Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-11

Stage down the football leaders have
dignified the season with the label CT
best ever and they are now on a
can better the game. In other words,
the leaders are not satisfied with the
glories of 1918, but hope to see the
season and finish what this year be-
gan-the complete confounding of the
opponents of football and the CONVEX
sion of the few remaining abnormal
persons who do not care for 1t.
With the tale of the seasons ex
PLOTS told many times DER, the new
est bunch in football pertains to the
possible doings of the national rules
committee when 1t meets In New York
in February. The eleven permanent
members of the committee and the
eleven temporary members to be APP
pointed by the National Intercolle-
giate Athletic Association at its
Eastern meeting this week are ex-
pected to let the essentials OF the
game severely alone, concentrating
their attention on minor points.
Stage Favors Rule Changes.
Coach Stagg, who is still wintering
at Pinehurst, n. c.. wants a few small
details fixed up, and Walter Camp is
In like frame of mind. The Mid
way coach thinks the rule under
which men are barred from the game
who touch the fullback In trying 10
block a punt is gridiron abomina-
ton of the first rank, and he will do
his best to have it made null and void
and otherwise harmless. He and the
other members of the committee have
sent out the private tip that they will
be glad to receive suggestions as 70
new statutes from any fans who
think they have a message
Mr., Camp, who was chiefly respon-
slble for the adoption OF the rule al
lowing four downs for the gaining Of
ten yards, has had the pleasure Of
seeing his innovation meet with de-
served success, and there is not a
chance that this feature will be modi-
fed. In fact, say the solons, nothing
will be changed that will affect in the
slightest degree the general aspect OF
the game.
Critics of the larger aspects OF foo
ball were impressed this year by the
considerable difference shown in the
style of the Eastern and Western
teams. The Fasteners, as usual,
were compa ratlvely conservative. es
peCially in the matter of going slow
on offense The players of the effete
district seldom used their brilliant Of
fensive tactics until well within scor-
ing distance of the enemy's goal, while
the games between Western teams
we're often continuous exhibitions Of
sensational attack In all parts of the
field.
Triumph Of Western Methods.
In the opinion of the philosophically
inclined, the two sections are likely to
come closer together in this particular
next sea son. Mr. Camp has stated
that he believed the West would DO
well to conserve part of its often
sive plays at certain stages, and that
the East should open up In this re-
gard. Both should work, according
to the leaders, for an effective COM
bination OF the forward passing game
with the older kicking and running
game.
The eternal dispute over the rela-
tive merits Of Eastern and Western
football came to fairly marked head
this year with the advantage all in
favor of the Mississippi Valley prod
uct All theories, beliefs and halluci-
nations to the contrary, the hard ia ct
remains that the Western teams won
all of the five big intersectional bat
ties. The open game" was response
BILE. according to the gridiron learned
of both sides.
As to the rankings of the various
| institutions, Harvard and Chicago
were 'the" schools from every point
| Of view. Harvard was the only team
| in the East to win every game, play
ing consistent football throughout, va
ried bv great flashes Of brillian"y
| Yale. Dartmouth and Princeton 2all
| for attention rs second-place aggre-
| cations hut II would be a bold fan
who would be sure which WAS entitled
to a place next to Harvard In view
of the hair raising ups and downs OF
| the season.
No such uncerta inty impinges on
| Haryard's halo. The Crimson took
It's opening game from Maine. "a to O.
| then beat Bates. IA to o: Williams, 20
| TO 0. HOLY Cross. ~ to o; Penn State
90 10 O: Cornell. IS to 3; Princeton
! 3 to 0: Brown. q TO q, and fale, 10
| 70 : Princeton defeated Rutgers
Bucllnell Syracuse and Fordham tled
with Yale and fell before Harvard
| while Yale won from HOLY Cross, La
! favette. I.ehigh and Brown. but TIED
with WASHINGTON and jefferson and
| Princeton and was beaten bV Colgate
| and Harvard-a mediocre showing.
Maroons Lead i, West.
| Several outside teams gained fame
| in the West. in addition to the con
| ference teams. BY general acclaim
| Michigan. Notre Dame, Michigan
"Aggies" and Nebraska have beer
| handed medals for excellent perfor-
mancee. Michigans greatest honors
| came in defesting Cornell ard Penn
SYLVIA MIA. while Nebraska's trouncin2
| OF Minnesota in the early seaso
J brought +. into the limelight. The
"Ageies" first starred bv humbling
Yost's men, and Notre Danes feat
! OF smothering the Army with forward
pa sses is still the talk Of the East.
Chicago won place ahead of all OF
these outside teams although the
matter was not settled by actual com
| petition.
The conference colleges trailed
along after the Maroons In the fol-
| lowing order Minnesota. Purdue
| Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois. Indiana
| Ohio and Northwestern. The rating
| is open to the charge OF arbitrari
ness. since the schedules did not adj
nit of ranking on the percentage
| basis. even If such a plan had beer
| wanted.
Chicago's record for the season was
nothing short OF remarka Bile, consid-
ering the high class Of the Western
teams. The Maroons began by beat
! ing Indiana bv a handy score. and
! followed by trimming in turn Iowa
! Purdue, Illinois Northwestern, Min
| nasota and Wisconsin. The team