Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-22
By EDWARD R. BUSHNELL

Pennsylvanias football authorities will
make gridron history by their action in
deciding to number their players in the
game with Gettysburg on Saturday.
Gcttysburg's consent to the innovation is
quite as notable. These two teams will
be the first college elevens in America
to demonstrate the worth of this pro-
gressive reform The reform consists in
sewing numbers on the backs of the foot
ball jerseys of such height as to make
them visible in all parts of the field.
Thus the spectators, by reference to their
programs, can instantly identify every
player on the field. can tell who makes
touchdowns, important runs and tackles,
and will have before them the answers
to countless other questions which spec
tators and newspaper writer's have been
accustomed to ask for in vain.
1t has taken several years of argu-
ment TO have this reform considered with
approval. Most of the big universities of
the East have SHE'D at it, and even the
Rules Committee itself has sidestepped
il. PENNSYLVANIA attitude has always
been friendly. Four years ago the writer
suggested this plan to the Pennsylvania
anu NOIUtl UldldBtNleNlS LOT lltll an
nual Thanksgiving Day game. The
Quaker coaches after discussion of the
pros and cons, agreed TO it. So did Cor
nell at first, hut two days before the
game the Ithacans asked TO be excused
from trying the experiment
So far there has never been a big col
lege game where all the players were
numbered though several high school
teams in and around Boston and New
York have been doing it for several years
and With marked success. Last fall Dart
mouth numbered its players for its final
game with the Carlisle Indians played in
New York The Indian players, however,
We're not so numbered, and while the eX-
pertinent was hailed with delight by the
Gotham football public and scribes it was
not a fair test,
About the only objection ever made
was the fear that a star player might
thus be identified by the opposition and
either be a mark for their attack or
be more easily watched. This, of course
is ridiculous on its face, because when
two teams take the field they instantly
know the identity Of all their opponents
And suppose the opposition did know
their opposing PLAYERS, what good would
this knowledge do them? A number
wed on the back Of Brickley's jersey
wouldn't lessen his goal-kicking ability
in the least, but II would always enable
the spectators 10 identify the Crimson
captain. And this is the sole purpose
of the reform
Judging from the aftermath of the lin
terpretation meeting" Of the football
coaches. rule makers and officials in New
York Saturday night, there are some
coaches who would find a method to
evade the rule passed by the committee
last winter forbiddng the coach TO walk
up and down the side lines. Some astute /
Individual pointed out that since the rules
do not specifically order the coach to
Ike a seat on the bench with the play
ers, he might be eligible TO act as one /
Of the linesmen, and that in this posi-
tion he would he right on top Of the /
play and, If he desires and could get /
away with H. he might still coach or /
watch the work OF his players.
That sort Of an evasion might be |
technically possible If the men In charge !
Of intercollegiate football We're not gem /
ylemen. But this sort of trickery is /
foreign to all intercollegiate ethics and 1
wouldn't he tolerated for a. moment by
any self-respecting university II is also
reported that as result OF the discussion
At this meeting a request will be sent
put 10 the members OF the Rules Com
nlttee asking them to vote on the prop
1sition that coaches be allowed on the
side lines by mutual agreement of the
40 captains. no matter what the rules
say on this point.
AS a matter Of fact the consent OF the
Rules Committee is not necessary 10 do
his because every rule In the book may
DC disregarded by the mutual consent of
he two captains. The members Of the