New Britain herald., 1930-10-15

shift legislation is expected to prove no actual hardship on their style. By L. S. (Larry) MacPhail
 National Football Referee
 The impression exists that the changes in the 1880 rules further restricting the use of the shift were directed at Knute Rockne and the Notre Dame school of football. Coaches of more than 25 college teams received their training al Notre Dame. Such notable successes as Gus Dorais at Detroit, "Jim- mic" Phelan at Purdue and Wash ington; "Charley' Bachman at Flor ida; Slip" Madigan at St. Marys California, and a host of up and coming youngsters, including Chuck" Collins at North Carolina Noble Kizer, who is succeeding Phelap at Purdue, and Jimmie Crowley at Michigan State, are dis ciples of the Rockne- system and use variations of the Notre Dame shift.
 Origin of Shift
 The shift has been a matter O. controversy since it was originated by Dr. Harry Williams at Mime sota about 1908. In the old Min nesota shift all il players changed positions. It was purely a power at- tack and the purpose was to get more players to given spot than the defense could muster and get them there first.
 The rules at the time were in- definite and their interpretation a matter of dispute. The shifting team was generally in motion when the ball was passed and this gave them an unfair edge over a team that did not use the shift. Non-shifting teams refused to schedule teams that employed the shift. The "old schoor demanded that it be abolish ed.
 The Notre Dame Offense
 Notre Dame's main offensive weapon is its running attack. Ii typifies speed and deception rather than power. Rockne employs only g backfield shift and uses it to de- velop rhythm and coordination ir the light fast Notre Dame backs The shifts are varied and a change of pace is introduced so that if the defense disregards the ball in charg. ing, they are apt to be off side. Other successful coaches prefer set offense. If there was any ma, terial advantage and the shift was suited to their material, they woulG use it. Rockne uses this style of at. tack to perfect ryhthm, gain de- ception, and to keep the defense back on it's heels. He believes it has enabled Notre Dame to compete upon an equal basis with team: possessing more inherent power | Naturally those who follow Rockne'l system oppose further restriction: which would virtually abolish the shift.
 Rules Restrict Shift Unfair momentum as the ball | passed was eliminated, as far a: the rules are concerned. by legisla ton several years ago. The questio. has been a simple one. Do all thu shifting players come to an abso lute stop, remain stationary for /; second before the ball is passed? they do, the shift is legal
 In spite of the clear provisions of the rules, the annual criticism o the shift continues. Some of it t justified. Some coaches are not con cerned whether their teams stop O not. Some officials are timid il varying enforcement.
 On the other hand. there arr coaches who let out a yelp ever. time they meet a shifting team. Th' alibi for the defeat is the claim o illegal motion. Some of then are not satisfied with a stop-the. want a vacation.
 The annual discussion center around Rockne, though Notre Dam is only one of hundred team that use the shift.
 Notre Dame Shift Legal
 The cruX of the matter is th spirit in which the shift is used Ethically, there is nothing unfai about the Notre Dame shift, anr coaches such as Rocknc, Phelal and Dorais time their own shift anc know when it is within the rules. Fielding Yost was heard to re mark after the Notre Dame South ern California game last fall, "' woud have been perfectly satisfied with Rocks shift. Notre Dam, came 10 a complete stop and thei shift was perfectly legal" Few o Notre Danes major opponents offe