WHAT IS THE ANSWER?

This evening at the Harvard Club of Boston New England football coaches and officials will hold a meeting to discuss recommendations to be made to the Rules Committee, which meets next week. This is similar to a number of other meetings which have been held at various places recently at the suggestion of the Rules Committee. Their value cannot be questioned, and shows a broad-mindedness on the part of the Committee which make the Alumni Bulletin's appelative, "reactionary", sound a little off key.

One of the most important suggestions to be discussed is Major Daly's, in regard to kicking a goal after a touchdown. Major Daly proposes that instead of a free try from directly in front of the goal for winning an extra point, the teams be lined up in scrimmage formation and the offensive eleven be given the opportunity to score the point by one play--kick, rush, or pass. The change is well worth consideration, for it seems inappropriate that the place-kick following a touchdown, the result of which is at least partly determined by luck, should be the margin of victory in so many games. Two other problems are that of "clipping" or cutting down from behind, and that of whether men should be allowed to be in motion when the ball is put into play. Opinion is not united on these questions, as there are some who believe that clipping should be allowed in certain cases; it is clear, however, that the meaning of the rules should be freed from all ambiguity.

All of this discussion is technical, stimulated by excellent intentions, and necessary; but we are inclined to agree on technical matters with Coach Fisher when he says: "The game is all right; let it alone." It is probably not to be expected that the coaches will discuss the more general and more vital problems of the game--the problems about which such a great number of educators, and newspapers, have been talking lately; those who "teach" the game are too close to see its dangerous tendencies. Nevertheless, if the coaches could realize the absolute necessity of grading down the over-emphasis now placed on the game--by cutting down practice to term-time, and by placing more emphasis on the value of playing the game for itself, not for victory--football would benefit greatly.

The coaches have the welfare of the game at heart; if they will come to have less rivalry among themselves, and value victory less, many questions will be nearly answered.

Which is more important--what one thinks oneself, or what the public demands?