Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-12-28
The Intercollegiate A. A.
Will Meet Today.
Harvard's Intention TO Join the
Fold Proves a Puzz|er.
Football Rules Will Come in for
Full Share of Discussion.

New York, Dec. 27-The intercolegi-
ate Athletic Association of the United
States will held it's annual convention
Tuesday at the Murray Hill hotel.
The meeting promises to be the most
important in the history of the aSso-
citation, as announcement has come
from Cambridge that Harvard intends
To cast it's lot with s. institutions that
now are enrolled as members of this,
the greatest Intercollegiate athletic as
ISOLATION in the world.
The announcement that Harvard in
tended to Join the Intercollegiate AS
Sociation was the most important fea-
ture of the college sporting world dur
ing the past week. 1t is move that
has puzzled the followers of college
sports, particularly those that follow
the fortunes of Harvard's ancient rival
at New Haven With the exception of
PENNSYLVANIA not one of the big ath-
lctic institutions has as yet joined
what is commonly called capt. Pierce's
Association" The reason is obvious.
The big colleges have believed that
once they enrolled in such an asso-
.iation they no longer would be able
to control their athletic destines. Will
liam f. Garcclon. graduate manager
of athletics at Harvard, viii represent
that institution, as also will also Dr..
Dudley A. Sargent, although the latter
will be present as guest, having accept
ed an invitation to speak before Har-
ward decided to apply for admission.
Word from New Haven states that
tool, NO ~al
by Harvard's action.
While official Harvard processes no
knowledge OF Yale's attitude regarding
utilization with the Intercollegiate AS
sociation it is felt that perhaps this
question was one of those upon when
Harvard and Yale came to an agree
ment at the recent conference of presl-
dents and head coaches at Cambridge
and that before the meeting opens Yale
will announce it's intention of applying
for admission
Although football undoubtedly will
come up for discussion on Tuesday. no
changes will be made in the grldlron
sport until there is e, meeting of the
football rules committee. This body Is
made up of representatives of the as
sociation and delegates from the big
colleges that are not connected with
the organization.
The intercollegiate Athletic Associa-
ticn % the United States, which was
formed during the winter of 1905, in
cludes in it's membership more than
80 COLLEGES AMI universities of the
United States. At its first meeting it
elected seven members to revise the
football rules, following the anti-fo OF
bali agitation Of that year. The ccm-
mittee finally amalgamated With the
old football rules committee represent
inr Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Cornell
and others OF the SC-called Big Six"
i2elativc to tho action that this body
will take regarding changes in the
football rules for next fall. Capt. Pal-
mer + Pierce. E. S. A. president of
the asSOcia. ion. says:
4 am for such changes in the rules
Of football a.; viii make the game
safe. 1t is :. rough game, and I like it
to be res sonably 50. but !Shen playing
it becomes unnecessarily dangerous to
life and limb, thcn it is time to change
the rules of play.
THE char o,s necessary are now be-
Judge of he toe unique of the game,
but | believe certain rulr5 III reform
can be laid down for the guidance of
the committee and ! expect to sec
this done 1T rue meeting on Dec. Is.
There will l." an attempt | am sure,
to formulate actual changes in the
playing rules curing the conference.
"What "" are DESTROYS of avoiding
is any injury To the athletic spirit in
our colleges. | believe in it thoroughly,
and hope to improve it. If | did not
think 50 certainly would cease my
efforts to advance its work
Open play. apparently. has caused
more injuries than the old mass system
Of attack. Som" of the members of the
l. a. A., believing that last seasons
rules put q premium on injuries. arc
decidedly in favor Of making sweeping
changes in them. even if these changes
should altogether alter tn" complexion
of the fall sport.
What the 7. a. A. will recommend to
the rules committee depends largely on
the reports submitted 10y it's members
"n how most OF the fatal injuries of
1903 occurred. Cadet Byrnc of West
Point, as is well known. was killed in
Virginia, hafoack. The Army played
no more football after Byrne's death,
while Virginia has abolished the game
until the rules are changed,
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