is not with the rules OF footpal'
hut with the basic principle upon when me
ruIes are framed 1t would be better IL the
smaller eleven had the same opportunity IN
competition with much stronger foe Tor
nroper expression of its offensive ability,
hut 10 bring this about the whole footoall
structure would have to be torn DOWN ana
rehuilt. and tine rules committee vas rot
ouite ready for such radical and drasuc
action. although ! do not hesitate TO say
that 1t may come in time,
James c. Isaminger, IN Phlladelphla
exchange. says: Football apparently mas
been changed from monarchy TO re-
public" There are some who do not agree
with him.
II reports from Ithaca can be relied on
that Dan Read will again act as heaa
coach Of the Cornell football eleven, with
DIR. Al Sharpe, OF Yale, as his nrst as
sistant. Cornell can be congratulated. Dan
Read knows the players, and is we'll quail
fed 10 continue his labors with the team,
Vile Dr. sharpe knows football from the
ground up II looks like happy COM
bination.
Large pUul-s move slowly, put once
started they are apt TO move effectively.
Such was the case anyway with the United
States National Lawn Tennis Association
4 forward step was taken at the annual
meeting last week In ruling that hereafter
the champion must play through" In the
national tournament This makes for
greater fairness, even though II robs the
fixture of the challenge round. 1t was
satisfying, too, that 1t was the sense of
the delegates to challenge once more fer
the Davis cup, now resting peacefully In
Australia. Players here must not res-
until the trophy is returned to this coun-
try. Bob Wrenn is sure TO make an ag'
gressive president. a better man to sue
ceed DR.. James Dwight, who has held the
office for nineteen years, could not have
been found, and it will be surprising II
the sport does not prosper and wax TT
under the new administration
At the amateur billiard tourney on Fri-
day evening fans were distributed as souve-
Mrs. They were particularly appropriate
for two reasons-first, because il was one
OF the coolest nights Of the winter; second,
because Of the verses, a sample Of which
follows Misfortune and twins hardly
ever come singly."
Willie Hoppe will be beaten al billiards;
all champions are. But II begins TO look
as IL his worlds titles are safe until some
nov, wizard grows up. HERBERT