New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-09-19
rHE FOOTBALL SEASON OF 80.


To-day marks-at least in the major Eastern
universities-the return TO his own OF the coli-
ouering football player. For ten feverish weeks
10 come he. with his coaches and trainers VIII
bp the undisputed focus of collegiate interest,"
graduate and undergraduate, ana the honors
he may win will be enthusiastically approprl-
aed thereafter by fellow students and alumni,
by whom the Rugby game has now come TO be
recognized as the most typical and absorbing OF
all college sports. Both for football itself and
for the public which supports 1t the season or
1899 opens most ausplciously. Indeed. If last
seasons promises are realized, this year should
see the game carried to the highest point
vet reached in its development by the Ameri-
can colleges. Some progress in generalship is
always TO be expected in a sport so fruitful in
variations either for offence or defence; while
in fairness Of play and In true friendllness OF
spirit a marked advance, even over the credita-
BILE records Of 1897 and 1893, is Indicated ny
the notable mitigation in recent years OF the BIT
terness of college athletic rlvaries.
Football. indeed has won its way steadily
in public regard from the day the serious at
tention of college sentiment was given to cor
recting it's more patent abuses. Since 1888 or
1894 whole series Of reforms has been lnstl-
lated by which the game has been purged OF
practically all It's objectionable features. A
purer amateur spirit has been created by abol-
ishing the so-called preliminary season OF tram
ing and by prescribing standards Of eligibility
which bar from the leading university teams
any but bona fide students in good class stand
ing Py combining all contests to college grounds
and limiting the prices charged for seats, the
former money making aims of ambitious team
managers have been distinctly discouraged, ana
n purer college atmosphere has been assured
than was possible in the old days at the POLO
Grounds in this city, or even at Hampton farK'
in Springfield. The Thanksgiving Day contest
having also been dropped by Harvard. Yale ana
Princeton. and the dates Of the hnal games
having been put forward correspondingly, the
actual playing season has been shortened nearly
two weeks, and is no longer subject to the
charge Of excessive interference with the work
of the first college session
The Tribune has deplored in years past the
brutalites and meannesses which were allowed
for time TO creep into college football; Dut
under more stringent rules and through the
growth Of a saner and more friendly spirit OF
competition college athletics of all sorts have
been lifted to a more creditable plane. and foot
ball. as played for at least three years past
has shown vast Improvement in courtesy
self restraint and genuine manliness. 1t has a
mower TO stir the blood and quicken the magma
ton which no other college sport can hope to
equal. and its brief season. both for players and
spectators, brings an ,exhilaration which 1t
would he dlsagreeable to lose and difficult to
replace. No championship in college football
Is possible under present conditions. nor Is one
desirable. But with long list Of minor hXt-
ures and the three final contests between Har-
ward and Yale, Yale and Princeton and llar-
ward and Pennsylvania. this years programme
ought 10 furnish as we'll rounded an exhibition
Of high class sport as any In the American his
tory of the Rugby game.