Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-11-06

whistle? AS a result, the man with
the ball is picked up and thrown back
five or ten yards with at least three
of the defending team OF top of him.
This inequality of offense and defense
has been the main cause Of eleven
deaths in football this season.
The player who carries the ball
should be given more protection than
the interference which precedes him
in his efforts to make ground. Either
the distance to be gained in four
downs should be lessened or else the
man carrying the ball should be sup
ported by at least one Of his team.
mates. BE-
Fight Hard Near Goal.
There are many ways in which the
problem of equalizing the offense and
defense can be solved. 1t is a well.
known fact that the closer a team ap-
proaches the others goal the harder
it is to gain ground, for the simple
reason the secondary defense is
drawn up closer to reinforce the for
wards wall. In middleheld the sec
ondarX players are stationed from
We to fifteen yards back of the for
ward wall. In such positions, it is
comparatively easy for the offensive
eleven to make Roadway before
checked.by the secondary wall.
Inside the 25-yard line the defensive
elevens generally draw up the Sec
ondary players closer, with the result
it is much harder to make ground
than in midfield. Therefore it would
be a good plan to allow the rune to
be pushed or pulled by one of his
teammates when the ball is inside OF
an opponents twenty-five or twenty
yard line . This Is only m Of the
many ways in which the offense and
defense al be ;equalized and unless
the element of luck enters into the
contests, consistent Roadway cannot
be made. list A%,
The Wisconsin Chicago game at
Madison last Saturday was a good X
ample. With two exceptions, when
both teams had chances to score on
football tactics and two other times
when each was in position to score
by the field goal route. the battle was
fought between the two twenty-five
yard lines. Thepdefense Of both teams
was stronger than the %offense, and
this is the reason the contest re.
suited in a scoreless tie. The Michi-
san-Harvard game also was another
example of this situation.
Hole In the Rules.
There is a loop hole in the rules
which may cause q lot of trouble in
important games unless the officials
have an understanding with the
coaches before the contests in regard
to its strict Interpretation. The rule
always has been ruled that as soon as
q punted ball hits one of the kicker's
side the ball shall 60 to the opposing
team at that point.
Under rule six, section 10, which
covers all points of the ball being de.
clared dead, nothing is said alb ut the
ball being dead when striking an off,
side player on a punt. Surprising a
kicked ball strikes a PLAYER OF the
kicker's side and then is picked up by
a member Of the defending team, who
uns for a touchdown.
Under the strict Interpretation of
the rule the team making the touch
down can decline the penalty, but
such has not been the case in former
years. This is a mere technicality,
but the time may come when, the
point may arise in a championship
struggle and the ruling of the officials
may decide a hard fought contest.
II such understandings are had be-
fore the games then the games can
be decided upon their merits and no
blame can be placed on the officials,
who this year must be acknowledged
to be the best who have acted in con-
tests in the last decade. ,""