The Detroit times., 1912-10-24
Michigan Mentor Says There
Was No Science
in IL
WILL LET PUNTS DROP
UNCAUGHT THIS YEAR
Often Men Playing Back Won't
Take a Chance on
tumble
BIZ RALPH L. YONKER.

By RALPH L. YONhER.
IT think the football rules OF 1912
are a great Improvement over those
OF 1911"
This is from Coach Yost, of Michi-
gan.
Under the rules which we have
used this season, the stronger team
Is practically certain OF winning.
There II much less luck this year.
The rule that was most pleased
to see go was that providing for the
on-side kick. There was never any
excuse whatever for this portion OF
the rule code In what is supposed TO
be scientific football.
"The success OF the on-side kick
was entirely matter of luck. The
football was not made to be bounced
and the on-side kick rule required
that the ball hit the ground before 1t
was q free ball. 1t was absolutely
foolish.
"A football can be kicked at will In
any direction and practice will give
the kicker the ability to make 1t land
about where he wishes 1t to. But
never can he get the ball to take any
desired bound.
Nor can the man who is running
down under an on-side kick tell
where 1t is going. 1t may leap out
ahead Of him, II may crack Its heels
hith In the air straight ZIP or II may
take a quick bound TO either side. The
opponents have Just as much chance
10 get the ball as the men OF the side
that kicked II.
IL have had men try kicking the
ball so that Ii would revolve over apa
over in the same direction II was go
ing. the upper point OF the ball going
down and forward. But that made
practically no difference In the way
the ball bounced when il struck the
ground.
Unless football is played with q
round ball, there Is no science In the
on-side kick and think that 1t VIII
never come back"
On wet days, when the ball Is soggy
and hard to handle, football fans are
likely to see this year repetition or
the old stunt of the men playing back
or allowing the punts to drop TO the
ground before attempting to recover
them.
With a wet, heavy, slippery ball
spiraling towards him, two fast ends
boring down upon him and nobody
between him and his own goal, the
quarterback who was playing back
for the punts of the enemy may Wei
have trembled when his opponents
could recover the ball the moment 1t
had touched either him or the ground.
Now the men of the side kicking the
ball are off-side and therefore unable
to recover the ball when punted, un-
til II touches some opponent. This
year one may expect to see the men
placing back allow the ball to hit the
grvand before attempting to get 1t.
making sure OF no tumble
The most interesting part of the
oyertures OF Ohio State to Michigan
TO continue the football relations
which were supposed to have died
natural death with the game at Co
lumbus, Saturday, Is that Ohio State
does not believe that the western
conference II a long-lived affair.
Michigan has steadfastly refused to
return to the conference, from which
she severed herself after Quarrels on
account OF eligibility rules, training
table restrictions, and SO on.
However, Michigan fans have
missed the games with the western
colleges, such as Chicago, Minnesota
and Wisconsin. A game with South
Dakota was arranged this year, but II
Is but a sop for those desiring big
ger western games. Already there
are reports that the team is unable
(, 10 obtain games with other schools
on account of refusing to live up to
4 written agreements. However. the
attitude OF Michigan In refusing to
| bow to the conference, Is one that
no loyal Wolverine condemns.
Concerning the conference situa-
ton, the views Of Walter Eckersall,
| once one OF Chicago's greatest play.
ers. and now a Chicago newspaper
man, are interesting:
'In addition to constant changing
OF the, rules, three other reasons may
be cited. They are the abolition OF
Thanksgiving day games between the
big elevens, the withdrawal OF Michi-
gan from the western conference, and
the lack OF hero worship.
Before 1906, when Chicago and