New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-12
COLLEGE ATHLETICS.
DIR. WAKEFIELD AGREES WITH pREs,.
DENT ELIOT.
THE PRESIDENT OF LAFAYETTE coILpuR
TALKS ON PHASES OF THE sUG.
GESTED REFORM

ofsSiE HErOnM
Easton, Penn, March II (SpeciaD.-Dr War0eM
president Of Lafayette College expresses himself al
follows the subject OF college athletics so
thoroughly treated by President Eliot in his report
TO the Board Of Overseers Of Harvard University.
The Importance of President Eliots report TO IN.
Board Of Overseers OF Harvard University does NOT
consist in the exact recommendations which he
makes in it In regard to athletics much as in the
simple fact that he has taken a decided stand on
the side OF reform. AS said in my article in the
January Forum. any movement for reform must
come from the heads Of the great athletic insti.
tutions-Harvard, Yale and Princeton. 1t is highly
important that President Eliot has assumed the
leadership In this most desirable movement This
leadership is necessary. because 1t is clearly to
the advantage of the other colleges to bring about
this reform for other reasons than the good OF
athletics only. 1t is the university element and the
professional tendency of the few great institutions
that give them such marked precedence. Eliminate
all except legitimate undergraduates and 1t is highly
probable that Amherst Will be a dangerous rival
OF Harvard and Lafayette Of the University Of
Pennsylvania Not only is this so, but the smaller
colleges have less temptation to play games on
other than college grounds. because they lack the
nucleus for making great affairs Of them which are
afforded by large and wealthy bodies Of city alumni
There are so many obvious advantages in the great
games In bringing a college into public notice that
to pass over these advantages is guarantee Of real
interest in reform
Now there are two phases Of the needed reform.
The first has 10 do with the rules Of the games.
and can only be brought about by the players OF
the present and recent times The second, and faP
the most important phase has to do with the at
tendant circumstances. The governing bodies alone
are competent 10 deal with these matters. The
questions to be decided are. who shall take part
in games. how many games shall be played. and
where shall they take place. The responsibility for
these things rests the college authorities. and
cannot be evaded. Ii is these things which Pres.
dent Eliot had undertaken 10 deal with, and he
deserves the greatest applause for il.
when it comes 10 mere question Of details
be pity to darken the friendly skies with clouds
In the main the recon- are sane sensible s
and ought 10 meet with cordial support From the
last alone am / inclined to dissent. 50 far from
adding to the interest Of individual games by max
Ing them biennial it seems 70 M rather desirable
is thus diminished the amount at stake being SO
and the training is not carried TO a great climax
to fall into a complete collapse. and the difficulties
which now demand neutral ground are in some
measure overcome.
These details will be satisfactorily met however.
only when convention Of heads at colleges with
power 70 act takes hold OF the matter and sink
clear and distinct line between athletics their
own sake and athletics an adjunct to college hfe
I'm conclusion it may not be out Of place TO insist
upon the important difference just suggested Ath-
letcs in general. a. athletics and college athletics
cannot be measured by the same standard COL
lege athletics should be regulated that any coll
lege student may take part In them II carried 10
the pitch Of training certainly for any long period
which is both necessary and desirable for the
regular amateur athlete. athletics become ncom-
patble with scholarship. II only made a fair
portion Of the daily occupation. scholarly man Of
good physique may hope to play upon the teams.
and only find the desirable recreat ton. The hours
Of athlete and the hours OF scholar are
scarcely compatible. and the same is true OF the
food. But in youth while the body is still only
approaching maturity. the studious boy may pos
sibly both sleep more and more than he will
afterward find good for him. At least II has been
possible TO combine athletics and academic honors,
even future college presidents taking a conspicuous
part in college athletics for. unless ! am mistaken.
President Eliot himself stroked the Harvard crew
In the first race rowed with Yale"