University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1909-03-25

! spontaneous yell: What's the matter
with the team: They're all right!
Who's all right: The team. the team.
| the team: the whole - team"
The next day. sitting in the grand
stand. Anachar>i> i still an impartial
observer He doesn't understand the
game. 1t seems to him too gentle for
war and too savage for peace. nor can
he -ympathizc with the mad frenzy "i
the crowd. y day or two after the
game he i all the more perpleNcd 4"
I find that all the machinery of the col
lc"c i shut down: Glasses. lectures are
di>r"nt inucd in order that president.
faculty and students may take Il day
oil 1" proclaim that they're on the
map. the great goal has been attained:
the sons al light have won. the SONS OF
darkness have been com-i i.n"d Ia the
neither world where hey belong"
Lives Up to Standards
am not here To take Il ''holicr than
thou attitude toward any educational
institution i'm Colorado. nor to take adj
vantage OF this opportunity To Justify
the athletic policy OF the State Uni
vcr-itv. We have recently come in for
Il good deal OF irresponsible criticism
which We have ignored and shall con
!
1" >ay this much: that the University
ni Colorado holds certain standards in
athletics and lives up 10 them These
standards are not merely what j. right
in our own eyes: they are matters al
a"rcrm,n, between all the colleges ana
universities of this region. They are
iurt h"rmorc the standards of all decent
and Respectable college men throughout
this country: and if im>i~tin" on these
standards for oIIr own teams and cN
p"ctin" them To br enforced in other
institutions with which We play. We Il"
not meet with approval al the Kind ri
public opinion which j. reflected in the
~i'"rtin" pages OF our newspapers. then
say. and believe YOU will say. 81 much
the worse for that Kind Of public "pin-
ion.
We have been accused Of bcin" OPP
posed Ia intercollegiate athletics. a. if
this were Il very serious charge even if
il were true. Isn't il possible to he
lir,c that intercollegiate athletics under
certain conditions are good. and that
under other conditions they are more
uf u curse than blessing AS things
feeling throughout the country. that
they are not. Ia say the least. an I'M
MIXED "ood We have on the one hand
the wild enthusiast and on thu other
tn" pronounced cynic. Between these
two extremes are the great ma iority al
San" and thoughtful people VIII" feel
that intercollegiate sports are brin"
weighed in the balance hut that the
conditions are not Vet such ~ t" war
i"it 't''Hl IL itiI illdi Itl>'iIdiiN -
feel that To- condemn them absolutely
i only {" confess our weakness and
neglect, We who have in our hands
The ia-hinnin" of educational policy
have looked on indilcrcntlv and al
lowed athletics To go their own GAIT
and noW that they seem Ia have Tot
somewhat beyond "lr control W" raise
TIA" question whether il l. not best To
take drastic measures and destroy them
root and branch We "u"h, rather 10
face the fact that intrr-cnll""iatc ath
lc,ic- are now the most firmly grounded
traoii ion oi American college life and
are one of the strongest forces i'm that
IIic. and surely il j. the part uf courage
and wisdom not Ia civ" up until We
have made every effort (" lis. that force
fnr good.
Where the Evils Arise.
| think that you will a"rrr with m"
t hal most ii not all the evils "f inter |
collegiate sports >prin" from conditions /
where the desire To win i stronger !
I han the sense Of honor Ii We in our |
schools and colleges haven't power .
enough and influence cuo,juh to put hon