Norwich bulletin., 1922-10-27

New York Oct. 26 (By the A. P.)- The attention of football followers has, within the past few days, been focus sed upon the work of big game officials as the result of the reversed decision in the Columbia-New York university contest last Saturday. The average spec tator, particularly the one without pre- vious playing experience, knows little If anything. regarding the duties and re- responsibilities of the four men who have charge of what is without doubt ons of the hardest assignments in the cat alogue of modern sport competition.
 Wherever football authorities and en- thusiasts have gathered during the past few evenings the conversation has be- come almost exclusively confined to the reverse ruling it's effect upon the game In question and other gridiron techn:- calities. Much of this discussion wen. over the head of the non-expert. Those who infected remarks on the subject showed that they held little grasp upon the involved duties of the men who pass final judgment on the plays.
 Many Believe Morics Right
 It appears to be the general opinion among football officials that referee Mo- rice in the Columbia-New York univer- sity game did the right and manly thing in reversing his decision once he was convinced that he had made an error. The stand is taken regardless of the fact that forty eight hours elapsed be- fore such reversal was made public. As one prominent official put it What else was there for him to do? He realized that he had made wrong decision and the only thing to do was to rectify it, once he was sure of all the facts" Opinions Differ
 Opinions began to vary after this point. Some held that Columbia won the game under the reversed ruling while others took the stand that the referees juris- diction over the contest ended when he left the field at the close of the game. The theory of the latter faction was that N. Y. U., left the field ' to 6 victor and no amount of reversais at later date could change the situation. The fact was stressed that eliminating or changing play after game end ed deprived at least one team of an opportunity to shift it's method of at tack or defense, as the case might be, in subsequent plays.
 While such situations are extremely rare in this history of football the fact remains that officials in such intercoi- l legiate contests work under responsibili- ties and strain seldom experienced by the arbitrators in other prominent sports or games This is particularly true of both the referee and umpire. They are ] obliged to follow the players to all parts of the field. frequently at top speed
 This requires physical condition lit 1 tie short of that attained by the actual 1 contestants.
 Referees Job No Cinch
 Bumps and bruises as the result of col. ! gently an official was knocked senselesS
 and had to be carried from the field 1 Some officials who make a practice o1 diving into scrimmage after a fum. ble, to ascertain the holder of the bal
 wear football armor under their officiat | ing suits.
 1 Preparation for such duties not only physical conditioning, but mental train | ing as we'll An official who has mas tered all the rules. approved finding: and decisions on trick plays, such a! | the shift in it's various formations, mus
 necessarily spend many nights in stud, and conference with other authorities Rules and approved decisions also chang frequently and new plays are constant ly being originated requiring careful study and observation before it can b decided whether they are legal or illeg
 al
 For their work they receive from s2
 to $100 and expenses per game accordin
 to the calibre of the contest. In tn
 past rulings that did not please one o
 the other team have led to the fran
 statement you'll never come back her
 again." Action by the intercollegiate
 rules committee and the national col
 legiate A. A., have rectified such sit
 nations.
 It is surprising, howver. in view 0
 the excitement, stress of play and rush
 ing about of tWenty-two players tha
 mistakes are not more frequent