The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-27
cOLrMBIA's FOOTBALL COACH.
His Problem Of Crucial Year Of Gritliron
aport-sanford Morley or smith.

SpOrt-SanfOrd. Morley or smith?
The question Of next seasons football
coach at Columbia has been discussed at
some length by undergraduates at the local
college for the past week. This coming
season Ia regarded as crucial In Columbia
football affairs. For six years the Light
Blue and White has had a varsity football
team. The first three years, under George
Foster Sanford Of Yale as professional
coach we're more than moderately sue
cessful so far as games won we're concerned.
Since 1901 the system Of having a graduate
coach under William Raymond Morley,
has been tried. Morley had one decidedly
good season-that Of iOO3-but his two other
years can hardly be said 70 have been so
good, II lving given three years to both
systems, Columbia is now. it may be said
authortatvely, considering a practical
return to a system like that Of Sanford.
The season of 1906 the seventh since San
ford inaugurated winning football at Col
umbia, will certainly see change in coach
ing matters Whether the coach will be
Sanford, Morley or Richard Smith 'OS law,
remains to be seen. The Columbia people
have nothing to announce that il definite,
but the source Of information is authorita-
tive.
Sanford took charge Of the first Columbia
varsity football eleven in 1890 From
practically nothing, he got together a team
which beat Yale by to o and played good
games against other colleges, notably
Harvard and Princeton. The end Of the
season was followed by a number Of I'M
fortunate disclosures regarding the status
Of several Columbia players as bona fide
students. The blame for the presence Of
these men on the team was put on the man
aver William F. Mitchell The u8Et sea-
son Columbia defeated Princeton and held
Yale 20 a small score, after playing credit
ably against Harvard and Pennsylvania,
good showing for a second year team.
The third season, the local players defeated
Pennsylvania and again held Yale TO a
small score. That season saw Santord's
farewell TO Columbia football. His de-
mands for a bigger salary. il was said,
resulted in severing the connection.
The regime Of Morley began. In 1902.
To the former Columbia captain the college
owes much. He refused salary and de-
voted three years TO football without
single cent as recompense. His first season
was poor. There was no Yale game. Am
herst and Brown beat Columbia, and SYRIA
cuse tied the locals. In 1908 Columbia
had its best year under Morley. Amherst,
Cornell and Pennsylvania we're beaten
Relations with Yale were resumed, but
Morley did not seem TO know the Yale play
a. we IL as OlQ SAM AlltI d v 70 " bNOiF
in the first half, Yale won by "a too. The sea-
son Of 1904 was a crusher, Amherst. Penn
syvania and Yale administered defeats by
increasing scores. The only important
victory was over Cornell, the last game OF
the season.
Columbia wants a good team this year.
How are we 70 get it?" ask the students.
"and who Is the man 70 coach itp'
The sentimental question involved by
the sacrifices Of his time made by Morley
k,rA tor hn 1aI aFfahi
decline to ask him to coach again. But
plainly there is something wrong The
Intervention Of Smith IL considered by some
men as the saving possibility. Smith was
captain Of the 'O3 eleven He was great
full back and man OF assertlve and
authoritative presence. He coached the
University Of Oregon last season and did
fairly well. His personal influence Is hardly
the same as that OF Morley. smith Is not
the strict disciplinarian on training matters
that Morley is
The situation was stated frankly yester-
day by a graduate who has been pToml-
neflt In Columbia athletics since 1898. This
man is IN complete touch with athletic
affairs on Momingside Heights. To me,
he said 1t looks ike a return to first prin-
ciples Sanford was the best coach we
have had, but the stigma OF the 80 eleven
still clings to his name whether he was in
any way at fault or not. Under Morley
the purists had their innings. What we
seem to want now is a winning team. II In
ali very well to be the unspotted sister
among the colleges, but IL doesn't pay, az
far as our athletic regulations are con-
cerned Mind, don't want to see pro-
fessionals al Columbia. l am loyal
graduate and l don't want any college
10 he able to throw mud at us. But Ne
have gone TO the other extreme. Nova
DAYS we don even 90 after the good school
boys We don't make the slightest EFFORT
to get men who want to come 70 Columbia
and would IL there we're the least encour-
agement.
Those in charge Of football are erTing
on the other side. Like every other Column
bia man. ! want to have a team that will
win. We can have a team like that and
still he perfectly on the square. The vital
defect IL in the coaching system, Get
Sanford or Smith or Morley or whoever
we can. but let us get the man who can give
va victory with honor. What's the use Of
having a team that gets beateni / am for
sport for sports sake; tut what man can
feel anything but contempt for a college
Of the size Of ours which ia 20 poorly repre-
santed by its athletic teams?
1T il all very well to attribute our poor
showing to lack Of candidates. hut have
seen eleven good Columbia men, physically
capable Of as mitch as their opponents,
beaten badly We ought to win, and this
year should see a parting Of the ways,
COumbia's athletic future depends upon t..