The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-08-28
SOLID FACTS FOR
FOOTBALL ALARMISTS

II sounds bit early to talk much foot
ball, but the preliminary practice OF ne
indicates for the college 1ght al aha neaHy
ling OF the Pennsylvania gladlators. ; Ana
tho alarlnist is ready to raise the long n
yell, !" with the first report OF spriaiIneu
ankle, even in these preparatory sklrm-
ishes. l'oot-ball is rough. and will never
supplant ping-pong and sewing circles or
parlor entertainment, but It's enemies are
much given 10 hystercal maglnlngs. ~
inspection1a few carefully collected facts
which, pasted In the hat, are warranted
to cool the fevered fancy which sees N
football more portcntous curtaller Of
population than the race su'cloe usi'a-
AT At tho end OF last season, Prof. Edwin
q. Dexter, OF the University of Illinois,
made the most thorough and Impartial
collection Of football statistics ever I'M
dertaken In this country He was anxious
to get at the truth regarding the acct
dents and dangers Of college foot.oall,
and his tabulated queries were an .in,. s
by the presidents or other responsible Of
nccrs OF more than seventy universities
and colleges. Some of the results were
surprising even to the most ardent &C.
tenders OF the game who had peen Ills
led by sensational newspaper exaggera.
tons. The reports covered the period OF
the last ten years, during which tune no
less than 22,770 students had played root
ball IN the institutions enumeraffe men Dp in-
iims -" sufficiently to lose time from their
Classes was G54, the permanently injured
mum bered only eight. and only three men
were reported as having died from Inc
effects Of tho game. One of these fatal
tiles was due to dsobedience Q! inc pnysl,
cal directors orders, and another played
a hard game with no preliminary traln-
Ing OF the few permanent injuries re-
ported, four men ultimately recovered As
q sample of sthe Misrepresentation which
has been directed against football out
OF twenty-three cases OF players injured
notoriety, and hailed as victims, twelve
were in no way incapacitated for work,
and every one was on his feet by the END
OF the season. j.,
surance company contain some Interesting
foot ball reading In FIVE years there we're
43 claims paid for injuries ! received IN r.,
for temporary disa bilitles received In play
ing tennis, o In golf. a5 in skating. o. in
gymnasiums, Il In bowling. 30 IN wre res
ling q in swimming, zig =, Pass,na bout
one college student in ten plays foot ball
in this coun try, and the number Is con-
SANITY INCREASING. Several years ago
there was hue ana cry IN -. sns 1,,iaa
OF the oarsmen and causing many perlna-
nent injuries. Exhaustive inyesiigation
showed that from q total OF 2S4 oarsrnen.
who had rowed in Oxford Or Or Camori "a
alive, and OF these l.5 described them,
selves as benefited. 1852 uninjured and Of
hat ali Tf had e gone into races without pre-
iIminary training similar canvass Of
University Of Pennsylvania oa1smen since
ISL, shows that all but two are alive
anf, In good health. and the two deaths
We're due to typhoid, In no way attribut-
able to their rowing. The moral OF It all Is
that football classes with rowing or any
other hard exercise, inthat proper train.
Ing is absolutely Necessary and that
wherever students are allowed to play
hard games without It. the authorities of
tn ,r serious injuries or fatalities.-From
The illustrated Sporting News.