The Washington times., 1924-12-31

The significant point about this
particular New Year game is that
two Of the really inventive coaches
will oppose each other. There are
not many such coaches in the
United States. Gil Dobie is one.
ANDY Smith OF California certainly
has contributed something new In
his kicking game, If not in any
particular play of this game. surely
in his use of the various features
and their combination into a defiE.
lite system,
ROckne's NOtre Dame shift II
his own. A dozen little tricky
feinting movements Of his back
field terminating suddenly in zip
ping passes are his own. His abb
sOlute requirement Of speed as q
first essential In all his players
is unusual. and his plays are
built particularly on this speed.
Rockne's most perfect threat il
the forward pass. The instinct FOL
this the Irish coach inherits. Some
years ago when little Notre Dame
was enjoying a terrible time against
West Point the style OF Notre Dame
changed suddenly, and one Dorais
(now Of Gonzaga) began freakiSf
little plays which ended in sizzling
passes to a youngster who had Just
worked up from the scrubs, K
Rockne by name.
The pass became famous. 1t still
is. Rockne's team will use 1t or
occasions when the average coach
would consider the possibility alb
surd on second down within his
own 2O.yard line, for instance. BuI
it's not absurd with Rockne, as NJ
has an almost perfect backnelc
which can handle passes with a.
much safety as a simple shor
buck.
The Notre Dame sniff has two
purposes. 1t ends in an excellent
formation from which to run
straight or reverse pray, and 1t II
designed to take the opposing linz
off balance Just as the play strikes
Warner, of Stanford, has at leas
one play Of this character, fol
Quarterback Mitchell called i
against California. 1t resulted II
both teams being ruled om-side
and for some reason was not calleC
again. Warner may try 1t agalns
the Irish.
n one needed proof that War.
ner and ROcIEne are original
coaches he need do no more than
study the rule changes In the
last few years. For some reason
thew are directed ut the sort OF
Dlays i'm which the two are most
successful. Take the rule against
screen passes new this season.
Northern Coast coaches asked Tor
the change. Warner bad sur.
prised them with certain types OF
these passes which Andy Kerr
and ThornhiIl used last season.
And the rule changing the kick
off this year. Warmers kickoff re
turn play was the best grounC
gamer he had; so good, in fact, tina
his teams always received kicks OF
when others would elect to kick
The rule was changed to give ever
more advantage to the KICKING
team, when practically all coaches
but Warner thought the kicking
eleven already to have the advan
tage.
Now a few Fasteners are asking
that a. touchdown made by use o
the forward pass be reduced IL
value to three points, or to som'
value less than that Of a touch
down.
OF course the changes and re
quested changes may not be direct
ed at either Warner or Rockne
This may be only an UNUSUAL!
onsistent coincidence. But wha
Jther coach than Rockne has made
such outstanding use Of the pas
in the East as to justify any senti
ment requiring a change?
OF course the changes have not
and future changes will not, hur
the really inventive coaches. War
ner had new passes this season
which worked just as well as thos'
Of last season to which some oh
jected as unfair. . An inventiv,
coach can't be beat by a mer'
change in rules.
They're Holding Up