The Washington times., 1922-01-29

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a little clearer. But on the whole
: alone. ......'
After every season there 10. always
more or less discussion about the
rules and what should be done. and
this year has been no exception. Most
of the talk seems to center about clip
ping" and the rule in regard to
IMAM or men in motion" Before I
discuss the advisahility' of any
changes In these directions ] want
to take UP couple of other points In
the rules, which I regard as really
more important.
/ have advocated for a number of
years. retaining the goal after touch
down, mainly for sentimental reasons.
The kicking of the goal aftertouch-
down has been In the game of foot
ball as long as I can remember. SO
many old landmarks have been de-
stroyed. II seemed, to my way Of
thinking. a pity to let II so. The goal
after touchdown, has been retained In
the rule book year after year, moro
as a concession to tradition than for
any other reason. .. .aq
Rule Unfair.
Up to year or 30 ago the rule pro.
vided that the ball be taken out for
the try at goal from the spot where II
was declared dead. This was really
unfair. A team might make q touch.
down after a series of very brilliant
plays. and yet make the score In the
extreme corner of the field. They
would then have the alternative of
carrying out the bali and trying for Q
goal at q different angle. or trying q
punt out to get the ball In position.
Princeton's march down the field in
1919 against Harvard was one Of the
most brilliant pieces Of offensive foot
ball have seen. The strategy OF the
attack called for a lateral pass on Har-
wards 10-yard line. Strubing and
Trimble executed the play beautifully
on the long side of the field, Trimble
making the touchdown and being
thrown in the extreme side Of the
field.
The angle was too difficult to try
for goal, and, as good fortune had
it, the punt out was successful. Sup
pose II hadn't been, and also suppose
some Harvard player had scored by
picking up a fumbled ball and run
ming the length Of the field instead
of by a brilliantly executed forward
pass. as actually did happen.
It usually happens when a touch
down IL made on a tumble, that the
ball 10 planted between the goal posts.
Unde- such a set Of conditions, hypo-
game would have ended rs. Certain
ly no one will say a goal and touch
down made as result of a fun<le
ID greater team achievement than
touchdown earned by hard, rushing
football.
Would Abolish Goal.
The rules committee wisely modified
the rule and provided for kicking the
goal directly in front Of the posts, no
matter where the touchdown was
made. 1 am now willing to go a step
further and eliminate the goal after
touchdown entirely. Football IL e.
sentially game in which team play
predominates, and while the kicking
OF goal after touchdown IL abso-
iutely q one-man affair, II is still DOS
sib|e for the better team to lose the
game, through the failure Of one man
To kick a goal.
From a coaching standpoint, have
also come to the conclusion II is a
5000 idea to eliminate the goal after
TOUCHDOWN, because'it takes too much
time to practice in an afternoon
where every minute Is precious. %.
There may be players on some
squads with a natural aptitude for
kicking goals. On others, 1t may re-
quire constant drill to develop a sure
Kicker. Again, your goal kicker may
get hurt on the first play Of the game
and have to leave the field and the
next best goal kicker may be a player
inferior to the next natural substf.
tute. While you may hold the goal
Kicker IN reserve, IL you score, you
yhave to call on him or risk the chance
Nofta lost game. -.
There is certainly nothing interest.
ing about practicing kicking goals. in
sact, 1t Is monotoneous for the man
doing the kicking and deadly for the
man holding the ball. Goal kicking
usually interferes with the routine Of
practice unless held before the entire
squad gets on the field. This is often
impracticable and II is a very poor
idea to hold It after practice. Every.
one is over-heated and any player
standing around is very likely to
catch cold. ..h'
Because of these difficulties which
are often more Of reality than they
would appear, goal kicking practice
hazard manner. And a good goal
kicker is often gotten by good luck
more than good management.
Should Number Players.
For several years, there has been
an insistent demand from the public,
the sporting writer's and almost every.
one interested In football, that a rule
be passed requiring the players be
numbered. Practically every college
of consequence In the country with
one or two exceptions) has recos.
nized the fairness Of the request,
and has compelled with IL by volun.
tarily numbering the players In all
important games. II would seem to
me now is the proper time once for
all to settle this question and pass
a rule requiring players be numbered
in all games. Thfs Is small enough
copoession to the public who have 30
generously supported the game Of foot
ball. - 49,. .. " ~
The agitation against clipping is,
TO my way Of thinking, a good deal
OF tempest In a teapot. The burden
OF proof is certainly on the attack
today. II seems to me fundamental
that no one should want to handicap
The offense any more than Il 10 now,
ma this IL what will happen II we pre-