The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-09-06
Veteran Coach Predicts
Fans Won't Be Deprived
of Old Thrills.
AID TO OFFICIALS
Plenty Other Ways Remain
to Grab Ball.
BY KNUTE ROCKNE
Member. All-Ameriea Football Board


Member. AlI-America Football Board
Reg. U. s. Patent Office
Last spring when the football
rules committee announced the few
changes that they had made in the
code, there was cry from some of
the column writer's that the big
thrill Of football had been elini-
mated. No longer could the Sam
Whites or Oosterbaans, defensive
linemen, scoop up a tumble and
run the length of the field for a
touchdown, thus inscribing their
name indelibly on the all-time honor
roll. But what are the facts?
In the last couple OF years, foot
ball officiating had become a very
complex job owing to some apparent
antiquities in the rules and numer-
GUS details which were not always
quite clear tc the players or Off
Gals. This new tumble rule makes
officiating very simple and will not
take anything away from the real
game.
There1l Be Runs
1t merely states that when the
team in possession of the ball
fumbles and the ball strikes the
ground, a player on the team in
possession of the ball may still PICK
it up and run with it, but player
on the defensive side can only fall
on it. The players on the defensive
side may not pick it up and run
with it, Critics say that this has
taken the thrill out of football
Nothing OF the kind
The defensive players may still
tackle the ball and take it way from
the ball carriers. They can still
pick a fumbled ball out of the all
before it strikes the ground. They
may still intercept lateral or for
ward pass They may still block a
punt. On any of these breaks
which are based on skill on the part
of the defensive players, they may
run for a touchdown.
Luck and Skill
Recovering a football by a de-
fensive player requires skill. Any
run which ensued after a defensive
player recovered a fumbled ball was
entirely matter Of luck, not skill.
1t depended entirely on whether
there was al opponent close by. A
tumble recovered by the defensive
side is still decided break in their
favor. 1t is equivalent to at least
forty yards. In the opinion of the
rules committee this is sufficient
penalty for a mechanical error.
We still penalize holding fifteen
yards, which is a very mild penalty,
considering the damage which can
be done by such unfair tactics. Most
important of all, officiating this year
will be made much more simple, this
tumble rule having clarified a very
complex situation so that no longer
will the knicker-clad cuStodianS OF
the game be doubling Thomases.
Other Minor Changes
The other changes in the rules are
of a minor nature The rule against
the screen pass has been made a
little more drastic. The same is
true of the rule regarding unneces-
sary roughness by defensive lines
men.
The protection accorded in the
past to the forward passers has
been taken away. The try for ex-
ira point will this year take place
on the two-yard line, instead Of the
three-yard line. The intentions of
the rules committee here was that
the team trying for the extra point
after touchdown might be tempted
to hit the line just as often as they
would place-kick or forward pass.
However, this is doubtful. I believe
most teams will continue to try to
add the extra point by means of the
fairly sure place-kick.
Few Changes Likely
The game of football final
" has crystallized into something
definite and the changes in the fu-
ture will be few and far between.
Practically the only popular dis
pute with anything now in the code
has to do with the try for extra
point after touchdown. There are
many who wish to eliminate this
feature of the game and possibly
about as many if not more who wish
to retain it. This point may be the
cause of much discussion this next
winter.
Copyright 1929. by The Times)