The Washington herald., 1908-06-28
HURTS COLLEGE BALL
Rule Against Summer Play
ing Unjust to Athletes.
GEORGE HUFF CITES REASONS
Athletic Director mt University Of
Illinois Thinks Men should Be Al
COmmends Strict Standard I'm stud
les and Approves Residence Rule.

The University of Illinois. and other
Western universities, will not be repre-
sented by baseball teams in the future
that will equal those of the past, says
George A. HUI. director of athletics at
the University of Illinois. The reasons
are not far to seek.
The three-year rule began the deteriora-
,ion. This elimination OF men who, hav-
ing finished three years OF college work.
were on the threshold O1 graduation was.
70 my mind. the most foolish legislation
ever connected with college athletics.
The only excuse for its enactment must
have been that no other avenue presented
itself whereby the committee could fur
ther restrict participation in athletics,
and since what had been done ur to that
time did not satisfy the desirs5 OF those
who would minimize athletics 10 the ex-
treme, this was thrown in for good meas
ure
The rule requiring that a student be in
attendance one year before being allowed
TO take part in conference athletics also
will hurt college baseball. True. fresh
men may play on their class team. but
they do not get the experience that ac-
companies playing on the varsity. DO not
play as many games, do not face so many
good twirlers. and are not under the direct
supervision OF the coach.
Withal, however, the freshman rule has
proved salutary. and should be loath TO
see il repealed The fact that some Will
lugubriousy compare teams under the old
rules with those under the new. to the
disadvantage Of the latter, will be Offset
by the beneficial results brought about by
the freshman one-year attendance rule.
strict Standard In studies.
The standard scholarship has worked
eliminatingiy on the baseball squad. Now
a candidate must be a university man OF
one years good standing as a matricu-
lated student Not a single objection can
be advanced to this rule. for now we are
sure that our team will be composed OF
standard university men. l believe a
regularly matriculated student may be
called the standard from the standpoint
Of university representation.
High school baseball is rapidly decreas-
ing as an academic sport, and this will
be a factor In affecting tie scientific
aspect of college teams. for many candi-
dates have come with the rudiments well
learned. due 10 high school playing
The ban placed on professional bail for
college men in the summer time prevents
a material development. This rule I am
opposed 10 IN every shape. manner. and
form. for with our scholastic standing as
strict as II is al present. with a stipula-
ton that all participants in college base
N.rN feHl n
die Of September until school closes in /
June. there is absolutely no danger that
the bars OF professionalism would be
thrown down 10 the college man. Why?
An example will best explain:
Players Too High 10 Bay.
Suppose l want pitcher. To get one as
good as any OF the varsity twlrlers this
year l must go to man Of class A cali F.
ber-one who is good enough to draw a
salary Of from $3.50 70 s. 900 year. I tell
him that he must attend school A whole |
year. carry his work. and be matriculated
before the season begins next year. II
he is already a professional. he must sac
rifce the early spring trip with his team.
as well as seven weeks OF salaried play
ing before school is out in June and
safely four weeks Of playing in the fall
after school again begins.
A man must be so good to be able to
get a contract with a professional team
allowing these leaves OF absence that his
services would be almost absolutely in
dispensable 10 his team, and since this
can be said Of about one out OF every
hundred players. there will not be much
danger Of professionals casting their lot
gHtN aa1l NElF
good enough 10 demand and get a con |
tract calling for absence in the spring /
and fall will demand such a large salary
in major league company that he prob |
ably would not think of losing so much |
money 10 attend college.
The amount Of this mans salary would |
be so high that even granting a college |
engaged in cOmmercialiZatiOn of players /
the expense Of keeping such a man in !
school a year before he is eligible and |
the expense during the rest Of his college !
career would be so enormous that the |
ever ready charge OF paid athlete"
would mock itself because of its own pre- /
pOsterOusness.
why This Discrimination
Why may not man carr as much |
money in the summer time as his ability |
will allow, whether that ability be as a
baseball player. circus tumbler. lecturer, !
&c, and still be eligible for intercollegiate |
athletic and debating teams? He ran on
debating teams for, TO my personal knowl- |
edge, at least two men who have repre- !
sented Illinois on debating teams. have /
received money for lecturing and public /
speaking. and still no conflict arose as to |
their eligibility. AS the vast majority OF |
Ill -
as much money as possible for use during |
the school year, it does not seem right to |
me to completely bar the baseball PLAYER. |
10 the advantage of all other avenues, /
whether physical or mental
With the scholastic qualifications abso- |
lutely in the hands OF the faculty, If any |
thing should be wrong with the scholastic /
standing Of the men. they alone would be /
at fault. Then with such a condition as /
this why should they object 20 a man be- |
cause he plays ball for money during the /
summer time, If a glance at his record in |
the registers Office shows him TO be 1
real college man?
This II seems to me. is the end most 70 |
be sought: and. besides, il is safe 10 say
that the veracity Of a number Of college |
men playing college baseball throughout /
the country would be relieved Of severe
test if a cross-examination on their ANA
teur standing were omitted.
Better Field for Grads.
To divert from the theme at hand. I
want to put myself on record as being
opposed to the college man going into
professional baseball. and never have
advised a man to do this. This decision
is not based on views in accord with those
who would rely on dissipations and de-
moralizing conduct as reasons for dis
couraging the professional career of col
lege men; for, from personal experience,
can say truthfully that the average
man in professional baseball, especially