The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-01-09
The Critical Period in Football.

Inc Cr1t1cal Fef1OQ In FOoLDall.
This is the time Of year when opposi.
tion to football as college sport be-
comes active. About the time the call
Americana and call WESTERN teams
are picked the game is subjected to it's
severest criticism. This is the time
when the hair-trigger statesman seek
ing notoriety announces that when the
legislature assemblies he will introduce
bill prohibiting the playing Of foot
ball in the university.
The latent sentiment among college
and university people who are hostile to
football begins to manifest, itself. The
list of casualties has been printed and
the opponents Of the game begin to
complain of the methods under which
football affairs are administered, and
of the character Of the game. While
this hostile movement does not seem
to gain sufficient momentum at any
time to check the interest in the game,
there are some. things which menace
I it's future, but which may be removed
by those most enthusiastic in this sport.
The most serious Of these is the evil
Of gambling. Football betting has
come to be almost universal among stu
dent of larger universities The habit
is one which may well engage the at
tention Of college authorities and pa
rents, and even the general public.
This evil has grown up largely thru
laxity in university management. The
proper exercise of authority would no
doubt create a more wholesome sentl-
ment among students with reference to
this matter. Gambling has no proper
place in amateur athletics, and perhaps
the most effective remedy would be So
cial and fraternity ostracism Of foot
ball gamblers. Let it be understood,
for instance, that it is bad form for
the members of any student body or the
members of any college fraternity to
engage in gambling on university ath-
letic events, and the practice would soon
die out.
Another objection is that football
takes too much time; that is an indi-
vidua1 matter. There is an old college
axiom to the effect that college man
may do any two of three things we'll:
study, athletics and society. 1t takes
an exceptional man to handle all three
at the same time. If the football player
is an earnest student, he need not re-
ceive conditions' as result of play
ing football. The coaches say, and it
is probably true, that the best players
are the best students among the players.
Hostile criticisms Of football en-
phasize the risk Of personal injuries
but such risks must be encountered in
: yachting, skating, swimming and other
outdoor games in more or less degree
:; Football is certainly rough sport, and
it is not to be engaged in except by
} those of strong physique. Probably
public sentiment will compel some modi
fcation of it's rules for the elimination
in part Of the element Of danger.
l That football is only for the few il
another charge which is only partially
! true. During the past football season
= the entire University Of Minnesota wa:
thoroly canvassed for candidates fol
the football team, and it was nothing
y unusual to see sixty aspiring players
l working under the coach on Northrul
Z field. 4, ~. /. q
) But even if this particular" game b.
e only for the few, it should be remem
S bervd that it is the one which produce
4 financial results and makes possible tn
/ existence Of college and university base
e ball, BASKETBALL track teams and othe
t forms Of college athletics. Universit.
appropriations do not provide for tn
/ expense Of these sports, and in mos
: cases they could not be maintained i
! it were not for the large receipts Of tn
7 football games. To this source tn
- colleges and universities are indebte
y largely for their athletic fields and tn
e equipment Of their gymnasiums.
= + Football playing,ssIike thestariff, prot
q ably needs reforming,,bnt hkehthe TART
y thought to be reformed by its friend
and not by it's enemies whose reform
o ing process would probably reform
q out of existence.