Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-04-02
SUMNER BASE BALL AGAIN
Graduate Of Nebraska Argues Against
the Present Rule.
NEW TEST FOR COLLEGE ATHLETE
spotIess Record for studies and Let
the student Play for Pay I'm
the summer if He
Likes.

Ane ouMnnFE ~ re
Likes.
you faculty mentors never viii solve
the summer base BAN problem in college
athletics so long as YOU stick 70 your
present course"
a Nebraska undergraduates rather net
tied because the CornhusHer base ball team
had been declared Ineligible for Missouri
valley contests shot these words at a
group of university professors one day
last spring. His thrust struck a sympa-
thetic chord in the feelings OF one Of the
older representatives OF the faculty. who
sincerely said. Il believe you're right,
young man; we cannot get rid Of profess
sionalism unless we take away the ground
on which Il breeds. I agree with you. I
think there should he only one; that is,
practically only one, qualification for
eligibility to intercollegiate sports. That
one condition should be scholarship. Let
man be thoroughly qualified scholar,
with a spotless record in his studies. and
then give him license to take part in
sports during his undergraduate career"
Since these statements were made the
student has become an alumnus of Ne
braska. He still believes there is only one
solution to the base ball questionable
same solution that the professor advanced
doing away with the rule that bars men
who play for money during their vaca-
tons.
Outlines His Plan.
Il have always fought against the
summer base ball rule" says this gradu-
ate, because I do not believe It is just
TO students who have extraordinary ath-
letio prowess 1t seems to me that it is
le f,f -
intercollegiate sports. Il is not simply
an injustice to good base ball player;
It is a hardship.
1.-THE non-athletic student, who devotes
himself to certain lines of work. is per-
mitted 10 earn money during vacations and
even during the school terms. by tutoring
or instructing. This man may be a de-
batter; indeed, he often is. He is per-
mitted to teach debating or some language
to younger students; perhaps he teaches
class in a high school. He receives
money FOR this work, work which makes
him better able to debate, II a debater he
be. Then, II this work. for which he
receives money. makes him a better de-
batter, should he be eligible for participa-
ton in an intercollegiate debate7 He has
used his resources to get money, and
probably this money has been employed
to make him better able to contest against
some student on a team from another
college.
my solution for the summer base ball
problem now is to let any student play
with a college team, provided that student
maintains certain required standard in
his studies He should not be given any
advantage over the non-athletic student.
He should rather. be watched closer.
Make the standard OF eligibility high and
then force the athlete to live up to It. II
he be a member of the worlds champion
base ball team and is an undergraduate
OF college let him play while he is COM
pleting his course. Under no conditions
let him take active part for more than
three years.
Under the present rules no freshman
can play. This law prevents the proselyt-
ing Of players for the purpose of getting
them to strengthen the team in a single
year. II Nebraska has a good player no
college win get him, because he will moi
desire to lose a year of sport.
Permitted Only Three Years.
with the first term cut off an athiett
can play Only three years. Graduates ar,
not permitted to take part in any colleg,
intercollegiate sport 1 believe all ath
letes should be given a period Of fou
years after their freshman terms In whicl
to play their three years of sports / sug
gest this system because some men vii
be required to remain out Of school for
year or more After playing for two year
II may be necessary for a good athlet
to be away from college for a year Will
earning money to complete his eours,
J Such a man should be permitted to pla
his final year In athletics. I am strongl
opposed. however. to letting a student seal
ter his playing over six or seven year,
Make the limit four years Then II a ma
goes to school two years and stays OF
two he would be able to play only tw
: years. for he would have been absent
one year that counted as part of the fou,
} year limitation.
The present rule bars a man from atf
letics even though he receive no mono
for his base ball services. II he play O
team that has only a single player r,
, ceiving money he thereby becomes a prc
fessionel. Could any rule be more out
rageous? I don't believe anyone will sur
port such a clause in debate.
Hopes for the Future.
II believe the conference will be force
20 withdraw from it's present arbitrary pc
sition and give the colleges a more libers
law. / do not hope for the radical actio
which would result IN making SCHOLARSHIP
the sole qualification for eligibility
least, do not hope for such a chang
now. But 1t will eventually come. / be
lieve. Such men as Prof Caldwell an
Dean Richards OF Nebraska favor Il
They, Of course, are only a few o
the many faculty men, but they are lead
rs-progressives-and this seems to be tn
day when progessives are getting wha
they want. Ny word now is, Watch wha
the new generation win do for athletics
SoUASH TENNIS Is ORGANIZED