The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-29
CORNELL s HEAD
FAYORS FOOTBALL
DR.. Schurman Says There Is Too
Much Hysteria in Present
Agitation.

Syracuse, N. T., Dec. 29.-Prcsident Jacob
Gould schurman of Cornell university, in an
address before the Associated Academic Princi-
pals OF the state of New York last night, placed
hlmself ON record as staunch friend Of foot
ball. declaring that the recent criticism Of the
game, If not historical and frenzied, is at
least one-sided and UNFAIR
PRESIDENT Schurman urged that the game
should not be abolished. Modify it, he sug-
gested, so as to remove the extra hazards, but
to abolish 1t would be to do away with the
most popular sport Of the youth of the country
| and OF the American people themselves, he de-
| clared. President Schurman's theme was "Na-
tional Greatness and he devoted considerable
attention to the physical basis of manhood In
the physical training of the youth DIR. schurman
declared outdoor sports take the place in this
country Of the military service required in Ger
many rsn
Create Esprit de Corps.
"And, speaking for the colleges and unfver-
Sites. he said, 81 sure they have been an
effective antidotcN to efeminate weakness, to low
vice and to foolish disorder and rowdyism. How
ever strange 1t may sound to the critics, it is
| nevertheless TRUE that athletics have made it
possible to- govern because athletics have de-
veltped an esprit de corpse hundreds. yes thou
sands OF students in single university year
after year, without the help of jury court or
| policeman. 49,. VI &aa- 49,
+ "Am1 then an advocate of football? What
have said T have said. and desire not to
| alter. Baseball and football are the best out
door sports We have for the American youth,
and football Is the most popular, not only
among the youth, but among the American peo-
| pie themselves. It Is a rough game, but taking
account of the large number Of people who play
IT, comparing them for example with the more
and o Fatalities es is sa of serious
Names Stirring Qualities.
1.-The game is 50 stirring. 1t challenges 50
i IT. appeals so strongly to the popular love OF
vigorous competitions it has in it so many ele-
! ments Of voluminous vent for huge masses OF
mort vons fool M i,, ~,
spectators alike, which otherwise would seek
and find an outlet in more dubious channels
there is' l say, 50 much to be adduced in
of late been hailed upon it will, on impartial
| consideration, be found to be, If not hysterica
and frenzied. at least one-sided and unfair.
| 1.-The game Is rough, but roughness Is no bat
ordeal, and even the scriptures enjoin us tt
endure hardness The game is attended will
accidents; so is every game; so is every form
Of human activity and every form of idleness
| Is the game unduly rough unduly dangerous
Then let us remove the extra hazards by modi
fcation Of the rules. In my judgment, the TIVE
greatest objections to football as now played ar.
rules for the purpose of weakening opposition
and the commerciallsm which grows out of gat
receipts and the handling by young men of enor
NOUS ,tls, sums OF money for athletic purposes.
"The first of these evils can be 'remedied b,
the enforcement Of severe penalties for fou
playing, not only disqualifying the offender, bu
penalizing his side. To that end the position
emit, 80 that they will not scruple to do thei
duty, even when the stands are filed with tn
! friends and supporters of the offending team,
few changes in the rules and in the provision
| for their enforcement would accomplish all thes
reforms, except the elimination Of commercial
! ism. e
/ Gate Receipts Blamed.
Il "And that I suppose, we must endure til
, the colleges and universities agree to abolis
, gate receipts. And gate receipts will not b
abolished till some less Objectionable way is dc
, vised Of supporting athletics.
, "But what improvement it would make
, all other reforms were effected at once. And
. see no reason why they should not be- II
deed, the football rules committee which
composed of Representatives Of Yale. Princeton
Harvard. Cornell Pennsylvania along with
representative of the Western intercollegiate
: Athletic association and a member at large. hs
been holding meetings this month for this pu
pose, and at It's very first meeting it passed
| resolution In favor of action leading to til
opening Of the game, the Iessening of brutalit,
: the placing Of the appointment Of officials
l the hands of; some centralized body and til
2 rendering of evasion Of the rules unprofi
able. And the committee is now engaged
Il the framing of rules and the institution of al
rangements which will accomplish these hiehl
desirable ends. =. .
land should like to add that when the r.
forms l have been describing are effected
football the friends of the game will owe
debt of gratitude to the general public. VIII
have shown themselves far more sensitive tha
: the experts to the objectionable features of FIJI
! branch Of athleticsi =