New-York tribune., 1922-10-25

the score OF a game.
That Mr. Mcrice acted entirely With
In his rights In admitting that he made
biunder was not denied. That ne
saouid take upon himself the authority
TO decide that to was the score,
with ". Y. y. the loser, was questioned,
particularly by N. Y. U. officials. Eff
forts were made to get an opinion
from Walter Camp on the decision,
but the dean of football, at his home
aa New Haven, declined TO comment.
The play around which the reversal
OF ruling was r.ade occurred In the
first period. Columbia, with the ball
in her possession at her own ten-yard
line, attempted punt Bcrkwit, of
n. Y. u, broke through and blocked
Roderick's attempt to punt. The ball
bounced over the Columbia goal line
snd into the crowd just behind the
goal posts. Toorock, of n. Y. u, re-
covered the bail and Referee Morice
allowed touchdown,
The rule under which Referee Morice
changed his decision Is found in the
Intercollegiate Football Rules, under
the caption of approved Ground
Rules" and reads:
"a blocked kick, which after being
blocked crosses the kickers goal line
and into the stand or among the
spectators shall count as safety"
The main point brought out by the
unusual episode, is whether referee
can change score, hours or days after
the end OF e contest by obliterating
simply one play in which the official
ruling had been incorrect. It Is con-
tended in this case that New York
University would have played q diff
ferent game il it had not gone along
on the assumption that the referee
ruled correctly concerning the sup
posed touchdown.
In this instance a safety would have
given New York University the ball
at it's own 30-yard line. Instead Co.
iumbia was in position to exercise the
option of the side scored upon and
10 elected TO receive a kickoff. This
was an instance of how the mistake
affected the immediate plav. 1t is ex-
pected that higher officials will be
asked by New York University as to
whether referee has the power to do
anything more than admit his own
mistake.
Statement by Referee
Referee Morice's statement follows
"Some hours after the finish of the
New York University Columbia game
on Saturday, October 81, discovered
that ] had made wrong ruling in
connection with the touchdown I al
lowed New York University on CO.
lumbia kick, which was blocked and
which went into the grandstand back
of the Columbia line.
"Under the approved ground rules
in the back of the rule book, under
1B. this should have been declared
osfety. This would have made the
fnai score to 2 in favor of Colum-
blu, instead of to in favor OF New
f.rk University.
ri immediately endeavored to get
IN touch with Mr.. Hall and Mr.. Camp,
OF the rules committee, by wire and
q. telephone, to secure their opinion as
to the proper method of correcting
the error, but they were both away,
and | have been unable TO reach
either of them until to-day.
"In justice to Columbia, I feel !
must publicly admit my error and
reverse my decision on the play in
question, so that the final official
score should have been to in
favor of Columbia.
Il wish to express my very great
regret to both teams-to Columbia
fer depriying them of a victory at
bhS tAiieCt anu W ANSW OEh OHINGT~
sity for having to reverse my deci-
zion at this late date--but as il was
not question of judgment but of
the rules themselves, feel that I
cannot do otherwise. Neither of the
other officials was in any way con-
cerned with the decision"
What Coach Thorp Says
Tom Thorn, the N, Y. IT, coach, gave
cat the following statement;
We outfought them and outplayed
them In their own backyard, and we
Cont have to outtalk them, So far as
can see, there is no reason for any
orr TO protest the game for any reason
&C all. see no legitimate reason for
sdr. Morice to change his decision
Those who were at the game know thai
We outplayed them outgamed them ane
susYought them. That is what we wen
ilcwn there for, and now that it i,
finished we don't allow any one to cues
tion it. The referee has made seri
GUS error il he has reversed any de
- niston OF the game and VIC beliey
MAT American sportsmeu will decid
with us in the matter.
Rule II, Sec. 2, says that the ref
ssee's decision rs final. Evidently Mr
Morlce overlooked this rule when h,
attempted to reverse his decision, Nov ~
tnat he has attempted to reverse hi,
aeeision will he please point ont unde,
what rule he made the change?
Had he declared it a safety ",
would have scored two points ant
brought The ball back TO Columbia ),
so-yard line. Instead of that they mad,
as take the ball en- our own doyare
line and kick off. Now. if he is iusti
,led in his decision. how will he iustif,
himself for taking thirty yards ava;
from US?
The fact that we scored a touch
down and kicked goai made us play
ciserent game. A team leading an on
fonent that outweighs it always re
sorts TO kicking game. Had only tw,
points separated US our style of MA,
would have been entirely different. 4,
10 was, my team was acting as a pace
maker. and | was satisfied TO let then
stay out In front by q small margin
My purpose was not to smother Celum
bia By large score bnt to demonstYat,
good fighting spirit. Everybody VIII,
was there will agree that the Kind O
foetban we exhibited was superior 1
Colu.nbia's playing. AS far as New
York University is concerned. the scor,
was to g."