Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-11
ALUMNI CAUSE OF ACTION.
Old Students of Three Jesuit Col
leges Want Foot Ball.

The action taken by the presidents of
Georgetown, Fordham and Holy Cross in
conference held at Georgetown yester-
day relative to reform in foot ball seems
to have been started by the alumni of
the three big Jesuit schools, who have
taken decided stand against the aboli-
ton of the sport, and whose Influence is
known to have great weight in the ad-
mnistration of affairs at the Institutions
mentioned. That the old students have
met with great success in their endeavors
will be appreciated by those cognizant of
the conditions of the conference. since it
is certain that the united stand of the
three largest Catholic colleges In the
east, having. as they do. the power to
lesISlate for dozen smaller ones, Will
have more than passing influence on the
meeting Of the ruies committee in New
York December Is
Ever since thes legislation of the
Georgetown faculty abolishing the sport
was made public alumni OF the local
school have made protests against the
action. and so much consideration has
been given these protests that for the
past ten days enough information has
leaked out that the students of the uni
versity have been unanimous in their
opinion that the Blue and Gray would
again be represented on the Srtdiron an
other season. On account of this conf
dence that the sport would be reinstated,
the athletic association has provided for
same as in other years, whiie 1T is as
Sumed that parallel action will soon be
t-.ken relative to the selection of IA cap
tain.
At Holy Cross foot ball has been ON the
grill for some time. and it is only be-
cause of the opposition of the alumni
that the game has not been abolished be-
fore now At Fordham the conditions are
slightly different for. although there has
been no question of abolishing the sport
entirely. d representative has been Sc
lected to appear before the rules com
mittee who will advocate a complete re-
form in the playing rules. which, II it is
not done. will probably mean that the
life of football at the New York school
will soon he ended.
The action of the Jesuit schools in the
other provinces will now be awaited with
interest by advocates of foot ball reform
in the east. The action of the conference
at Georgetown yesterday will only have
an effect on the colleges in the Maryland
province of the JesuitS. thus leaving the
schools i'll other jurisdictions practically
uncommitted i'll regard to the sport. AS
the western provinces contain st. Louis
University, Santa Clara, GonZaga and a
numerous list of smaller schools. all OF
which. however, have great influence in
their spheres of action. their joining with
the Jesuit schools of the east would make
SpondlnSly OF more Importance.
1t is also worthy of note that SO much
discussion over the abolition OF the game
has taken place at Notre Dame, which
at present enjoys first place among Cath
Ole colleges of America as far as atii-
leticS are concerned, that Il press dis
patch in the middle of football season
claimed that the sport had been droDped
at that school. Although subsequent
news has proven the report unfounded
far final action was concerned Vet
ii is admitted that il was inspired by tho
proximity of drastic ruling the same as
is being advocated by many members
OF the Notre Dame faculty ut present.
Should Notre Dame, possessing as it
does the present title of foot bali cham
pions of the middle west Join with the
JesuitS in support of foot ball reform, it
would mean that the Catholic. UNIVERSE
ties and colleges throughout America
wolIlf be together i'll seeking d change iii
the playing rules of the game. anu their
position would be all the more strength
ened by the fact that high officials of
tie church have already committed them
selves as decidedly adverse to the sport
When it is considered that this influence
VII not only reach to the Catholic
schools, but also to the non-sectarian
universities where there are hosts of
Catholic students. some comprehension
can he taken of what Is possible To fol-
low from the action of the confG renee of
the presidents of Georgetown. Holy
Cross and Fordham Yesterday.