The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-02-08
SPURIOUS FORWARD
PASS ELIMINATED
RULE DRAFTERs PUT oUIETus
ON LAST POSSIBLE
lOOP-HOLE.
Success Of Aerial Style Of Play in
Srtdiron Game Now Depends
Strictly on lts Merits.
10y "PEP."l

BY "PEP."l
Although the recent session OF the
Intercollegiate Football Rules com.
mittee was reported as not having
made radical changes in the rules for
the next year. two revisions were
adopted that will greatly effect the
college game. The FIRST OF these -
that giving the ball on a forward
pass. thrown out OF bounds 20 tn,
opposing side at the point where the
pass was made: the second. ana
equally important. is the revision OF
the rule regulating the promiscuous
substitution OF players in the hnal
period.
Each OF these changes will un.
undoubtedly work for good: the nrst,
In solving the final problem Of the
forward pass, and the latter in max.
ing the fourth period as fast as the
hrst three. The first came about in
the development OF the aerial game
10 the highest stage 10 which the
rules committee could bring IL. while
the substitution clause Is merely the
elimination OF rule that was purely
in the experimental stage.
Clever back field men under the
rule two years ago started the cor.
ruption Of the forward pass game In
this manner: The back would circle
an end and when about TO be tackled
Tor loss would toss the ball over
the heads OF the would-be tackIers
claiming an attempted forward pass
The ball would then be brought back
TO the spot from which IL was nut
in play. losing ground for the defen.
sive side. The rules committee got
around this technical violation by
making a change. giving the ball 20
the defending side at the spot where
the spurious pass was made
Past Efforts Fail.
Last season, the thrower who had
mad his fake passing game blocked.
got busy on the rules again. The
clause providing that ball thrown out
OF bounds on the fourth down. went
70 the defending side at the place
where 10 crossed the side lines. was
me one pounced upon. Thos teams
having a poor kicker. or being in a
position from which a kick was made
difficult. and having a good thrower
who would hurl the bal far down the
held and out OF bounds. used the loon
hole 10 good advantage While tho
difference In the ground gained or
loss was not materially changed. IL
was direct violation Of the spirit OF
the forward pass rule. and incidentIy
thorn In the side Of the members
Of the Rule COMMITTEES.
The Rules Con- mittee lost no time in
getting at those violators and the
season ~ 1915 will see greater care
taken with the handling OF tho for.
ward pass. after the third down. " 10
ID LH a.
close touch with the aerial game and
familiar with tho efforts Of tho ruIes
committee during the past few wears.
in perfectnE this style OF play. % was
evident early last season that tho
'loop.hole quarterback" had but nine
short weeks 10 l.ve-tbat u until the
Rules Committee met again
Well Developed
The early exponent of tho forw0rd
pass game De- ss per!ecu. satisfied a.
one can be who has originated an idea
and witnessed De- develop menf into an
Institution. The forward pass Famo
has come fo stay. although the HersI.
myers and Thorpes weep bitter tears
The man Who starred in the dava Of
Tho old smashing Fsmo will mover DO.
come rccOnciled 90 rho aerial method
of advancing the pIgskin They feel
that noble and honorable mans
game has been SUPERB eded bv nnirkv
basket ball play. nt FOR children only
However. the open style game comes
nearer meeting with the popular an.
prevail and the Rules Committee has
labOrcd long and with success In
bringing o. 10 a him stage % parfar.
fi0r
The most unfair use % the fake pass
wee when me defending eide vas
within its thirtyyard line pass
over The side lines would place me
defenders in the very shadow Of their
own goal
Player Substitution
The other important change effect.