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

Pennsylvania's football authorities will
make gridron history by their action in
deciding to number their players in the
game with Gettysburg on Saturday.
Gettysburg's consent 10 the innovation is
quite as notable These two teams will
he the first college elevens in America
to demonstrate the worth of this pro-
gressivc reform. The reform consists in
sewing numbers on the backs of the foot
ball jerseys of such a 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 vii! have before them the answers
to countless other questions which spec
tators and newspaper writers have been
accustomed to ask for in vain,
II 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 1t, and even the
Rules Committee itself has sidestepped
IT, Pennsylvania attitude has always
been friendly. Four years ago the writer
suggested this plan to the Pennsylvania
and Cornell manaEements for their an
nuaI Thanksgiving Day game. The
Quaker coaches, after a discussion Of the
pros and cons, agreed to II. So did Cor
nell at first, but two days before the
game the IthaCans asked 10 be excused
from trying the experiment.
So far there has never been big coll
legc game where all the players were
numbered, though several high school
teams in and around Boston and New
York have been doing II for several years
and with marked success. Last fall Dart
mouth numbered its players for its hnal
game with the Carlisle Indians played in
New York, The Indian players, however,
we're not 80 numbered and while the eS-
pertinent was halted 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 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
sewed on the back Of Brickley's jersey
wouldn't lessen his goal-kicking ability
In the least. but IL would always enable
the spectators TO Identify the Crimson
captain, And this is the sole purpose
Of the reform,
Judging from the aftermath Of the I'm
terpretation meeting" Of the football
coaches rule makers and officials in New
York Saturday night there are some
coaches who would ind a method 10
evade the rule passed by the committee
last winter forhidding the coach to walk
NJ and down the side lines. Some astute
Individual pointed out that since the rules
do not specifically order the coach 10
take a seat on the bench with the play
ers. ne 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. II he desires and could get
away With IT, he might still coach or
watch the work Of his players
That sort Of an evasion might be
technically possible II the men In charge
of intercollegiate football were not gem
tlemen But this sort OF trlckery Is
foreign to all intercollegiate ethics and
wouldn't be tolerated for a moment by
any self-respecting university. II Is also
reported that as a result OF the discussion
at this meeting a request will be sent
out 10 the members OF the Rules Com
mittee asking them 10 vote on the prop
Osluon that coaches be alloweaa n the