New-York tribune., 1884-02-27
TIE HEW RULES FOR COLLEGE SPORTS.

4 LETTER FROM WALTER c. CAMP, OF YALE.
To me Edttor o. TAe Tr'OuHe.
SIR: The alleged introduction Of profession
asm into college athletics has become chronic hugbear
with which certain colleges periodically endeayor To
frghten the public Incensed at the public refusal to be-
scared these colleges now attack intercollegiate sports
and drag their bugbear into action with little fairness or
lortc Professional trainers they say. will to be
eupoved III all college games because by TINS means stu
dents gain skill and experience.
Now notice the facts: Yale without professional
trainer won the champion pcnnant IN baseball IN
1881 1ss2 and 1883 The other colleges with scarcely
an exception had such trainers. IN football Harvard and
Princeton have employed professionals 20 train ther
teams only to meet with yaTlabie defeat by Yale teams
not coached by professionals professional can teach
coeze students few things about their sports well as
college man can. because he less apt M learning the
temper Of his men and in handling them with tact and
discretion He weaker in organizing and more prone
to perfect individuals at the expense Of system He is
rarely as good instructor As the college man. not be
cau-e he docs not understand what he teaches but be-
cause he does understand his pupils. College dtl-
lee ORGANIZATIONS if left 10 themselves. would soon
work out their salvation IN these matters Toy learn
inc bv experieuce that college coach is preferable TO
professional; and the KnOwedce thus acquired Is far
more lasting and convincing than Faculty decrees rules
or regulations.
decision by the Faculty that one uneducatcd man can
ytate the natural gentemany instincts OF dozen edu-
ea1ed men, IS a slight upon the students strength OF
character and any graduate could name set Of men In
college athletes eher-whOse influence Tor e'ii ana
dissipation tnlOd stronger than that Of all the pro-
fessioual trainers ever engaged. College all
saints but there among Them atmosphere OF college
honor clear beyond the OF professionalism or
snv external influence cloud. Even the athletic COM
mtee Of the Harvard Faculty found both graduates and
undergraduates rising when that honor was az
sailed by decree demanding that their football organ
zation should repudiate its agreement.
It is also proposed that a committee consisting OF a
member of the Faculty of each college adopting these
resolutions shall supervise and make rules for all con-
tests The players themselves are more competent 10
Judge Of the rules governing them and OF the remote
effect OF such rules than persons physically ncapaci-
tated for playing Of whom are bssftdy ignorant
Of the size Of the ball other materials used Such
committee even II able and willing 10 watch every after
noons praetce or every game during the Year, would
proye incompetent rule-makers. PrincetOH .and Yale
delegates at last football convention coedd any
thing and everything TO the wishes OF the Harvard Fac
ulty in order TO avoid in future the roles Of last
season but must have been task to work their
suggestions into practicable shape. Yet the game
previously played nearly rough in the days
OF hfteens nor II is in England. The rules are
more binding and exact and like other matters, when
left the interested they RAPIDLY approaching
Playing games with professionals is objected on
ground that the studentmanagers fall into the hands Of
]
regiousy kept away from the water he learn
take Of himself by being taken Of BY their
management OF college organizations IN their dealings
OUTSIDE parties the students learn best how look
after their interests IN business Ike and sefTeant
! manner.
The resolution OF the conference engage no
contests with colleges joining the union adopting
resolutions entire II Il far dictate In such
matters, but 70 rule, In effect that because Brooks
! Yale runs Myers. eight Harvard men who never saw
Brooks shall eight Yale who scarcely know
Brooks s ridiculous II will also please Messrs. Agassz
Watson and FennO tthe Harvard committee who pro-
posed and signed the rules binding Harvard 70 Yale
four mile every year unaer conditions accedcd ~
by ale) 10 be placed In 80 decidedly queer position.
IN fact all the colleges are not likely TO agree as TO the
wisdom resolutions this last OneO0ks Ike al AT
| tempt against intercollegiate contests
Such blow would ake1 the whole college system OF
pbysica education Is the intercollegiate contest that
Is the Incentive which makes discipline and training
durable 60 the youth who hates restraint and loves his
| freedom Every increase In athletic c0ntess means
growth in temperance restraint and healthi whle every
decrrase opens channels for license ana disease
Every good father remembers the ADVICE ne gave MS
when he left school college, and every knd nOthei
recalls ler adm onitions little Bible she quietly
packed IN her boys satchei-saeg against dissipa