Bugs Baer’s Rules to Take the Brutality Out of Football

(Copyright, 1916, by The Press Publishing Company)

  • No player shall be kicked for a goal by a player on the opposing side.
  • Cleats may be worn on the shoes, but not on the face.
  • The referee may arbitrarily award the contest to the team with the most teeth at the end of the game.
  • A down is declared when the ball is as dead as some of the players.
  • A foul shall be declared when one contestant refused to take his ear from between an opponent’s teeth.
  • Both sides will be frisked for weapons before the actual time of play.
  • Not more than twenty-one players shall loiter on the runner’s face at one time.
  • Plows may be secured from the National Harvester company and will do the work much better than the fullback’s nose.
  • No contestant may leave the field during the time of play unless identified by some near relative.
  • No hooks shall be used.
  • Ears, chins and toes found on the field of play will be kindly returned to the Lost and Found department.

With this set of rules the Ladies’ Auxiliary believes that football will be made so safe that even an insurance agent can enjoy the game.

Source : Syracuse Herald, October 23. 1916

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