The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-10-13
OUTLOOK BRIGHT FOR TIGERS * GOSSIP ABOUT ATHLETES * TR0T1M NEWS
PROSPECT FAIR FOR
MISSOURI TIGERS
Lack of Support in Bad Years Is Il
Drawback to the Game
at NJ. $. L..

Although yesterdays game at Columbia
gave a good idea Of the quality of the men
on the team this season. Coach Murphy is
still trying the men out in an endeavor to
find just where each mar can play to the
best advantage. He has a large SQUAD to
select from. but lack OF experience is the
greatest difficulty that the team MANAGERS
have to contend with In their football candi-
dates this season.
The whole student body and the faculty
are with Murphy. but one great drawback
to the game at the State University is the
lack of support accorded by the students
when the team has a bad year. So long as
the team is winning the students will attend
the games In force. but once let the eleven
strike the downward grade and 1t is left to
its own devices.
1t is hard to tell what causes this pecu-
iiarity at Columbia, as the decrease In at
tendance in a losing season is far more
marked than In the average college where
Inc students turn out anyhow for the pleas
urv oi seeing a game. 1t is not lack OF
college spirit. but merely a regularity of
the college.
In regard to college spirit, 1t Is said there
Is too much carping about the lack of this
enthusiasm on the part of the students. 1t
has become the accepted thing to mention
IN the college papers the fact that college
spirit Is lacking and this cause is often ad-
duced even by the athletic association as a
reason for not doing certain things.
The truth Is. 1t is contended. there is just
as much college spirit at Columbia as at
other colleges. but the students there seem
to forget that different conditions in various
universities cause different atmospheres.
Because the same atmosphere does not pre-
vail at Columbia as at Yale or Harvard
and because certain things in the athletic
line are not conducted in the same manner
az NJ tho E,ocforo. ooI1aDo- ~. l-l..
raises a cry Of lack of college spirit.
So far has this been carried that even as
a body the students are really self-con-
scious on the subject. If they would turn
out to enjoy the games and attend them for
the sake OF the sport alone. they would be-
gin to appreciate what college spirit really
Smith Academy appears to have a good
team this year and its hances for coming
seem 'a ex eeR al aithon ue1lS it Is rather Fe ea1Is
in the day to make any predictions about
this matter. All the boys are showing up
we'll and have done their work well so far.
Strong hopes are expressed at the State
University that Captain Washer will re-
turn permanently to the game for the re.
in Washer and Ellis the team would have
two Of the best tackles in the West. Ellis
against Kirksvilie. and is regarded as a
first-claSs man.
Houx. the quarter back of the Tigers. is
coming in for considerable censure. through
a tendency on his part to consider himself
the whole team. and to make grand-stand
plays instead Of playing football. He con-
tributed largely to two defeats of Missouri
by Kansas. and 1t is really difficult to see
why he is kept in the game. Certainly, no
reports sent Geographically show that his
work has been Of much good at any stage.
With the Association football season OPEN
Ing to-day. there will be an abundance Of
the sport in this city for the remainder Of
the season. The dissolution Of the National
League has left the field in the hands of
the local teams. and a good season Of sport
IS expected.
Many of the players from the national
teams Will be taken by the local teams. and
there Is no. doubt of the men like Dick Jar
rett; for instance. getting. practically a
game will probably be of great interest
here, as the local teams will be exception
ally strong. through the addition of prac-
ticed material from the dissolved National
League teams.