The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1960-01-22
Rules Committee
FumbIes the Ball
BY Lou Fabro
Times Sports Editor

49,
Times Sports Editor
Like a stuffy millionaire expressing pride because
he gave a destitute friend a dime, the NCAA Football
Rules Committee told the college coaches that they
can have unrestricted use of the "Wild card" substi-
tute in 1860.
In commenting on the concession, Gen. Bob Ney-
land of Tennessee, who is chairman of the committee,
said:
"This gives coaches a wider latitude of subsitu-
ton without returning to the tWo-platoon system" he
added IF the one wild card substitute works out well,
next year we may 60 to two or three"
The committee chairman said further the solu-
zion we arrived af may not be perfect, but we feel ii
is a step i'm the right direction"
The logical question which pops up is "Why just
take only one step in the right direction-why not
60 all the way?'
Before going any further, we'll explain the sub
Stitution setup. Under last seasons rules substitutes
in groups of two to IL could be sent into a game twice
during a quarter while the clock was stopped. A single
player, known as the wild card could be substituted
only during a time out and provided he had not used
up his two charged entries in the quarter.
AS a result of the "step in the right direction" a
wild card player now can be substituted at any time
while the clock is running, and as many times as the
coach chooses to send him into the game.
Prior TO the action of the rules committee, there
was quite a BIT of lobbying activity. The nations
coaches voted overwhelmingly TO bring back unre-
sfricsed substitution while NcAA delegates voted by
n 81 margin to urge the committee TO ignore the
coaches plea.
The committee, under pressure from both sides,
decided 10 seek a compromise. Apparently Ine COM
promise was satisfactory to the NCAA delegates but
the coaches weren't exactly jumping in the air and
clicking their heels.
Notre Dame Coach Joe Kuharich called the de-
cision "shortsighted action" The way Kuharich ex-
planned Il personally feel that you are hurting the
game by not allowing unlimited substitution" He
added, eventually it has to come. It's inevitable"
Commenting further, Kuharich said THE fans
want il, the coaches want il, the players want it. Who
Is opposed TO ii is what would like TO know"
Ohio State Coach Woody Hayes said Il am some
what disappointed that they didn't return to pla-
toon football" He added, " the action they took is
a step in the right direction"
Most of the coaches weren't as ~outspoken as
Kuharich but expressed their thinking in the same
channel as Hayes.
However it certainly could be assumed that they
were more unhappy than they would say in public.
To refresh some minds, unlimited substitution
was allowed until 1858 when the rules committee de-
cided to impose rigid restrictions. This eliminated
specialists and tWo-platooning. Of course the pros
aren't bound by the NCAA and they use unlimited
substitution to the limit.
1t seems that the rules committee is a bit out of
Unlimited substitution allows more players TO see
more action. Present restrictions cause more players
TO Just warm the bench-which isn't any fun.
The very foundation for athletic programs is to
allow boys to take an ACTIVE part in sports. Bench
warming certainly isn't this writer's idea of sports
activity.
In an attempt to support the committees action,
Gen. Neyland said colleges are charged with turning
out graduates who can succeed in any field. IL the
graduate wants to coach, and has experience playing
only on offense or defense, he comes running back
to learn the other half of the game"
This certainly is weak reasoning. The outstanding
players 90 to the pros and Immediately become
speciaists-like Johnny Unitas or Lou "The Toe
Groza. If they 60 into college coaching, they become
assistants and specialize in one phase like backfield or
line coaching.
If they go TO a high school, they might be Just
an assistant coach anyway. If they are named head
coaches, they certainly would know enough TO teach
the team all phases of The game. Offer all, defensive
men would have TO know a LOT about offenses to stop
the opposing team. The same Is true of offensive men,.
Furthermore, college athlete oftentimes finds
himself at a small school where he coaches all sports
football, basketball and baseball. Isn't he qualified
IL he played only football?
Of course, there's the old argument that small
colleges are hurt by unlimited substitution since they
don't have the manpoWer that the big colleges have.
But are the small colleges hurt by unlimited SUBJ
~stitution? After all, Slippery Rock College doesn't
play Ohio State. What we're trying to say is that col
leges generally play in their various classes.
From this corner, it appears the rules committee
simply fumbled the ball.