The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-06

of this kind Princeton won the cham pionship although scarcely making a first down against Yale and Harvard. Princeton was not to be blamed for play ing game made possible by the rules, but no one can say that such eondi- tion of affairs is satisfactory. So a change was advisable and the change seems to be along the right lines. .
 A good many of the stronger teams are yet feeling their way and are trying to find out just how much that extra down means to the attack. Of course if any of those teams think that they will be able to develop running attack that will gain the distance without taking many chances with loose ball they will have a tendency to keep the ball as much as possible and will use few kicks and forward passes. So simple forma- tions with this end in view are being tried out with little success so far.
 Shifting Teams Advantage
 There is no doubt but that the team strong in the running game will have the best chance under the new ruitt, This running game will have to be worked from shifts that will keep the de- fense guessing and every team will have to mix in enough of the passing game to keep the defense from concentrating. team that relies only on the loose ball game, even if proficient in this respect, will not be as well off as the team which may be weaker on this, but which all ways has the ability to deliver the punch at the critical moment. The team with the punch is the one to be feared. Such team may not try many forward passes, but Is very apt to work successful one at a critical time by forcing the defense to close in against it's driving attack. Neither the open nor the plunging game will in themselves be successful. The successful team will be the one that can use the two enough to keep the defense guessing and which al- ways has the ability to deliver the "punch'' when called on to do so.
 In spite of the close games that have been played in some sections l do not think there Is any doubt but that the new rules work to the advantage of the stronger teams as against the weaker ones. The weaker team, it is true has an extra try at forward pass or trick play but that same down will enable the stronger team to keep the ball a greater part of the time.
 Responsibility of Backs
 The teams in the smaller colleges where the material is limited and its possibilities better known reach their maximum strength sooner than the 
 must be given to sorting out the ma terlal and getting the best foundation for the important November games. Games played between these same col leges in November would result in rather one-sided scores. The teams running ur big scores now are those that have re- tained baclxfields nearly intact from last year and which are playing against teams with inferior lines. If these teams backfelds should go against teams with lines superior to their own or even equal they would find running around them a different proposition.
 Another very important feature of the new rules is the backfield defense The difficulty of this work has been increased because the backfield will not only have to guard against open plays. but will have to come up rapidly enough to rein force the line against the running at tack. A back must be all eyes and must be able to sense play instantly.
 To Populdrize Games
 The game under fhe new rules will be more popular than ever. There will be more scoring and there will not be so much of that monotonous kicking on the chance that a loose ball may bound away from the opponents and give the kicking side an oportunity to make long run for touchdown. A ball to be onsfde now must touch an opponent. The better teams stand a reasonably sure chance of scoring. There will be no close mass plays, or very few, but there will be a great number of quick shifts and occa- sional forward passes that will make the game attractive and sensational enough for anybody.
 It is to be hoped, anyway. that this will be the case and that we will have a game that will not need the continued tinker ing and doctoring of the past few years.