New-York tribune., 1920-11-30
Coaches Favor
The Asst gning
OF Officials
Plan Suggested for Giving
Football Arbiters Free
Hand III Making Decisions
BY Ray Mccarthy

After having conversed with vari-
Gus officials and coaches. we have come
to the conclusion that football officials
should be assigned to the various
eames-not simply appointed. Every
body will AGREE that the success of
the great American collegiate game
Gals, and vet there has been more
complaint against decisions this fall
.han in years.
We talked the matter over at length
with one coach. and he agreed the
officials should receive more protcc-
tion. AS the situation now exists, Of
icials are appointed by the central
board. Rather, they are approved. At
an annual meeting of the officials COM
mittee the various coaches and cap
tains gather to make ont their lists.
If an official has incurred tho dis
pleasure Of coach by some ruling he
made the previous season he goes on
the blacklist. He never again works
IN game participated in by that par
ticular college.
1t seems to us. therefore. that all
Of the officials should be graded into
various classes-A, and c, Tor in
stance.
The first class would De made up o.
officials who have had considerable eX-
perience and who naturally wculd he
considered a little better than othors
not so experienced The third class
would comprise the younger mer
and those whose experience has been
limited. Those found incompetent
would be drooned from the list entirely
there would be no reserve list.
The Glass A officials would be as
signed to the so-called big games il
which traditional rivals oppose eacf
other And, what is more, those Off
Gals would work in those games
whether the coaches Of the respective
teams liked it or not.
If any coach did have objection tc
an official it would be Al easy matter
for him to file his complaint with the
committee in char~c Of the assign
ments. The committee could conside
the charge and act accordingly.
An official would in this case hav
70 fear Of ,ncurring the wrath of
coach and Of being put on the black
Est Of that institution. We hellev'
that most Of the officials are homes
and conscientious and call the plays a
trey see them. regardless of the con
sequences. Nevertheless, no oficia
l;kes to be called BY coach if he cal
possibly avoid it. And in his effort t.
please everybody an official is bount
to make mistakes that may prove harm
ful If the coaches had to accept th
rulings of the officials the same a
baseball managers do the decisions O.
rmpires an official would have no hest
tancy in making his rulings.
W. & J. Fund for Coaches
The alumni committee Of Washington
anc jefferson has raised $4,000. 1t il
s;in. to pay for the installment of ;
good coaching system, so that next yea
the Presidents may be heard from. Th'
Pennsylvania he'd some of the hes
material Of any Of the elevens thi
fall. but petty fraternity politics. dis
scrsion in the ranks and disagree enlen
among the coaches all served to pre-
vent the team from getting anywhere
One critic recently stated that th
use Of the forward pass was the caus'
Of the poor putting this season, mas
much as PLAYERS now learned to throw
the ball rather han to kick it. Their
may be something IN this, although ~
cant quite see why such should be th
case.
Nevertheless, there is no denying tn
TACT tnat tne arI OF klchlng mas prop
ably dropped to lower level this sea
sen than ever before. So war as w
arc able TO learn there were only thre
real punters here in the East-As
plundh. Of Swarthmore; Brewer, o
Maryland, and Scheerer. Of Princeton
Several others, Carey, of Cornell, an,
Robertson, of Dartmouth, did we'll OF
occasion, but were not consistent.
gccd, AS for placing kicks, that seem
to be lost art.
Speaking of kicking, Glenn Warn-
is in favor of reestahlshing the on
side kick, and. what is more. he woulr
allow the ofTense to make the catct
before the ball reached the ground
provided the defense had no. signelst
for a fair catch.
Also, still speaking Of kicking, I