The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-10-03

Members of the Indiana Officials
Association spent practically their
entire meeting time Monday night
discussing the gray-thatched men
tors system. Bert Coffin, an aSSo-
citation member who worked in the
game, was the target of a barrage
of questions by the whistle tooters.
Coffin, admittedly stumped by the
situations that grew out of the five
man back field, dispatched to Major
John L. Griffith, Big Ten athletics
commissioner, his umpire's card
used in the game Saturday. The
majors decisions will be handed
down before the Indiana-Ohio State
clash at Columbus next Saturday.
One Guard Named
Umpire Cofin's lineup card re-
veals that the lineup presented him
by Coach McN1illin listed two full
backs, one referred to as the left
full back and the other the right
full back. 1t named only one guard.
officials point to Rule 5, section l,
of the official football rules where
the paragraph under the title Num-
Der of Players" states: THE game
shall be played by two teams of
eleven men each. A f1elo captain
must be designated for each team" "
A diagram, also shown, deSignates
the positions of the players. The
diagram names the players as they
appear in customary position on Of
Tense as, two ends, two tackles, two
guards, a center, quarter back, two
half backs and full back.
Rule Z, Section g covers several
things a team on offenSe must COM
ply with, one being that the often
Sive team must have seven men on
the line of scrimmage when the ball
is snapped Indiana is reported to
have been penalized some for in
fraction of this rule Saturday, but
in most instances they are reported
to have complied with it. Some
players failed to get up to the line
in time, but that had nothing to do
with the five-man back field system.
Rules frightened
A peculiar twist has been inserted
into the rules this fall that makes
the rule covering tackle, guard and
center tighter than ever.
Article 3. Section 2 of Rule 7
states: THAT a player ordinarily
occupying the position of center,
guard or tackle on offense (unless
permanently shifted into the back
field may not be behind the line
of scrimmage on offense at the time
the ball is put in play unless he is
at least five yards back of his line"
Penalty for violation of this rule is
five yards. A supplemental note ex-
plains the word permanently" to
mean a lineman so shifted into the
back field can not return to a line
position during that game.
McMillin is reported to have used
the flve-man system at Kansas
State before coming to Indiana this
year. 1t also is reported that the
officials last Saturday asked DO"
who was the left guard on his team,
but he refused to say. naming five
men. one an end whom he declared
would always be on the line Of
scrimmage when the ball was
snapped.
Officials Must Know
The officials must know before the
game starts-and hereafter-who
are guards, tackles and center prop
erly to judge whether these men are
on the line of scrimmage when the
ball is snapped, or are five yards
back as the rule requires.
Also, if one of these five men
changes to a permanent back field
position, he relinquishes any right
to return TO the game as a Ineman.
Whether it is legal for Indiana to
start a game with the umpire in
possession of an official lineup that
has two full backs and one guard. is
the bone Of contention among the
officials.
They agree they must know who
the five men are. Major GrifithS
decree about the matter is awaited
with interest by Indiana officials.