Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-07
FOOT BALLS POPULARITY
SHOWN BY ATTENDANCE

| One of the most wonderful features in
connection with foot ball in the United
States is it's astonishing growth in popu-
larity. Within the last four weeks
seven games have been played between
/ important elevens at which the attendance
reached the astonishing total of $4,000
spectators.
To these figures may be added at least
100000 more for games of consequence
between the better of the second-grade
elevens since the beginning of November.
| That will bring the grand total to 90, OOO,
] and 1t must be taken into account that
this has nothing to do with the crowds
that have seen contests between schools
| and preparatory elevens, as well as those
| that have witnessed games between col
leges that are Lot located at cities Of large
population.
Unquestionably all records for attend
| ance have been broken this year, as they
relate to the schedules that are mapped
out by schools and colleges for the short
| season in which 1t is possible to play
| what is now considered to be an establish
ed fall sport in the United States.
The public has patronized the games
not only willingly, but with eagerness.
Wherever it has been possible to obtain
| tickets of admission there has been the
| liveliest demand upon the part Of pub
| lie inclined to athletics to obtain them at
increased prices If 1t were impossible to
| obtain them at regular rates.
Receipts Were Large.
| The receipts for foot ball games will
climb far into the hundreds Of thousands,
| with dollar mark preceding. Interesting
| in connection with that is the fact that re-
ceipts might have been almost doubled
had there been disposition to raise the
price Of admission. The greatest willing
| ness has been noted on the part of college
men and non-college men to expend
| money in order that their desire to see the
| sport may be gratified. Games IKE those
between Yale and Harvard and Yale and
Princeton, Penn and Cornell and An
| napolis and West Point hf never lacked
excellence Of play may have been the
| rule in these matches, there has always
been the loyal college spirit to bring forth
| the multitude to watch the rival univer-
| stiles contest for superiority.
Foot ball Is SO much better played than
1t was ten years ago that the game now
attracts for its own intrinsic merit The
public knows more Of its technique than
was the case ten years ago, and while
not all are experts, nor all versed In the
finer points Of the rules, there is suffi-
cient general knowledge to grasp the
| theory Of the sport and the aim Of the
players in trying to advance the uall.
There is not the slightest doubt that the
| new rules have contributed their share
to influence the public in devoting more
| time to the sport. The spectacular eff
| fects. which are almost always in evil
dence, bring about SO much more action
and provide opportunity for so much more
| individual achievement that the specta-
tors have opportunity to watch personal
effort and derive amusement from free
running and frequent kicking.
New Foot Ball Fan.
This season has developed new type of
| foot ball enthusiast. It is that of the
college man. who travels from city to city
almost with the beginning Of the milder
practice games. that he may enjoy to his
| fill the different systems and the varying
styles of play that are to be seen at the
| universities. There are men who have
spent every Saturday since the middle Of
| October sitting down to foot ball feast.
Their present regret Is that the season
| has closed and that they are now deprived
| of their amuseme mt. If the weather con-
ditions would permit it is probable that
they would be found pursuing foot ball
games and foot ball teams all through the
| winter. They discourse as readily Of
the Princeton system, the Yale system or
fan" does of the different methods en-
ployed by individual clubs in the major
leagues. They form very good opinions
! as to the relative value Of players. and
are as QUICK TO estimate their weaknesses
and their strong points as some of the ex-
pert coaches.
Once it was the custom Of every college
| man who could find the time to be sure
to see the games between Yale and
Princeton. Yale and Harvard or Harvard
and Pennsylvania. That is still in effect.
but in addition to that is this new type of
foot ball fan" who wanders at will dur
ing the entire season. not satisfying him
self with what the larger universities are
doing, but cleaning pleasure from watch
ing the work of the smaller institutions.
One college man, who has seen something
like half a score Of games this year, an
nounced at Cambridge after the Yale
Harvard game that in another season he
intended to take a prolonged fall vacation
in company with some of his friends,
travelling from place to place by automo-
bile. to observe not only the Saturday
games. but those played Wednesdays.
He said that he would go to the head
quarters of the Indians early in the year,
and perhaps extend his trip to the south
TO watch some of the early practice games
In that section. A foot ball tour by motor
car may be a novelty, but to more than
one it would be a most enjoyable novelty.
In addition to the pleasure of travel there
would always be a definite objective point
for two days in the week early in the
year, and one day in the latter part Of the
season. and more than that. such jaunt
would lead into some pleasant and slightly
places.