Evening star., 1920-12-04

ing a standardized point.
However, there is no reason WI
ably tend to complete this process.
not alone by foot ball enthusiasts,
the well being of the game.
One suggestion which comes from
one Of the master minds of foot ball
to the forward pass. AS the rules
covering the overhead game now
stand, the pass is very well bull
warked: SO we'll, in fact. that for the
past few years it has been felt that
the system imposes an undue strain
time 1t is likely to bring about scores
which. basing Judgment upon the
relative strength of elevens involved
In game. were not justified. The
hit-or-miss style of forward pass.
such as Yale used against Harvard
game at the boWl-such as weaker
teams are always throwing when pit
ted against stronger opponents-is
referred to.
As to Forward Pass.
Mr.. Haughton suggests that the
throwing of a forward pass be classed
with punting. in which. as all know.
the ball when blocked becomes COM
mon property just as when muffed.
it goes to the side recovering 1t. The
forward pass at present does not
pass out of possessio ion of the passing
side when grounded; it costs merely
a down. The defending side may
possess it only through interception
or when it fails of completion on
fourth down.
IF Mr., Houghton's suggestion were
to be incorporated among the rules
of the gane-and it has the sanction
of almost every coach and critic with
L. II he in
evitable result would be that fewer
men would be sent down the field
to receive PASS. This because OF
the necessity of protecting the throw
er, just as the punter is protected
In this event it is clear fewer hit
cr-misS forward passes would be
thrown: greater exactitude would be
N price o. ground gaining. Ii OBJ
lection arises to this suggested
change it will undoubtedly come from
the smaller colleges. whose teams un-
der the present svstem have a better
c,lance of scoring than would other
Wise he the ease.
Personally the writer approves OF
the proposed amendment, suggesting
merely that the rule be SO written
yss to retain stipuiations against in
terfering with the receiver.
No Other su8xestions-
No other changes Of Importance
have been suggested. The rule which
eliminated the necessity of a punt
but after touchdowns has worked, to
she general satisfaction OF every one.
IT is recognized as stAbilizing the
scoring system and Is in every way
just. - y
The rule which permits Of teams to
change ball after two periods have
been played has given general satis-
faction, but think it would be wise
were the rule 50 amended as to per-
NIT the ball to be changed. II desired,
at the end Of each quarter. In the
Pennsylvania State-Pittsburgh game.
for example. 1t required but few
minutes for the ball to become water-
soaked. and in the second period IT
was abnormally heavy and sodden.
No harm at all would come OF . rule
permitting the changing Of . water
logged ball at the end Of every
quarter.
Danger Of CenmereialfsnA. -
So much for the playing OF the
game. An extraneous point to be
watched is the growing commercial
element, due to the great increase In
the popularity of the game When
such contests as these among Har-
ward. Princeton and Yale return gross
receipts running fIom $4,000 TO
S2o9.000 when twenty or thirty thou
sand spectators will crowd the stands
in all sections of the country. tnen
arises great danger that pure college
sport will degenerate into vast hnan-
cial enterprises.
Not a few of the large universities
have expensive athletic plants, and
EnDre are being built every year
Huge amphitheaters of the sort cost
vast sums to build and a big outlay to
Low Sc
sential to income adequate to meet
the overhead expense. and as a con-
sequence winning teams must be
had. This is not to say that victories
are required in yearly sequence, bu1
a goodly share arc necessary, partcu-
larly in the cases Of institutions
whose games are not of the classic
yariety---that is. games that DO not
extend well back into history; games
around which the glow OF tradition
does not hang; games. in brief, to
which alumni and foot ball followers
do not go as matter OF inherited
habit.
Premium on Success.
But even where tradition is an es-
tablished fact and attendance at
eames more or less automatic. as it
were, the premium upon success has
greater emphasis year by year. Thus.
Il behooves educators and alumni who
have a sense of proportion to see that
the balance OF power as between the
essential aims of a seat of learning
and the athletic functions are main
tained-eise there is no telling to
what inglorious-not to say maiodor-
ous-future conditions may lead.
This is serious advice, seriously set
forth. Foot ball is getting TO be a
monstrous thing. As a sincere lover
Of the game the writer is anxious that
it be kept within proper bounds as an
excellent. valuable. inspiring college
sport for young men who are in coll
Iege essentially for an education and
not to play foot ball.
It is not difIicult, in view OF present
conditions, to picture near future
In which the game of foot ball. as
general college sport. will come a
cropper unless the aspects of amateur
snort, sport of collesians for col
legians and alumni. be steadfastiy
guarded. This season the air has been
filled with reports of proselyting, or
transfers OF students. for no reason
other than those relating to athletics.
Of players practically hired. OF coaches
who receive percentages Of gate re-
ceipts. The only reason the game has
risen above these things is because