The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-12-12
IN WARM DEFENSE OF FOOTBALL
Prof. harrington OF Norman Replies
to Critics of the Game.

GuthrieaO. II, Dec. 11-Prof. V L. Par
rington, who fills the chair Of English lit
era ture, and who is chairman of the Uni
versity Athletic association in the Univer-
sity at Norman, in letter addressed TO
the Eagle makes the following reply to
certain West Side structures on the game
Of football, notably the editorial attacks
Of the Alva Courier:
81 have read with some amusement the
attack upon football written by the edi-
tor of the Alva Courier. 1 have no de-
sire to criticise the writer for feeling as
he does upon the subject of football.
have read too many similar attacks, how
ever, to pay very much heed to them In
nine cases out of ten such attacks arise
from an ignorance of the game that is al
most surprising. L do not regard foot
ball as particularly dangerous; certainly
I do not regard it as fierce and brutal
I have been interested in the game for
eight years: two of them as a side-Unes
critic at Harvard, three as player in a
western team, and three as a coach. In
all of that time 1 have seen ony one &C
cident Six years ago early in the season
a man who did not know the game was
thrown so heavily as to break his arm.
In our three years play here we have
had no injuries and have never been
forced to withdraw a man from game.
"I confess that to one who sees the
game for the first time there seems TO
be unnecessary roughness. For the first
dozen downs he holds his breath, expect
ing half of the men to be killed or man
gled After about the twentieth down he
ceases to think of the roughness, and by
the fortieth down he has learned that
the real danger of football is not in the
scrimmage, but in the hard tackles on
the open field. From the temper of the
worthy editors article I should judge
that he must have seen about six downs.
One other thing, the men who play foot
ball must train for it. The trouble with
the game which he saw doubtless was
that the men were in no shape and
should not have been allowed to go upon
the field. From what know of football
in Oklahoma, I suspect that neither team
knew much of the game, and I am not
surprised that the exhibition was not edi-
of the condition of our men; we insist
on their being in good shape physically.
and they come out of the game in quite
as good condition as they entered f.
The game is fast; It is rough, but 1t calls
out the best that there is IN the men.
"As to the brutality Of football. have
little to say. The very fact that It has
sa established itself in our great institu-
tons is quite enough to refute any such
argument
In conclusion, let me quote from a let
ter from Secretary Long 10 the superin-
tendent Of the naval academy. Doubt
less the editor of the Courier will grant
that Mr.. Long IS a gentleman: 7 hope
you will say for me 70 the football team
that, while they did not win, they made
a gallant fight. and that II was especially
gratifyingto the department that GER
tainly so far as my observation went
and 50 far as 7 have heard from others.
nothing could have been manlier or hand
somer or in better spirit than the way
in which the two teams made thetr fight.
and that the absence Of any brutal. uu5e-
coming or ungentlemanIy conduct was e.
pecialy noteworthy. Tell them that the
department does not forget that they are
Just as brave, just as manly. just as
faithful to their duty. and have given
just the same assurance that in what
ever emergency they are placed they VIII
% everything in their power. as Il they
had won the game on Saturday
Here IN the university We are enthusi-
asts or the subject. Our team IS made
up q gentlemeH. and brutality e thing
unknown in our football history. The
came IS the finest sPort PLAYED and IN
my Judgment viii awaken more college
spirit and do nh-e good 20 those who par
uc.pate than any other"