The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-10-24
RULES
SATSFY
MOST
BY Davis ]. Walsh

NEW YORK, Oct. 24.For
the first time since they took
the bustles off the players and
put them on cheer leaders, we
seem to have achieved a game
Of football that is coming into
acceptance. even if only by .
minority Of those actively
identified with the proposition.
The writer naturally has talked
with only 4 comparative few Of
the thousands who make football
their life but these have been unani
nous In their tacit affirmation o.
the rules as they are constituted at
the moment.
At the very worst, they feel
that the code should be sent out
on approval for an interval
lasting well into the third year.
1t Il thewriter's opinion that, Il
the goal posts continue on the END
zone, the lateral pass still is oper-
ating and the dead-ball -On-a-fumbied-
punt remains In force with some
degree Of satisfaction at the end
OF the interval in question, they
may stay with US not . great
deal less than forever.
Minor repairs, perhaps; but none
of those machine shop jobs where
a A.
Eope the man win have the conn
bill again.
The football rules committee,
which after all represents the only
and ultimate sentiment In the mat.
ter. isn't going to do anything radi-
cal without provocati0n or even
with it. This committee has been
'sprovocated'' before absolutely to no
purpose because II is uncommonly
consistent In at least one respect.
1t never actually disapproves Of
itself.
III charity begins at home,
it is firmly convinced that self
appreciation pays off the second
mortgage. IL has reared this
step-child: It win stand By IL rs
long as 1t has leg Of its own.
1t. therefore, is encouraging that
criticism, always to be expected in
the face of perfection itself. seems
to be at something Of q minimum.
AS far as my observation goes, tho
lateral pass appears destined to be-
come an integral part of the attack.
A new play last year, it perfOrce
was approached discreetly or not at
all. But now they are beginning to
sense the possibilities OF this play
and gradually it is coming into gene
eral and expeditions. use.
AS it develops it may throw too
great a burden on the defense. in
which case they may have to hobble
it. But it isn't likely they ever VIII
throw it away entirely.
The committee made a dead bail
OF the fumbled punt to take an ele-
ment of great uncertainty out OF the
game and the football coach never
breathed who would think of object
ing. Those gentlemen are all for q
life of untroubled security, never
having had one.
Some of them indeed, are for
going further with this rule.
Glenn Warner, for example, IS
for making a dead ball Of all
fumbIes. / think you can write
the fumble-punt rule in the book
in indelibIe ink.
There has been some adverse COM
ment on the current position OF
the goal posts on the ground that
it discourages field goal kicking.
Rockne isn't even sure that it
does that, since he points out
with justice thta it opens the angle
on kicks from the sidelines and
corners.
At that, the average coach claims
that he isn't for drop lxickers,
per Sc, since most of them are
specialists or at least give too much
attention to their art. have
known coaches, however, who were
able to successfully conceal this
antagonist with the score tied and
80 seconds to play.