Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-11-11
THE COMING CONTEST
Great Interest Felt In the Thanksgiving.
Day Football Game.
VIRGINIA Us. North CAROLINA.
The Teams from the Two Universities to
Battle for supremacy--Personncl Of
the North State Eleven.

There was great rejoicing IN the camp
OF the University alumni when It became
known that the Thanksgiving-D Day game
would positively be played here. A few
of them knew Of the magnificent offers
which had been made the 'Varsities 10
play in New York and Baltimore, and
they were all more than proud OF their
Undergraduate friends when the latter
refused to cancel the game. even for a
consideration OF great money and great
reputation.
Now that the Republicans have had
their election. 1t Is more than probable
that football will be foremost In the
minds of the public for the next two
weeks. The best thing seen this year on
the subject Of this game is an article
In The Popular Science Monthly for
October.1 by Eugene l.. Richards. pro-
fessor OF mathematics in Yale College.
Professor Richards has been a member
of the Yale faculty for twenty-five years,
and has followed the game closely ever
since its birth in this country. He has
known intimately all of the Yale captains
for over ten years, and has taught most
of them.
After giving his connection with the
game, which entities his opinion to great
respect. he goes on to give his reasons
why he considers football the greatest
Of all college games. He shows by sta
tistics. which he has carefully sought,
that the football men have been better.
morally, mentally. and physically. than
any other set Of men in college. That, in
proportion, there has been greater i'm
prOvement In study; that there have been
more church-going and praying men, and
that there have been more men qualified
10 enter life's great battles after leaving
college than among any other one class.
He does not claim that the game has no
evils. for hardly anything in this world
is without them. but he does claim that
IN football the evil is so greatly over
balanced by the good that this game
stands pre-eminently at the head OF COL
lege sports.
A GENTLEMAN'S GAME.
Football is essentially n gentleman's
game. a great many people will seri-
ously doubt and ridicule this statement.
but 1t is, nevertheless, true. Whoever
saw Il professional football club or asso-
citation succeed? Each year one Is born,
only TO die before its first game. Some
will say that nobody will play such n
rough game for money, and that Is the
reason. That Is the only argument they
can advance: and, OH how foolish. Cannot
men be gotten by the thousand every day
to risk their lives for money! Is not
the jockey ever in danger of broken
neck or leg? Is not the electric lineman
in danger always of a slow roast on the
wire? Is not the railroad engineer con-
stantly in danger OF bad bridges and
wrecks. And do not men face bullets in
war, often solely for money? The rough
ness of the game is not the reason or
their failure. 1t Is, first, a game or
brains. An intelligent captain and team
will easily defeat team composed solely
Of muscle and weight. There is as much
strategy in football as there Is In war,
and often more brilliantly executed, Tor
IL Is always done before the eyes and
within arms reach of the opposing team.
II is, second, n game which requires per-
feet physical condition from the players.
The men who apply for the big teams
have TO commence training in the spring
In order to get in condition to play Inc
game properly during the late fall. Would
that suit a professional? The foot-bali !
piayer--that is. q successful one-cannot
enjoy even the mildest dissipation, Tor
months before, and certainly not during
the season. Liquor, tobacco. late nights,
rich food, and idleness are total strangers
to MIN, or else he lS IL Ndh -"
get men to thus make slaves Of them
selves for half Of the year on a salary?
Hardly.
WANT MACKIE AS COACHER.
The 'Varsities are now trying 10 secure
the services of ex-Captain Mackie. Of tho
University of Pennsylvania. as a coacher
during the remainder of the season. They
were unfortunate in having three games
cancelled which had been set for this
neutrality-suspicious. cancelling two and
the Pennsylvania State Collese one. They
are thus without game before Thanks
giving-Day, but are putting in their best
lcks against the scrubs " In order 10
play their best game in Richmond.
Ramsburg Is the only Varsity player who
will not be able 10 play. Barring acct
dents, the 'Varsities will line up as fol-
lows: