Evening star., 1921-12-21

Knute Rocknes views on the subject
of shifts are most interesting. The
Notre Dame coach believes they have
grown as much because of public de-
mand as because of any tactical value
In their use.
Praises Shift and Pass.
"Out west" says Rockne. 'the shifting
OF the backtieId and indeed the line has
made a hit with the public inasmuch as
1t lends color to the game. adds spec
tacular effect. Il sort of pageantry wiich
catches and holds the eye. As matter
of fact. so marked is the demand on the
part of the public that in the middle
west you will see coaches putting on
shifts merely for the sake of catering to
the patrons of the sport and with no
special idea that they are going to be
unsolvabe by tie defense.
There is no reason why these shifts
should not be legal and l think any rule
tending to eliminate them would be re-
Sented in this section at least. There is
no intrinsic harm in a shift. especially a
shift wherein the backfied men are
moving lateraliy to new positions. OF
course, a forward movement in such
cases is clearly Illegal. AS for forward
passing it is exact and not a hit or miss
play. 1t is of the body of modern foot
ball. organic"
Rockne tells his men that under no
circumstances should a forward pass
fail to work. He instructs them with
the utmost care in every element of the
operation and then leaves it up to his
players to see that every factor functions
properly. When the pass is incompleted
his men know that the play was not at
fault. but that some cog in the machinery
failed to work. A mental attitude of
the sort in launching an overhead play
has values that will readily be appreci-
ated.
Yet. on the other hand. if Rockne's
idea OF the overhead heave should be
made practical throughout the country.
the play thus having no defense. save
that of error on the part of the attacking
side. one may imigine that the old con-
trovcrSy of the balance as between Of
fense and depense would rise with new
emphasis.
Sees No Need for Change.
DR.. John Il. Wilce, coach of Ohio
State, believes that there is no need
of legislation against the forward
pass. save perhaps change in the
rules which would tend to assist the
officials in enforcing the rule against
interference with eligible men after
the ball is snapped.
Let coaches" said DR.. Wilce,
"spend as much time on defending
against the pass as they do in teach
ing the positive side of the throw
and there will be no trouble. l have
heard talk of rule prohibiting
desperate eleven from throwing for
ward passes in the final stage of a
game. Nonsense. All that is neces-
sary is for the team against whom
the passes are thrown to defend
properly. Modern foot ball demands
Intelligent coaching and not rules de-
signed to account for the lack of it"
All Appear Satisfied.
In general. not one letter or piece
of personal testimony obtained from
a dozen western and southern coaches
gave the slightest hint of anything
save satisfaction over the present
status of the foot ball rules.
Inspired by last seasons agreement
between Yale and West Point not to
point for their game, several big col
lege terms who build with climatic No
vember struggles in view, and yet have
October games which they do not wish
TO lose. have put out feelers with the
idea OF asrertainng how preliminary
opponents might feel about this. 1t is
known, for example, that Princeton
would like very much to play Chicago
next year upon the basis of an under
standing OF the sort. Not long ago
Stagg received an unofficial inquiry as
to this.
One may say. knowing Stagg. that this
Is Dreci,ely the sort of matter he would
support heartily and perhaps it will be
feasible if Princeton and Chicago re-
lations continue. But just now the
intersec honal feeling is to keen. Out
west tn ny have always believed that the
east hoNs western foot ball in contempt.
and as long as this mpression-which
is now wholly acknowledgement 4
sentlemen's agreement as to pointing
is hardly likely as between an eastern
and western eleven.
downright 1921