Today's Tidbit... Novel Rule Suggestions of 1904

Critics assailed football and its rules committee for ten years due to the increased roughness of the game, and the 1904 and 1905 rules committees received any number of suggestions for how to make the game safer. Some suggested altering the playing rules to encourage or force a more open game. Another argued for changing the penalties meted out for illegal behavior.

Let's review three of those suggestions.

Ten Yards in Three Downs

One suggestion for 1904 came from a committee member, Walter Camp. ...