Evening star., 1954-01-04
Few Changes Likely
In Football Rules as
NCAA Session Opens
BY the Assoeioted Press

CINCINNATI, Jan. 4s-No ma
jor changes for 1854 football, in
either the television Setup or the
substitution rules. were in pros
pect today as the National
Collegiate Athletic Association
launched it's Six-day 48th annual
convention.
The parent body takes no def
mite action an anything until
Friday, but early indications
were that, in the absence Of any
heated objections, the group
would cling to the restricted tel
evision setup and the one-pla-
toon style of play.
Some 1900 of the Nations out
standing athletic administrators
and coaches were slated to at
tend the sessions of the NCAA
and five affiliated groups. Not
too many were on hand today for
executive committee meetings.
Coaches Meet Tomorrow.
The heavy action starts to-
morrow when the American
Football Coaches Associations
rules committee, under Chairman
Lou Little of Columbia, begins
shaping up recommendations to
be submitted to the NCAA rules
committee at Sarasota, Fla, jan
uary IL.
The coaches, who had the one
platoon plan thrust upon them
a year ago despite their one
sided poll against it, are expected
to offer only minor changes.
Evidently convinced they are
"stuck" with the setup for at
least another year, the coaches
may urge only a slight liberal
ization of the substitution rules.
On the other hand one faction
would like to eliminate the four
minute rule which allows in
eligible players to return to the
field late in the second and
fourth quarters.
Football Rules Criticized.
"The way it is now," one OF
that faction said, I'VE are play
ing six periods of football in
stead of four, and under two
sets of rules, It lust doesn't
make sense"
Several amendments to come
before the NCAA at the big Fri
day session. if passed, would give
back to the governing group
some of the regulatory powers it
lost three years ago when the
controversial sanity code" was
voted out at Dallas.
The amendments would set up
an eligibility code on a national
basis. instead of allowing. each
school or conference to set its
own; limit basketball teams to
rs games. exclusive of post-season
tournaments, outlaw football
practive before September / each
fall and limit the season 10
games, exclusive of bowl dates,
and streamline the machinery
Tor. diSciplining violators.
Small Colleges Seek Vote.
Another proposed amendment
would allow the election of a vice
president at large, who would
represent the interests and view
points Of the smaller colleges.
Also proposed is the establish
ment Of a permanent committee
OF nine to concentrate on devel-
oping talent for the Olympics.
Dean Albert B. Moore of Ala
bama. NCAA president, said the
move to name a vice president at
large was very significant in
that it tends to give the smaller
colleges a larger voice in the ac-
tivities Of our organization"
Although some so sessions of
various baseball, football, track,
public relations and business
manager groups are scheduled.
several colleges and universities
are expected to find time to line
up new coaches for next year.
And more talking will be done in
lobbies than in the conference
rootns-at least until Friday
when everything comes up. for a
vote.