Jim Kershner’s This day in history » On the Web: spokesman.com/topics/local-history

From our archives, 100 years ago

Spokane was preparing for the big rivalry football game of the season: Wenatchee High versus Spokane High.

So The Spokesman-Review helpfully printed a guide to “New Football for the Uninitiated,” explaining the new rules as of 1911:

• “A touchdown counts five, a goal from touchdown one, a goal from field by placement or drop-kick three, and a safety touchdown two.”

• “Ten yards, not five as of old, must be gained in three downs.”

• “Forward passing, that is, throwing the ball beyond the line of scrimmage, is permitted.”

• “There is no penalty for an ‘incompleted’ forward pass, that is, one that falls to the ground, save the loss of a down.”

• “The mysterious ‘pillow’ that lies loose on the field marks the 20-yard zone, in which it is forbidden for a player on the offensive side to recover a kicked ball. Beyond that pillow, it is anybody’s ball on a kick. The pillow is used instead of a flag to prevent an accident.”

• Penalties included “hurdling in the scrimmage,” “pulling along a player carrying the ball” and “crawling.”

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1960: The last DeSoto was built by Chrysler, which had decided to retire the brand after 32 years.