The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-12-09
BRUrALIrY IN COLLEGE SPORTS
An Amherst Graduates Protest Against
Football as Played Now.

An Amherst Graduates Protest Against
Football as Played Now.
To THE EDITOR or The SUS--Sir: I have read
with great interest the letter signed. A Gradu.
ate of Amherst" which appeared In TIRE Sun re-
Gently anent the game of football. I fully agree
with all that he says in regard to the ruflan-
ism" ~practised by football players and the weak
ness of college faculties in taking no vigorous
measure TO nut n stop to It. ] regret that your
correspondent did not give his full name and
address. as he would find many sympathizers to
uphold I'm In the position which he takes.
As an alumnus OF Amherst College myself, I
feel n sense Of degradation whenever / read ac-
counts OF these brutal exhibitions. The sport
has degenerated very much since the days when
] was at college. The same may be said of ath-
letics generally. The tendency has been con-
stantly to ovcrdo and carry to extremes. The
athletic field has usurped the place Of the class
room. and the signals OF the football captain
are more carefully studied than the lectures Of
the college professor.
During the four years while I was at college.
from 1872 TO 1876, athletics were not regarded
as the sole test of scholarship. At the same
time bodily culture was not mt elected. Each
class had It's regular gymnastic exercise every
morning Mt the gym" under the instruction Of
DIR. Hitchcock. We practised with dumb bells
and wands. and went through various exercises,
including running, v~aulting. &c. This was all
that was necessary to start the blood In circula-
zion, TO expand the chest, and to keep all the
functions OF the body In healthy activity. so
that we might realize the great desideratum OF
mems sano in sano corpore."
We also had our baseball and our rowing as
recreations. and at the famous regatta on the
Connecticut River at Springfield, where a dozen
or more colleges competed, the Amherst boat
came in ahead, Our racing crews rowed in six:
Dared gigs or shells, and these contests, as well
as those In baseball and athletics generally,
were thrown open TO all the colleges for compe-
tition. and not confined to a select few. as at
present. All this occupied but a small portion
OF our time. and the various sports were con-
Quoted In such a gentlemanly manner that no
that time athletics occupied n subordinate place.
Now. unfortunately. 1t seems TO be the chief OBJ
ject of u college or university education.
! witnessed II few years ago q football game
between two leading colleges. at which there
tally that | became thoroughly Disguised, and
have, never cared to attend another football
ton is TO turn out prize fighters or bullies or
"toughs" | can see the utility OF such a sport"
but II, on the contrary. the object Is to make
them educated and courteous gentlemen, the
present method OF playing football will hardly
accomplish that purpose, The manner In which
moralizing TO both players and spectators. II ii
cannot he modified and brought within the
bounds OF reason Il would DO much better TO
our college faculties are largely responsible
Tor the present condition of affairs, AS your cor
respondent truthfully says. They encourage II
because they think II helps TO advertise their In
sti,ntions. II is only necessary to read In the
daily newspapers OF the deaths ard serious cas-
ualties resulting from football TO conyince any
one OF the great danger there is In the sport. In
yesterdays paper. FOR example. | find an ac-
count Of the serious and possibly fatal injury
OF a quarter back " of q certain college team,
and an accident Ia another football player else
where. who suffered conclusion OF the brain,
and Is now In n critical condition"
These matters are Of almost daily occurrence.
] seems To me. therefore. that an attempt
should lie made to arouse a sentiment among
the alumni and trustees of the various colleges,
to ~relegate athletics TO "a subordinate position
IN the college curriculum, and in any event 70
put q nnal stop To the present method OF PLAYING
football. IL the reply Is that IL cannot be played
otherwise than roughly, then abolish it alto
gether. GILBERT X. HALVES.
Alumni Of Amherst College, Glass OF 1916.
l2O BROADWAY, NEW YORK, Dec. /.