Judge, 1929-10-19 · page 9 of 36
Judge — October 19, 1929 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis: "A Meeting of the Rules Committee" This satirical piece mocks the Intercollegiate Football Association's endless rule-making. Four stodgy officials debate absurd "reforms"—removing goal posts, eliminating referees' whistles, imposing eligibility rules on whistlers (requiring 60% grades, banning those who've tooted horns for money), and scalding anyone who whistles "Pagan Love Song." The joke targets two things: (1) **administrative overcomplication**—well-meaning officials creating byzantine rules that make the game less, not more, sensible; (2) **the disconnect between rule-makers and players/spectators**, exemplified by the demand that substitute players leave deposits on their uniforms since officials don't know who they are. The cartoons show the officials' pretentious self-importance and the chaos their rules create. The satire suggests that college football governance had become increasingly byzantine and removed from practical reality—a recognizable critique of institutional bureaucracy.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A Meeting of the Rules Committee Four solemn, elderly gentle- wearing the conventional 1 togs of the gridiron, sat men, footh: around a mahogany table in the conference room of the Intercol- legiate Football Association. On the center of the table lay an in- tlated — pigski The directors chewed on their gum, knitted their brows in deep thought and said nothing. At last the president broke the tense silence: “Gentlem it’s high time we revised some of our rules. ‘Things are going altogether too smoothly and the public is getting into a position where a few of them are ible to follow. the derstand parts of the 4 The vice-president cleared his throat, swallowed a mouthful of oatmeal water and said: “I think the goal posts should be rev “1 > with Mr. Knockne, said the seeretary. “The goal posts should be sawed into con- venient lengths, to make carrying less burdensome, and divided uates of and un- equally among the the winning college. JUDGE & CS “The Forgotten Gridiron Hero” The treasurer said: do with gether.” “Then there would be nothing to kick over,” replied the presi- dent, bucking the mahogany table and digging his spiked shoes into the rug. “Oh, yes there would.” an- swered the vice-president. “They could kick over the lousy support the line gives them.” The seeretary drew a big, red “HY blanket closer “T would posts alto- around his shoulders and said; “I'm in’ fa- vor of climinating the whistle in 1929." “Then who'c the treasurer. “TM bite—who would?" the president replied. “I can’t, be- cause I can't do anything with my teeth except squirt water referee's whistle?" asked through them. “IT don’t think anyone should he allowed to whistle unless he's received an avera his first semester, president. of over 60% said the vice- nd, if he’s ever tooted a horn for money he should be red under the thre tr eligibility rul Ided the secretary, rising up on one knee and donning a head guard. “And, if he’s ever whistled the Pagan Love Song he should be sealded to death in bubbling lard,” suggested the treasurer, sucking on a wet sponge. “When a substitute runs out onto the field, I think he should leave his name and a substantial deposit on his shirt with the head coach,” said the president. “The spectators never know his name or what he’s running for.” (Continued on page 31)