New-York tribune., 1912-02-02
Forward Pass Likely Tc Be the
Rock on Which Rule Makers
Will Split.
MEETING BEGINS TO-DAY
Members Of the Committee Reti-
cent Concerning Amy Changes
That May Be Made
in Code.

A StagE, OF CnlcaSO university, "i' II1''
been in the South for his health. The COM
mittee will so into session at the Hotei
Cumberland this morning for the regular
annual meeting. which is likely to last two
days. Those who reached the city last
night were reticent about expressing their
views as to the possible changes that may
be made, but it seemed TO he the feelns
that the meeting would be one of the most
important ever held. and that bitter
fight would result between the progressives
and those who believe in standing pat
The rules committee is made up OF four
teen members seven of whom are named
by the National Collegiate Athletic Assoc:a-
ton as follows: DR.. Harry l. Williams,
Minnesota: Dr. James a. Rabbit, Haver-
ford; e. X Hall Dartmouth, DIR. w. L.
Dudley. Vanderbilt: Professor C.. w. Saw
age, Carnegie Technical School; S. c..
Williams. Iowa. and Lieutenant V. w.
Cooper. West Point The other seven
which constituted the old committee, will
be Walter Camp, Yale; Park II. Davis
Princeton; Crawford Blagdon, Harvard;
Lieutenant j. w. Beacham, Cornell; Lieu
tenant Berrien, Annapolis; Alonzo A
Stagg, Chicago, and DIR. Carl Williams
Pennsylvania.
mage is quite likely to be the rock on
which the members of the committee will
split. AS told in The Tribune yesterday,
the dangerous hazards 10 which this play
opens tine way will he a strong lever for
those who are in favor Of limiting it to
behind the line of scrimmage. Other inn
portant questions will come up, however
chief of which, perhaps, will have to DO
,.n1 ba HOY ~
gained in four downs or of increasing the
number of downs to FIVE Many close stu
dents of the game have expressed them
selves freely that something must be done
to more nearly equalize the attack with
the defence and to insure greater con-
tinuity for offensive plays.
One member of the rules committee said
last night that he agreed heartily with
Walter Camp that the game as now played
does not answer the test of true sporting
proposition, and something must be done
TO bring about a fairer and better balanced
game. Just how this should be done he
would not venture to say.
From what little. could he learned the
progressives are likely to be Walter Camp
E. X Hall, Lieutenant Cooper, Lieutenant
Berrien and Lieutenant J. W. Beacham.
1t is possible also that the representatives
OF Harvard, Princeton and Pennsylvania
may join forces with these. and thus work
a much needed reform. Walter Camp said
over his own signature in a recent article;
The game does not d present answer the
test OF a true sporting proposition. II
lacks rule that eliminates so far as pos
Sibe ties or disputes and rules thdt say the
better team must win deCiSively. Two
years ago the committee passed by a small
majority a plan Of games similar 10 that
now most urged, but dt later meeting
this was voted down. In advocating four
downs instead Of three IN which to gain
the necessary ten yards before puntlng
there is that which should always apply to
rule making, namely, further extension
of a principle we know about, rather than
a plunge into the dark
Perhaps some football Napoleon could
even with the present three Gowns, so vary
the play Of his team as 10 thrust it along
the field for a touchdown l believe that
would be quite possible, but the Napoleon
would have too many other things to do
like tackling passing, punting, and getting
into Interference. Hence the NapOleons are
too few TO make the matter Of any prac-
teal interest or value, and, therefore We
should find a modification which will ena-
BILE the average quarterback to get some
results out Of MS team, If that team has
reasonably good plays. AS TO other
changes, we should check the present con-
tinuous string of substitutions. allow no
coaches to walk up and down the side
lines or speak to the officials, and we should
simplify the rules which require so much
watching of 5-yard and 2O-yard spaces
even though doing so may affect the for
ward pass and Onside kick.
If there be any additions or alterations.
such as perhaps cutting out the kickoff or
some special legislation relating to tack
ling that VIII further lessen the liability
10 injuries. such suggestion should have
the fullest consideration But simplicity
should be aimed at
George Foster Sanford. the Yale player
and coach, said yesterday that he had little
or nothing TO add TO the suggestions he
made for better game in the carefully
prepared article in The Tribune Of Decem-
Der "a. He believes in going back so far
as possible to the game played from 1889 to
1891. with strict legislation against dying
interference, guards back, tackles back and
other heavy mass plays. He pointed out
again yesterday that five yards was not
always so easy TO gain, even with the bat
tering-ram mass plays Of several years
ago, and with these now barred he wants
10 know how in fairness the attacking side
can be asked 10 gain ten yards. The ex-
perience of the last two seasons has indi-
Gated clearly that no offence has been de-
vised to gain ten yards consistently by
rushing, and particularly inside an oppo-
nent's 25-yard line.
Mr.. Sanford said further that he would
ask for a hearing before the committee. so
that he could express his views lie is one
OF those who believe that the forward pass
over the line of scrimmage opens the way
10 the most dangerous hazard in the his
tory Of the sport, because of the double
responsibility placed on a defensive back in
defending not only i'm his own zone against
the forward pass, bat also at the line OF
scrmmage on running play. He pulled
clipping out Of his pocket and read the fol-
lowing extract from his own article:
II the particular play is not a Kick or a
pass then TO defend such successfully this
man ten yards back must meet the runner
on or about the line OF sCrimmage coming
at full speed The man With the bail also
IL at top speed and absolutely unprepared
10 accept tackle OF the character he gets
In coming through the line ne Is likely 10
stumble or be tripped. The chances for
those tWC Young men TO meet hedd-on is
excellent. This makes Of player either a
quitter or a corpse You may say that
am an alarmist. reply that this new game
Is young. that 50 far few serious accidents
have occurred. hut that, just sure as
fate. we are bound under this ruling TO
have not injuries, but fatalities.
Il read this" he added. Ito emphasize
once more the need for sopie changes of a
Kind that should be nearest the hearts OF
the members OF the rules committee If
they do not do something | would almost
feel like agreeing with the lawyer. who
ever II was, who said in The Tribune this
morning, that having been forewarned they
should o4 held crlminally liable for any ac-
cident that may happen growing out OF this
play"
Word comes from Chicago that Aonzo A.