The Detroit times., 1912-10-24
michigan Mentor Says There
Was No Science
| in it
WILL LET PUNTS DROP
UNCAUGHT THIS YEAR
Often Men Playing Back Won't
Take a Chance ON
tumble
By RALPH Z. Y0NKER.

-
By RALPH Z. YONKER.
Il think the football rules Of 1912
lre q great Improvement over those
bf 1sl1.y
This Is from Coach Yost. Of Michi-
Ean.
Under the rules which we hayc
lsed this season, the stronger team
5 practically certain Of winning.
There is much less luck tliis year
The rule that was most pleased
10 zee go was that providing for the
In-side kick. There Was never any
excuse whatever for this portion OF
he rule code In what is supposed 70
be scientific football.
"rhe success OF the on-side kick
Eas entirely matter Of luck. The
Football was not made to be bounced
|nd the on-side kick rule required
hat the ball hit the ground before IL
vas free ball. II was absolutely
|oclish.
"A football can be kicked at will In
my direction and practice will give
Die kicker the ability to make II land
h, ut where he wishes II to. But
ever can he get the ball to take any
ogn ed bound.
Nor can the man who is running
own under an on-side kick tell
here II II going. II may leap out
head of him, II may crlck It's heels
irh In the air straight up or It may
bike q quick bound TO either side. The
pronents have just a. much chance
y get the ball a. the men OF the side
hat kicked II.
Il have had men try kicking the
all 90 that Il would revoive over apd
ser ~ the name direction IL was So
hg. the upper point OF the ball ~goinR
||own and forward. But that made
Practically no difference In the way
be ball bounced when It struck the
round.
Unless football Is played with q
blsnd ball. there IL no science In the
n-side kick and think that II WIZ
ever come back"
ftrs -
On wet days, when the ball is soggg
I'd hard TO handle. football fans are
.-ely TO see this year q repetition OF
he old stunt OF the men playing back
allowing the punts to drop to tbs
round before attempting to recover
hsm.
With wet. heavy. slippery bail
biraling towards> him, two faat ends
bring down upon him and nobody
stween him and his own goal, ths
,arterback who was playing back
br the punts OF the enemy may well
ave trembled when his opponents
bulG recover the ball the moment II
IA touched either him or the ground.
Now the men OF the side kicking the
hll are off-side and therefore unable
recover the ball when punted. un.
h II touches some opponent. This
ear one may expect to see the men
ing back allow the ball to hit ths
~ and before attempting TO get IL.
aking sure of no tumble.
The most interesting part Of the
kertures OF Ohio State to Michigan
continue the football relations
hich were supposed TO have died q
atural death with the game at Co
smbus. Saturday. is that Ohio State
pes not believe that the western
difference IL = long-liyed affair.
Michigan has steadfastly refused to
bturn TO the conference. from which
he severed herself after quarrels on
ccount Of eligibility rules. training
kble restrictions, and so on.
However, Michigan fans have
Kissed the games with the western
blleges. such as Chicago, Minnesota
ia Wisconsin. A game with South
akota was arranged this year, but II
but q sop for those desiring big
cr western games. Already there
lie reports that the team is unable
obtain games with other schools
n account OF refusing to live up TO
ritten agreements. However, the
ktitude OF Michigan In refusing to
pvv~ 70 the conference. IL one that
q loyal wolverine condemns.
Concerning the conference situa-
on. the views OF Walter Eckersall,
nee one OF Chicago's greatest play
rs and now q Chicago newspaper
an. are interesting:
s'In addition to constant changing
the rules. three other reasons may
|, cited. They are the abolition Of
hankseiving day games between the
u eleyens. the withdrawal OF MichE
an from the western conference. and
he lack OF hero worship.
@Before 1906. when Chicago and
ichiran met on Thanksgiving day on
.[arshaii icld - in the old Coliseum
"a s.xty-thifd-st.. enthusiasm ran
Esh n was a common sight to see
- "a. t~sfdo ,f fhu loou crowded