The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-10-07


Hle fault with Harvard athletics lies with the
public sentiment Of the university. which per-
mits coterie of undergraduates TO dominate
less ON this account than rowing, but all three
Of the chief branches OF sport have felt its ef-
fects.
am going to he frank, even AZ the expense Of
some invidious comparisons. Look over the list
with the exception Of Holden, has there been one
who was not born within fifty miles of Boston
a, me crew Is stu more SIGNIFICANT example Of
have been New Englanders, even Bostonians.
Look over Wales crews; they come from all
selection Of the Drawn of the West, East, North,
Another point in Yale's favor is that II is a
much more cosmopolitan university than Har-
yard. Proud as l am of my dear old college,
ing and in attendance becoming university for
New Enganders, rather than for the country at
large.
Don't mistake me; blame the system not the
men. | am New Highlander by descent and
education, everything except birth. Some of
but they should not establish a monopoly of tho
teams aud expect TO win.
The result of having only Eastern men,. and
practically those Of one set. ut the head of the
football, has been to commit the management
TO the same policy. faults. and mistakes. with
mock, Traford, Waters, are all fine fellows, and,
especially the last, good captains. But they
were the same sort of men. They made the
same fatal errors in preparing their teams. To
qeneraiac, they subordnated former experience
Holden, the only Western captain, though un-
successful. too. inaugurated u change IN the
Harvard game which, with all its faults, Is felt
to this day. Harvard Is suffering from a
plethora Of remedies. That's the trouble. ..
Harvard IL experimenting while Yale il profit
ing by what experience has taught her, and
carries on her game with little change radical
meanl, and with the same success.
When Capt. EmmOps wrote, asking mr. advice
for this years coaching, l suggested what was
practically to avoid the evil above referred to.
II was TO select some reliable graduate player or
several, and place complete control in their
hands, the captain to be merely field captain,
having charge during II game.
At the bottom Of all Is the college sentiment.
winning; they are not AS much so rs Yale men.
can best explain by an historical comparison
Sparta and Athens. Both had the finest sol
dicrs in the world, who were ready to die for
returned defeated might expect solace: the
shield.
And this in spite of the fact that Harvard gets
because recall how my Exeter classmates
divided. To speak of athletics only. I was con-
sdered the best fOOtb ball player in my class. and.
In iact n Exeter In the same class were Nor
Yale teams later. The teams they played on de-
feated that i played with at Harvard. 1t was
the same way with other classes after mine.
Yale attracted more athletes. but 10y no means
the best, yot they invariably defeated us.
My ideas of training are that IN both Harvard
and Yale IL is made too severe.
To sum up would like to sec q board of grad
mates established. which should exercise all
visory control over college athletics both to
training, games. and selection Of captains and
men.
Let Harvard adopt some steady plan then and
stick TO 1t.
Pardon me for my somewhat candid and
caustic statements. | claim consideration
being well wisher of Harvard.