The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-30
lBy Associated Pressl

NEW YORK, Dec. 29.-Four impor. tant changes in the football playing code for 1925 were recommended today by the Football Coaches Association of America, which also went on record as opposed to any radical shakeup in the game or "tinkering" with the forward pass.
 The expected controversy over the aerial game, whose growth in the past | few seasons had been characterized by several coaches as menace" failed to materialize, but the coaches, at the conclusion of their annual session, an- nounced agreement on four suggested alterations, which will be put before the football rules committee for-final con- sideration.
 These changes are: First, abolition of giving first down on offside pen alty, unless penalty gives offensive team ball beyond point to be gained i; second, restoration of kickoff to kickers 40-yard line instead of midfield, with permission to use tee of not more than four inches in height; third, fixing re- sponsibility for watching for rough ness against kicker upon headlinesman instead of referee; fourth, abolition of giving first down on blocked kick be- hind the line of scrimmage if recovered by kicker's side, unless ball is recov- cred at or beyond point to be gained. It was pointed out that the fourth change does not apply to kicks parti- ally blocked which cross the line of scrimmage.
 A fifth recommendation, providing for the elimination of run after re- covery of tumble, was rejected by the association as a whole by an over whelming vote after it had been en- dorsed by the rules suggestion commit tee, headed by Hugo Bezdek of Pennsyl- vania State.
 Zuppke President
 The election of officers developed a spirited contest for the presidency, in which Robert C.. Zuppke, Illinois, de- feated a western conference rival, Field ing H. Yost, Michigan. Zuppke sue ceeds John W. Heisman of Rice in- stitute, Texas.
 Other officers for 1925 are: First vice president, Gilmour Dobie, Cornell second vice president, w. H. Cowell, New Hampshire State; secretary treas urer Dr. John W. Wilce, Ohio State trustees, E. N. Robinson, Brown, one year ;. Michael J. Donahue, Louisiana State, two years; Hugh Bezdek, Pen nsylvania State, three years; George Clarke University of Kansas, four years. A third vice president will be named later by the Pacific coast coaches conference.
 The forward pass was entirely SY1 fho EctO Of faH oh in spite of the widespread agitation prior to the meeting. Harold M. Gore, Massachusetts Aggies coach, who was among the outstanding critics of the aerial game, did not press his demands for it's curtailment, including his sug- gestion that a touchdown from a pass be allowed only three points. Pre- convention issue proposals that the point from try after touchdown be abolished also were shelved.
 The change relating to blocked kicks was adopted only after consider able discussion and re-drafting of the original proposal by Clarence w. Spears, West Virginia coach.
 Tribute was paid by the coaches to the memory of two associates who died ''in the moleskins" during the pdSJ StdSOu-I eTCy I1duSHLOu O1 SO- lumbia, creator of the Harvard sys- tem," and Dana M.g Evans of North western-when the convention sus- pended its business for minute while l those in attendance stood with bowed | heads in silence.
 Commerci9lism has not crept into college football, despite accusations to the contrary, Brig. Gen. Palmer E. Pierce, president of the national col legiate A. A., told the coaches in prais- ing the games influence. A. A. Stagg, l veteran Chicago mentor John F. | (Chick) Meehan, Syracuse; Michael J. Donahue, Louisiana State. and Hugo 1 Bezdek, Pennsylvania state, spoke on topics of special interest to the coaches.
 Among notable gathering of more than POO coaches, athletic directors and other gridiron figures in attend Gnce was "Bo" McMillan, former Cen tre star, who since has coached Gen. tenary college, Louisiana.
 District chairmen were announced, including: South Central Atlantic, H. Q. Byrd, University of Maryland; south, Wallace Wade, Alabama Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Minnesota, William Spauld- ing, University of Minnesota south
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