Evening star., 1907-07-21
PLAN To HARMOH|zE
COLLEGE FOOT BALL
Efforts to Induce the big Five'
to Join Other Institutions in
Regulation of the Game.
By Edward R. Bushnell.

Although the weather just now is poorly
suited to foot ball. this sport is the subject
of unusual attention just now on the part
of the officers of the intercollegiate Ath-
letic AssOcia ton of the United States.
Ever since the organization of this body.
which had its origin in the McCracken con-
ference in December, 1905, to lessen the
evils of foot ball. its sponsors have been
making a determined effort to bring into
its membership all the leading universities
of the country, and especially all the men,
bers of the eastern Big Five" So far
their aims with respect to the east have
been a failure.
But within the last month a plan has
been uncovered which is expected to break
down the opposition to the organization and
enroll every leading university in the coun-
try under its banner. At present the MEM
bership contains only the University of
PENNSYLVANIA from the Big Five" though
the middle western universities are quite
well represented. Because of the fear that
they would lose their identity in such a
large body. Yale. Harvard, Princeton and
cornell declined to give up the select or
ganization which until 1906 dictated the
rules of foot ball. and which since that
time has furnished one-half the members
OF the combined committee. The old COM
mittee was composed of representatives
from Yale, Pennsylvania Chicago. Har-
ward, Princeton. Annapolis and Cornell.
This eXclusiveness naturally angered some
of the colleges left out in the cold and who
felt that they had much right to repre-
sentation the colleges which made up
the committee.
The members of the old committee likewise
had very vivid appreciation of this. too.
for when they saw the trend of the move
ment to organize an opposition committee
they quickly raised flag of truce and
made arrangements for conference with
the result that the two bodies consolidated,
and the college world was spared the con-
fusion that would have followed with two
foot ball codes. But the arrangement is
still unsatisfactory, for the two committees
are obliged to consolidate each year. One
half of the committee represents seven uni
veEsities and the other half the new asso-
citation made up of some sixty institutions
from all parts of the country.
The new body. although conscious of its
growing strength and its ultimate control
of the foot ball situation. acted with wis
dom in not offending the members of the
old committee by making their entrance
way will bring every important university
in the country within this organization and
after that the amendment of the foot ball
rules will be an easy matter.
The Plan Proposed.
The plan for aligning the Big Five" is
given in the following bylaws of the In
tercolegiate Athletic Association of the
United States. and which are TO be submit
ted to the association at its next annual
meeting:
Section /. The association at its annual
convention shall choose a committee of
seven to draw up rules for the playing OF
the game of foot ball during the succeed
ing season in conjunction with one repre-
sentative named by the authorized athletic
authorities of Yale. Princeton, Harvard,
Cornell and Pennsylvania, respectively,
and the members representing Chicago ana
Annapolis on the 1907 committee.
Section .. OF the seven members chosen
by this association three shall be elected
for three years. two for two years and two
for one year at the annual meeting OF 1871
Thereafter the elections shall be for terms
of three years vacancies occur.
Section 3. Nominations for this COM
mittee shall be submitted at the annual
convention by the executive committee.
Other nominations may be made from the
floor.
.'Section A. The foot ball rules committee
shall make report to the annua! convention
on the rules of play adopted and their prac-
teal working during the preceding season..
For the good of college sport it is to be
hoped that Harvard. Yale, Princeton and
Cornell will join the association, following
the example of Pennsylvania. 1t is true
that by so doing they will sink a little of
their individuality and perhaps sacrifice
some prestige. But this is not matter
which should be decided by selfish motives.
trail governing body has been responsible
for a vast majority of the evils which can
be attributed TO college athletics. There
fore when such opportunity as this Is
presented for relieving the situat ton. ii
should be utilized.