The Minneapolis journal., 1903-04-25
Am l Right?

Minnesota has at one time or another
made creditable showing In all branch
es OF college athletics except one. The
football eleven, with the exception of the
three seasons of '97, '9S and '99, has al
ways been a factor in the western cham
pionship. The basketball team has won
| the championship for three successive sea-
sons. The gynnasttc team won the
championship this year.. Even the base
which gave promise of better things, in
spite Of the fact that the nine has never
had capable and systematic coaching.
The success attained in the four branch
es Of college athletics named justiaes the
conclusion that the material at Minnesota
averages as good. as that Of any other
western university. The fact that Mime
sofa has never had a track team worthy
the name indicates that there is something
radically wrong with the management of
this branch of sport. r." -.
Since 1896 the aggregate number of
points won by, Minnesota athletes at the
western intercollegiate meets at Chicago
has scarcely been enough to win one
years championship. Half a dozen men
have won nearly all these points, Burton,
Bunnell, Gaines, Brennan, Tate and
Brockman will account for more than
half the points scored by the gopher ath-
letes. And Bunnell, who took first place
in the walk for two: or three years, can
not be classed as a, Minnesota product,
since he received his training at Yale. If
my memory is. not at fault, the men
named are the only gophers who ever won
firsts at Chicago. ~'<., ,&s."~' .~' :.
Now why is it; that in eight years Min
nesota has been able TO- turn out only five
track athletes? Why is it that the gopher
liant prospects, and lots Of good mate
rial" to quote from the press, agent, and
returns from Chicago with eight or; ten
points to it's credit, possibly tied with Be-
lott for fourth place? It isn't lack of ma
terial. The twin city high schools have
turned out good material every year.
There was Harrison, who took a mark of
ten feet in the pole. vault in the high
school, and never got a place at Chicago.
There were Rogers. and Stevenson, two of
the most promising sprinters that the west
ever produced. There have been dozens of
men who could hays, been developed into
point winners , >It rrci Ar. ;:rr7.
Some Of the blame may be laid to the
trainers. - have heard track men COM
plain, that DR.. Williams does not give the
track team the same attention he bestows
upon the football eleven. There may be
some reason for this charge, but DR.. Will
liams cannot be held, entirely responsible.
More than one man has failed to, develop
a good track team at minnesota, and has
succeeded elsewhere.oi One year t.Dads
Moulton trained Minnesota, and Craigie
handled the Wisconsin, men. Wisconsin
won the championship and Minnesota got
ten or twelve points, The following year
Moulton went toa!W1seonsin and aCraigie
trained Minnesota !" wisconsin won just
Perhaps the student body and, the board
Of athletic control between them, might
be able to explain matters. The board Of
control appears to take only a languid in
terest in the track team. A little money
judiciously expended. a. little more en-
couragement given tbe track men would
have a good result. 1t might not, but is
worth trying. It is up to the board to see
that the track team gets efficient training
and has every facility for good work. If a
training table will, make the men. win
more points, let them have. it, but if a
good team cannot be turned out, its just
as well to stop wasting money on poor
one. -:
WHILE natural feeling of patriotism
w re