New-York tribune., 1911-12-29
Sentiment in Favor of Few
Changes in Rules at COL
lege Gathering.
CAPTAIN PIERCE AT HELM

Collegiate Athletic Associa-
tion at Interesting Meet
ing in This City.
men were freely discussed at the annua
meeting of the National Collegiate Athletic
Association in the east ballroom Of tn,
Hotel Astor, in this city. yesterday. Fac
ulty representatives OF most of the ninety
three colleges and universities which arr
now members of the association We're il
attendance. while visiting delegates swelleC
the number of those present TO a hundred
and nifty or more. Football, baseball, the
amateur question. professional coachnl
and other athletic subjects came in fol
their share of attention. largely. however
from an ethical point Of view. as II is the
purpose OF the association TO suggest anc
direct rather than control In the effort tC
raise the standard of intercollegiate sports
10 a point in keeping with the higher prin
ciples of education.
Although no formal recommendation
showing the attitude of the association or
football were made, beyond some minor In
structions TO the rules committee, the
sentiment plainly was in favor Of stand
pat policy so far as any material changes
in the code are concerned. No fewer thar
three district representatives in their re-
ports expressed the opinion that the rules
were satisfactory, while DIR. Harry L. Will
Jams. Of Minnesota, chairman OF the asso-
cations half OF the rules committee IN
making his report expressed the opinion
that the game of to-day is immeasuraOI!
superior TO that of six years ago ana that
few changes of a radical nature are nee
essary.
In this DIR. Williams is at variance with
the opinions OF many Of the leadlng
coaches. officials and players here in the
East, who appear TO be Of one mind that
number of important changes should DC
made.
No Hostility to Football,
There was no hostile attitude toward the
game. as was the case two years ago, "heh
II seemed as If almost every hand was
raised ready TO strike the virile. popular
college sport. In fact. the feeling was gen
eral that the game was much SAFER thah
under the old rules and That cohdltlohs
have been greatly improved.
Dr. Ehler. Of Wisconsin, made his annual
report concerning the sO-called death rate
and from six reported in some newspapers
he reduced the number to two on caretui
investigation, and these two, he plainly
showed. were not directly traceable IN any
way TO the rules. although the injuries
were received in purely accidental Wa!
while taking part in the play. Ihese accl-
dents. he pointed out, were not unusual III
any line of sport.
No definite action was taken on the
summer baseball evil. professional coach-
ing or in framing a definition for an anna
teiir. but much light was thrown on these
subjects and the influence is almost sure
10 make for good. \ strong plea was maze
for association or soccer football by W. +.
Garcelon. graduate director Of athletics at
Harvard; DR. James A. Babbitt and Presl-
dent Sharpless of Haverford College, ana
a committee of five was appointed TO pro-
mote and regulate the game. TINS COM
rnittee was named as follows; Dr BaD-
bitt, Haverford; w. F. Garcelon, Harvard
DR.. Page, Andover; DIR. Naismith, Kansas
and Professor Ford, Washington and JET
ferson.
Mr.. Garcelon went so far as to say thai
in his opinion more college men and schooi
boys would be playing soccer footoai
i within five years than any other sport
He insisted that when its advantages as
a healthful and more or less strenuous
pastime were recognized II would ap
peal 10 colleges schools and to the pubn'
at large. as is the case in Great Britain.
Dr. Page said that there were no les.
than twelve soccer teams at AndoVer anc
that the game fills Il big hole in the schoo
life. President Sharpless OF HdVertord
pointed out that soccer was not smothered
by too many rules and too many onlcialS
and that it was a desirable game, bott
from a physical and ethical point of view
The statement made from time to time
by number of physical directors that
soccer brought about heart strain be-
cause Of the exhaustive nature Of the play
WAS not accepted seriously by those pres
ent although Dr. Babbitt admitted that
there were just as many injuries as in the
American college game although perhaps
not Of such a serious kind.
1t was not the sense of the meeting that
soccer should be substituted for the Amer
ican college game, but that it's qualities
were such that IT should be fostered and
encouraged as any other branch of sport
The meeting was divided into three ses-
tended since the association was organized
six years ago, at time when the faculty
representatives gathered together in a
crusade against football. At that time,
Captain Palmer +. Pierce, representing
West Point, stood in the breach and in .
large measure prevented action which
would have put the ban on football at
many of the leading colleges In the coun-
try. The morning session was devoted 10
the reading Of three interesting papers, al
though the delegates were disappointed at
the unavoidable absence of Major General
Leonard Wood, chief Of staff, I. ). A,
who had promised TO address the meeting
on The Military Value of Athletics to a
Nation
The afternoon session was devoted 10
general discussion and the transaction OF
the routine business. while In the evening
an informal. talk was had on questions
most closely touching the athletic life of
college men.
Captain Pierce Re-eIected President.
Captain Palmer l.. Pierce was reelected
president for the sixth time, while the eN-
cellent work o: Professor f. ". Nicolson
of Wesleyan. was .ecOgnizcd and ne was
urged 90 accept another term as secretary
and treasurer Professor II. w Johnson,
Of the University Of Indiana, was elected
ce-prcsldcut. while the district represent
atives were named as follows
First district, ". +. Garcclon, Harvard ;
socond district. Dr. ". J.. Savage, Carnegie
Technical school; third district, Professor
A. II. Patterson University Of North Caro-
lima; fourth district, Dr. y. Stauffcr, Uni
versity OF Mississippi; fifth district Pro-
fessor ii. = Wingert, ohio state Uni