Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-01
FOSTERING ATHLETICS
QUESTION OF PROFIT TO A COL
LEGE DEBATED.

Does the fostering OF athietlcS Oy
college, and by that is meant the SUPER
vision of the entire matter by the faculty.
suffice to pay the institution In the long
I'm for the time and labor given thereto!
Has it come to pass that unless col
lege, as a college, lends its strong arm to
the upbuilding of the teams that repre-
sent the institution it will dwindle away
as an educational center, and all robust
students who have a voice in selecting
the place for their college Gays Will
surely pass it up and go elsewhere where
athletics flourish as part OF the routine
work?
These were the questions under discus
sion UP at the University Club the other
evening, and the participants were con-
spicuous from the fact that they repre-
sented the cream of the leading inStltu-
tons of the country and were men who
have won distinction In every walk OF
life and we'll able to discuss this most
important question.
The discussion took long range, ana
every view point of college athletics was
discussed pro and con until very late
hour by the distinguished debaters, and.
while one or two held to the theory thar
too much time was given to athletics
nowadays. the majority agreed that I'M
less a college assume complete jurisdic-
ton over the entire field. and the faculty
mixed in with the undergraduate man
agement, it would be SUICIDAL in the end.
1t was said very APPLY by one of the
speakers having degrees from Yale and
Georgetown that the whole situation was
Illustrated by the present condition of
things at Georgetown. Years ago 1t was
the proud boast Of every Georgetown
man that the teams Of its various athletic
branches were the equal of any in Amer
lea for excellence in base ba-A and track
in any of the other colleges Of the land.
THAT was in the days of Presidents
Whitney and Daugherty," said the speak
h. 10
the deserving young man who was striv-
ing to make his way through by his ath-
letic ability, and who used that ability
to the best purposes for the college, adj
vertising the institution 100 per cent bet
ter than all the paid notices that annually
appear for the purpose of catching the
eye of parent and student alike, as these
parties made the teams, and their doings
gave Georgetown renown. Contrast the
present athletic teams of Georgetown
1905 and 1t is like mentioning Yale with
one of our high schools as far as ability
goes. Why, Arthur Duffy and Bernie
Wefers, by the use of their legs as
of people who never heard of the place
before that such place as Georgetown
College existed, and both of these ma
tionai characters could not run today UNI
der Georgetown coIors even if they were
novices.
II am forced to the opinion that any
deserving youngster who possesses ath-
letic ability should be encouraged to en-
ter a college where he can make good in
his studies and render aid to his athletic
alma mater. 1t Is a well-known fact
that Yale, Harvard, Princeton, University
of Pennsylvania and all the rest have
graduates always on the lookout for
promising material to add to their ath-
letic lists, and Georgetown Is singularly
alone in it's treatment of athletes, and
while the present administration may i'm
agine it is correct in its treatment of the
vital question, the outside world is of the
opinion it IS on the wrong track"
That reminds me of an instance in
my career" said Boston Tech man.
I'VE were to go up to hanover, N. H.,
to play Dartmouth and, as usual up that
way, our train was late. and we could get
no dinner at the inn. the only hotel in the
place. Our manager was at his wits
end, for it was absolutely necessary we
should have something before playing the
game, but way out of the dilemma came
from the Frat house. One of the stu
and walters there would be no trouble
about meals. Well, a skirmish around
the dormitories brought cooks and wait
tiers to the house, and in less time than
it takes to relate our team had fine
dinner all served. The cook who pre-
sided over the range was one of the lead
ing Greek letter men In the college. and
the walters were also well UP In all the
fraternities. They were working their
way through college that way. and If
they were acceptable. why not give the
athlete the same show for his degree,
for in my mind the athletes. while not
rejecting one bit on the heroism of the
cook. is preferable in college life.''
The consensus of opinion was decidedly
that all colleges must mingle In athletics
and assume control Of their representa-
tives If they want to reach the success
that is obtained by those who do so. and
that nothing advertises colleges SO widely
as a winning team in foot ball, track,
base ball or rowing.