The Palatka news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1907-01-04
StetSon University Football.

The history of football in Stetson
extends back some six years. In
that time she has won four State
championships and valuable Times
Union Cup. In the last two seasons
she has not been scored on by any
Florida team.
AS is true with all athletics at
Stetson, football is simply the sport
of the students in the fall of the year.
No inducements of any kind are held
out to players to enter the Univer-
sity. Professionalism in athletics is
unknown-the scholastic standing
insisted on before q student can par
ticipate in athletics is very high.
Over 80 per cent. of the men who
have represented Stetson on the grid
iron in the last six years knew moth
ing of football when they entered the
University.
contact of players, the value of the
game depends on the spirit in which
it is played. This cannot be governed
by any set of rules but depends en-
tirely on the players and the spirit of
the college they represent. The ath-
letic spirit of Stetson stands for clean,
manly sport. Nothing that is brutal
or unfair is tolerated on the football
field. That the new rules against
brutality and unfairness are neces-
sary at Stetson is borne out by the
fact that not once in six seasons of
play has her team been penalized for
these offenses. OF this record, and
the spirit which made it possible,
Stetson is justly proud.
The University authorities believe
that football, under the proper en-
vironment, is game of great value
to the students in that it combines
physical, mental and moral training
and development to a marked de-
gree. The records of the gymnasium
directors in the larger colleges show
that no branch of sport has proven
as beneficial to physical development
as football. The layman considers
that mere brute force is the only re-
quirement of a football player. Such
is far from being the case. No dul.
lard can become a success at the
game. Mental and physical deXterity
are absolutely essential to success.
The player must master the rules
which are very intricate and be able
to apply them instantly. This
teaches him self-cOntrol under the
most trying conditions. The layman
hears one of the players calling in
rapid succession six or eight num-
bers-a successful team will have
fifty or more combinations-but he
has no idea of the amount of mental
drill necessary to interpret their
meaning and to quickly execute the
plays. There is no other game which
demands this quickness and accuracy
OF thought.
No student can be successful in
after life unless he develops a strong
moral courage in his college days.
Football is a great help to develop
this side of his character. Brutal
courage is never adequate on the
football field. The game under the
proper environment calls for some
thing higher. The player must learn
to master his temper no matter how
trying the conditions. He learns
obedience to the will of others-his
coach and captain. He learns self
denial, for the training rules are
very strict, and lastly he learns to
make light of the little aches and
pains Of life.
In spite of the attacks of sensa-
tional newspapers and people who
know nothing of its merits, football
has grown to be the representative
college game and is strongly en-
dorsed by everyone who knows its
true value as part of college life.
At Stetson football is firmly estab-
lished as part of the college life
and it is the unanimous opinion of
the men who have played under her
coIors that the game will prove of
lasting benefit to them.
Litchfield Cotton,
Coach for Stetson Football Team.