Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-02-18
BRUTALITY OF
FOOTBALL GAME.
President Harper of Chicago
Disagrces With IIaryards
President
PRAISES CHICAGO COACH
People Behind the Game Think it
Is Uplifting, Not Bmtalizi0q
No Accidents Here

A large now Of editorial comment has
been started over America by "a recent
declaration Of President Charles W.
Eliot OF Harvard university that foot
bail Is brutal, and most salt Lake eide
tors have added their word 10 chat of
the Harvard president Yet 10 doesn't
80 with the rooters tao the game. who
point out that 90 measure football by
the accidents that occur Is lko trying
to estimate the value " matches by
listing the buildings burned down
through dropping them
Utah played season through this
year with hardly a man or The Geld
day for lack of vim to get out A sau-
Gus injury was not heard OF Du the field
Yet the game II put up was of the
most dashing and cyclone variety. FAR
faster than anything seen On the west
In years, and out of class with any
thing played, even ON the coast iu point
OF speed. The man who attempted any
one OF the thing complained OF by the
Harvard president wouldn't have LAST
ed a minute on Maddocks squad, or
remained IN a game after he was dis
covered by the referee He would have
been as much out Of caste with his fell
low players as with the doctors who
knock the sport.
An interesting movement I'm football
circles that stands out I'm contrast to
the action Of President Eliot Is the
tribute paid to Coach Stage, boy Presi-
dent Harper Of Chicago university I'm
this statement too, the ethics OF foot
hon L.. ,T Ia
given that the hackers OF the sport
recognize as true to what they are
striving after,
Coach Stagg OF Chicago ranks with
Walter Camp and Yost OF Michigan as
the leaders OF American football
thought Michigans coach hasn't quite
the standing OF Stage because OF the
constant claim that he imports play
ers, and pays men with records TO come
there. Wisconsin papers are Just now
loud in this protest but Utah men of
records have letters IN their pockets
from Wisconsin that make the charge
Of professionalism against Yost come
with mighty little grace,
PRESIDENT HARPER VS.. ELIOT
The tribute OF President Harper to
Stage Is as follows
The story Of Mr.. Stages work In uni
versity athletics IN the west is long
story, one that reaches far out IN many
directions, and one fun OF significance.
! first became acquainted with Mr..
Stagg when he was at the height Of his
student athletic career at Yale For
three years he was "A student I'm my
classes An attachment was formed be-
tween us which. 80 far as i am con-
cerned, has grown closer every year
since that time, / remember distinctly
the interviews IN which we discussed
the question Of his coming TO Chicago
and taking charge Of the department Of
physical culture and athletics. 1t was
evident he had certain Ideals OF athletic
work and Of athletic policy and his
coming to Chicago WAS dependent who'll
ly upon his having every opportunity
to work out these ideals. He came;
he was given the opportunity he de-
sired and as a result Il Is not too much
70 say that western university athletics
have been altogether transformed.
do not mean TO say there would have
been no change IN these 70 or 10 years
IN western college athletics II Mr.. Stage
had not come TO Chicago, This, Of
course would be absurd. But ! do mean
10 say Mr. Stagg has contributed TO
this transformation more than an oth-
tl tktUNltS iulNNlI'Ns AllN lllN'HH' l'NH
for pure sport, hs incorruptihle spirit
his indefatRable effort his broad mind
ed zeal and his absolute fairness Of
mind and honesty Of heart have eX-
erted an Influence upon western uni
Ncrsty and college athletics that has
been felt far and wide aud produced re-
suits OF which we may an reasonably bee
proud. | am myself of the opinion that
great progress has been made in these
dozen years, and If this is true, no one
will fail To ascribe at least a large por-
ton OF the credit for this TO MIR, Stagg,
I'm the reforms that still require 10 be
worked out ne Will be one OF the lead-
ers. When the football season shall
have been shortened and the game ON
THANKSGIVING day abandoned, when it
has been agreed that no man shall be
accepted as a candidate for an inter-
collegiate team who has not been
member of the college or the university
for al least one scholastic year, when
the well meant but pernlCious influence
of the alumni I'M certain phases Of ath-
letlc cooperation has been recognized
I'm certain quarters az its true worth
and has been given up. and when We
shall he able 10 conduct college athle-
ties az games between gentlemen, With
out the professional accompaniment Of
gate fees, with all the detenotatlng and
demorall2mg influence connected with
this professional policy--wheu those re-
forms have come about the world viii
begin 20 appreciate some Of the ideals
toward which many and among these
Mr.. Stngg. have been working I am