New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-28
On THE GRIDIR0N.
Professionalism and the Preparatory
Schools

the big elevens Il gees without saying that
healthy collegiate sport must be purely amateur
sport and there is no doubt that the graduate
advisers and faculty supervisors % athletics are
in the great joriJy of cases doing their best TO
reach ana maintain high standard. The fact
that close watch is Kept by the rival uni
VeIsiues upon the athletic material Of each other
helps somewhat. too. and Yet man who is in
touch with athletic doinss N the undergraduate
world told the writer recently that the fact that
some universities lived IN houses they knew to 90
glass prevented them from throwing stones There
IS no doubt whatever that the strength q inter
collegiate rivalry makes il a difficult thing 70 keep
the ranks OF the players absolutely above sus-
picion. Curiously enough the main difficulty seems
70 lie in Undergraduate sentiment. There is far
too great tendency TO resort 20 the "tu qUoque"
argument. which. a matter OF fact, is no argu-
ment at 81. holding. as It does. that two wrongs
open 10 the suspicion 81 having been Won IN
fairy. Yet such is The intensity OF collegiate rival
~ that 700 often the prevailing idea Is that .
ion is never frankly avoVed but It certainly under
lies the attitude often taken. II is 70 be hoped
this faint.
L IS not an encouraging thing hovere-. - know
that this spirit Of victory a. all costs has secured
firm a hold upon The preparatory schools as 1t
appears to have. The squabbles in recent years
that have been carried on between Andover and
Exeter are well known and remembered all too
clearly by everybody who follows academic ath-
letcs This Is not the place the time 70 90 into
the merits OF that II is history now, and Il
It were only over and done with for good and all
81 would be the best thing that could happen In
the premises. But the spirit that lay behind 1t
appears TO be as virulent and powerful as ever
And II It stiu raises its head threateningly IN
preparatory schools where the foundations OF inter-
collegiate sports nowadays so largely lalc' the
outlook Is not promising II schoolboys are
brought Up and sent college in the belief that
amateur purity in athletics is after all secondary 10
success one may well fear for the character OF our
university teams case very recently brought 10
the attention the writer has the strongest kind
of bearing upon this point. In a Massachusetts
factory town was graduated last June from the
High School a youth Of exceptional athletic proves
and ability. He had made no particular plans for
secondary education. and. his parents were not
persons o. means. It surprised his friends al first
to learn that intended this fall 20 enter one Of
the most celebrated academies Of the Bay state
Inquiry revealed the fact that agents from that
school had sought the youth out on account OF his
athletic ability and induced him 10 enter the
academy. II Is nov well known among his friends
that pecuniary considerations were made use Of
10 induce" him TO this course OF action. TIE
" WE - "a pfb Is as ente-ed ard can give them
re s1Iool "--S. - 20 ~. tbe
request Perhaps The most meIancholy feaJlTe 3I
conversation they e1PTesseq T mo Pmibt good
facts, and even sada taa' ~ va" IS, eI sla5 ne
could contribute by his football and baseball TOW ard
Paying I9T hs f669Sa Sven that is open to srgu
Inent, but it is certainly mighty poor thing for
sTese5 that this is merely an isolated case But
IS fs If the athIetc managers Of this great school
viii thing Of this sort in one case they VII
DO in others-n as many others as the petlS or
the weakness Of their teams seem TO men mas has
guided ntellgence TO demand. II as, is EVIDENT 'hAe
Though the season has scarcely begun. news
papers which make a speciality Of scare heads
have already commenced 10 print stories Of awful
injuries due to football and frightened parents
have begun TO consider the advisabiHty OF forbid
ding their sons 10 play the game this year. Those
who know the game Intimately are aware that
serious injury n seasoned player is so to
be z negligible quantity. while permanent injury is
a rare event. But, for the benefit OF those not so
well informed. II NAV be we'll 10 call attention 20
the statistics coIlated with great pains and in
dustrv by Professor Z G. Dexter. Of the University
Of Illinois whose work IN this line IS the first Of
its kind that is authoritative. and which cousti-
tJtes q genuine service 10 the game. Professor
Dexter sent o-t detailed inquiries. asking for
specific information regarding injuries 10 players
covering period OF the ten years ended with the
season Of 1902 he got answers from hfty-foUr
universities and colleges. the number including al
most every college OF importance that puts an
| eleven IN the field. IN these ten years It
learned q sc students played the game or these
! e. were hurt enough 10 cause them 70 lose time
from their studies. Only eight were permanently
injured while three died as result o. their hurts.
| or the three who died. had been forbidden to
play OF account OF a weak heart. and hurt in
| class game. in which re played despite his
inE The second was the case OF law student,
who played IN game without having trained for IL
| a. all Professor Dexter has figured, the basis
q these statistics that the chance OF a student
being hurt 50 as to be kept from his work is about
ore in go He also got from an accident insurance
company statistics OF claims il had paid as results
81 riuries received in different kinds OF sport dur
ing the last five years. Horseback riding accounts
for PSI. baseball, rs. swimming. q. bowling. 4,
/ tennis. Is. football being away down on the list
with ss Even mild and gentle golf has p cases 10
answer fcT-
| There are q good many genuine lovers Of the
| snort who hold that the students OF preparatory
schools ought not 20 be allowed to play football.
i7asmuch as their physical inmaturity renders
/ them peculiarly liable injury. There Is much 10
II the authorities who have the matter charge
7-eparatory schools careful 10 supervise the
ere weight strength and condition OF the players
serious injury will Re Injuries received by
growing bows who are allowed play without any
training ought not be laid a. the door Of foot
! hall Il is strenuous sport. but grand one. and
not TO be approached without precautions. So long
as there IL sport Of any kind. Just long will IL
-rrries result frcn e. Il is certainly true that
] the leht OF our most resent Information the op-
/ Of football the score OF It's roughreSs
4 have rot made o-t case. 1t is likely that this
| ovt lv TIE revised rules 10 the oDen game. they
will gain further materials with which 10 fortfy
4 their position AhE- L At-tft--