The Washington times., 1922-11-24

the batter.
M one goes to a ball game to see
a ahutout. Neither do gridiron fans
no miles to witness a kicking match
With the team receiving the break
winning tho contest.
That is what present-day football
brin9s about, however. A team with
q consistent kicker, a good pair OF
ends and strong defense can hold It's
own with the strongest aggregation
in the country. This has been proved
An far too many cases this fall for
anyone to doubt 1t.
win It continue? That 10 q ques-
tion that football fans must answer.
II protests enough are made the rules
cornmittee will no doubt decide on
II appears as IL new legislation
vouId be effective IL the code were
changed to read ten yards In five
tries" or eight yards in five downs
Either would take Just enough away
from the defense to even 1t up with
the attack.
around for a team to gain IN four
tries. Against mediocre materih
strong aggregation has little trou.
Bile In gaining as many YARDS as
desires. and the fact that II Is apie
20 gain strengthens It's opinion that
liz rival can only kick when 1t re-
ceives the ball.
A team that first downs can be
scored upon under the present
rules Is one that Is seldom able to
gain any distance on attack. Under
such conditions, the rules give the
stronger team . decided advantage
over . rival.
The fact that some teams have
run I'D record scores is going to be
used by critics as argument why the
present code does not take away
rom the attack any of rs strength.
This f. where they are going to
make their gravest mistake. The fact
that one team can rough shod over
\ rival II no reason why the latter
should not be offered some protec'
taon.~
IL In not the strong teams that are
IN need Of help. 1t Is the little Tel.
lows who have acted as trial horses
Cor the big elevens that are seeking
reimbursement.
have watched small elevens bat
Tie With some Of the biggest In the
eountry. Tho fact that they put up
Q GOOD fight against strong oppo-
sttion 10 no reason why they should
b battered Ground until the former
> think they have had enough Tor one
afternoon,
Hsd the rules been such that tho
su,aIIer teams could have gained
= couple Of first downs, rs . sort
al breathing spell, the games
Touid not have been so One-sided,
nor would SO many injuries have
been suffered by tho smaller
sleycns..
However. the fact that ten yards
has 70 bs gained in four tries made
Il impossible for the small team to
kesp the ball In its possession for
any iength of time. Maybe q down
could be wasted. But nothing more.
A second or third down might
have brought about tumble. Under
such circumstances q larger score
would be registered against them.
The game of football Ii getting to
- Z national pastfme. Larger
crovrds. than ever before turn out
for the classics. Every one wants
10 see what 10 the attraction at a
gridirun contest.
II u q conservative estimate to
say that close to q couple Of million
peroons witness the big Eastern
ranfes each Saturday. This does not
include the many that attend the
ANAL college, high school, grammar
school and club games.
This indicates that the game has
outgrown what II was intended for,
an American intercollegiate pas
time. II has drawn in all grades
q players. II n for the latter that
lam asking that something be done
10 help balance the offensive and
defensive strength of the game.
In no other game does ono side
have 90 great an advantage an the
defense enjoys over the attack in
football. It II 20 great that the
fans are beginning to wonder when
the men In office will remedy the
fault. Any remedy will increase In
terest and make the game more
popular than ever.