The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-02-20
A SENSIBLE VIEW.
Prof. w. H. Carruth's Discus
sion of Football Reform.
He Is Not Worried by ROughness
of Game.
ON PROFESSIONALISM.
Says That the Term Is General
ly Misunderstood.
One Fault Is Requires Too Much
Time.
N PROFESSIONALISM.

". II. Carruth, one of the leading
professors at the Kansas State univer-
sfty. has contributed an article to the
current number of the Graduate Maya
zine of the University of Kansas, IN
which he advances some of the most
sane and rational ideas concerning the
solution of the football problem that
have ever been published.
Prof. Carruth touches the keynote of
the situation when he says IN his article
that the true test of whether a man
should be allowed to participate in col
lege athletics is not so much whether he
has never received, or is receiving pay
for his services on the team as it
whether or not he is a real student, at
tending school for the chief purpose Of
study.
And he goes on to say that no real
student has time to devote to the game
of football as 1t is now played by the
big colleges and universities.
As far as the roughness of the game
IS concerned, Prof. Carruth does not ap-
pear to be much worried. He says that
while it must be acknowledged that the
game is rough, that ''rOughness ana
danger are inevitable accomplishments
of youthful sports. He says, however,
that experiments to eliminate all the
unnecessary roughness should be under
taken promptly and in good faith by the
rules committee.
Speaking of the more serious problem
of professionalism. he says:
No Disgrace in Professionalism.
There has been a distinct lack of
clear thinking on this subject of pro-
fess1onalism. There is nothing inherent
" vicious in being professional sports
man, or in receiving pay for playing
games.
THE mischief. if such there is. must
+ be smoked out of the bushes. Certainly
a professional sportsman may be gen
| tleman and play in every way an honor
able game. Most Of us have known
such. Then why do we object to pro-
fessionalism in athletics? It is said
that betting and gambling are assOcia-
ted with professionalism. This is true
in general; but this evil is adjunct to
professional sport. not inherent in it.
And moreover this Is an evil that is
attaching itself to amateur sport, and TO
almost every function of life and It
must be fought on its own ground. Then
why do we object 50 particularly to pro
/ fessionalism IN college athletics?
THE root of the matter lies just here.
Amateur sport Is sport; professional
sport is buSinesS.@A professional in
sport or elsewhere is one who makes
| sport is the primary concern. Now. if
! they could but see it. the reason that
1 colleges object to professionalism in col
/ lege athletics is that the first business
of the college man--is to be student,
while to the man who mas the PROFITS
sional spirit, the first business is foot
1 ball or baseball oFn whatever his sport
may be.
1T does not matter vitality whether
the man has received pay for playing or
! coaching. or even whether he is being
! paid for so doing during his attendance
/ at college-save in 50 far as he may be
violating agreements The vital thing is
whether he is at the college first Of al
as a student, OF whether he has gone
4 there and stays there primarily or ex-
clusively to practise his sport. Even
though he receive not a cent, the man