The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-12-09
TALKING
IT OVER
BY JOE WILLIAMS

NEW YORK, Dec. 9.-Although
IN the fundamental causes of
fatal football accidents this year re-
main uncertain, definite action-in
one case already taken-is promised
by every organization having to do
with the popular college sport.
The action already taken is that Of the
New York chapter Of the football Officials
Association, which has recommended that
its national body requests the return Of
the KICKOFF tee TO the game This &C
cording to Ed Thorp. a leading football
referee and former president Of the New
York chapter, was made with a view OF
reducing the possibility Of massed inter-
ference. or what amounts to flying
wedge" on kickoff plays.
Thorp points out that the employment
Of the tee assures great elevation on the
kick. and that in instances where the
ball does not carry over the receiving
teams goal line for an automatic touch
back it stays so long in the air that the
wedge Of interferers has no opportunity
to gather momentum before the kicking
team is upon it and ready to make the
tackle
Chick Meehan, coach Of New York uni
versity and president Of the Football
Coaches Association, gives his personal
Endorsement to the return of the kickoh
tee and plans Immediately to instruct the
coaches committee on rules to investigate
the fatal accidents and appear at the
impending annual convention with recon-
mendations calculated to guard against
further chances of fatal hurts.
General Palmer Z. Pierce. president
emeritus of the National Collegiate A. A.,
who in 1905 instigated the action which
brought a reformation in the old gridiron
lave, declares that the N. c. A. A.. with
out question. will make a thorough in
aulry into the conditions and seek
positive solution.
And william s. Lanford, secretary Of
the intercollegiate football rules commit
tee. whose regulations govern the game
declares that the business of guarding
against injuries always has been the chief
concern of his organization and that al
ready members Of the committee are
looking into the causes Of the fatal acct
dents this season with view of introduce
ing laws to prevent their repetition.
n
DUT none of the representatives
Dof the four organizations had
the same thought as to the primary
causes Of the recent football fatali-
ties and all deplored the tendency
of critics of the game to charge the
sport with responsibilities for all
the thirty-odd deaths which have
been attributed to it.
But declared Langford. "a single
death in the game-one directly traceable
to footballs enough to stir our deepest
concern. and I myself and other members
of the football rules committee are en-
deavoring now to ind out the exact man
ner in which the injuries we're suffered
that led to the deaths of Sheridan of
Army. Murphy Of Fordham. Nichols of
Alabama. and one or two others whose
passing may be traced to the game.
Il think the reintroduction of the tee
on the KICKOFF is a good move and that
anything else which will help eliminate
the flying wedge" is worth consideration.
think that this virtual juggernaught or
racing interferers is a terrible thing to
face and am for eliminating it from the
game.
yet. how many deaths can be traced TO
It? Murphy was not hurt on such a play,
according to my information. Sheridan
did not meet the full impact of the
wedge. but was cutting in behind it
when he was injured And despite all that
has been said and my personal feeling
against the flying wedge it can not be
blamed for the fatalities of this year.
"One of the problems we of he rules
committee face is that OF finding the real
cause for the accidents. If we could pro-
cure accurate information we would be
better able to deal with the situation
we would know what phase of the game
really needed correction"