New-York tribune., 1911-12-29
THE VALUE Of ATHLETICS
What They Mean to Colleges and
Schools Emphasized.
SUMMER BASEBALL ACUTE
Captain Pierce Points Out the
Dangers in Address to
College Men.

! The morning session OF the National Col
legiate Athletic Association at the Hotel
Astor yesterday was full of interest in ad-
| dresses on topics Of various phases of ath-
letics and their bearing on the nation and
on the schools. Chancellor Mccormick, OF
the University Of Pittsburgh; Professor
Scudder. of Rutgers College, and Cap
tain Palmer f. Pierce. U. S. A.. president
of the association, were the speakers.
Captain Pierce made a special plea for
the organization In all parts Of the country
OF local associations Of educational institu-
tiOns for the proper control of intercollegiate
sports. He also explained in a forcible way
the growing influence of the association
congratulated the football rules committee
on having accomplished two important re-
forms, touched on the educational impor-
tance of athletics, the danger of prose-
lyting, and the position which he takes on
professional coaching and the summer
baseball question. 1t was full OF strong
ideas and sound reasoning, and was thor
oughly enjoyed and appreciated by those
present. Captain Pierce said, I'm part
The number of students enrolled in the
universities and colleges represented here
to-day is about l20,0O0. This Is most graft
lNlnB TO all OF us, Sliltt IL SlspNS bhhi wv
high ideals of our association are making
themselves felt However, we can never
feel satisfied until every university ana
college of any atnletlc imPortahhce nee IN IN its
object the proper control and development
OF collegiate athletics. ~
! IL IS of especial importance that there
should be organized In all parts OF our
! country local associations of educational
| institutions for the proper control or their
| intercollegiate contests and solution OF thelr
many athletic problems. The natonal as
sociation IS unable to deal with local mat
| ters II cannot control, discipline and In
| nuence except by educational means. This
association must rely upon local Alliances
| 10 overcome the many evils that undoubt-
| odly exist on account of the keen rlValry
and the win at any cost spirit
The national organization exerts poW-
| erful influence by gathering together at lts
| annual meetings delegates from all parts
of this country and giving them the oppor-
| tunity Of learning the athletic problems OF
each other. The addresses and the proceed,
| ings Of these gatherings are published and
| sent to every institution I'm the land. Many
of these articles are Of great value. They
! furnish a historical record that VIII IN
| crease in value as the years pass. Already
the Sage Foundation considered one of
sufficient importance TO be republished and
| given a broader circulation The delegates
return to their institutions and there spread
our ideals by means of college prints, per-
Sonal addresses and talks. In these various
ways the sentiments of this association. as
| expressed in its constitution and bylaws,
are spreading rapidly throughout the
The rules of football were not materially
changed this year. A great deal OF discus
| sion has arisen over the modified game.
many claiming the change from the old
mass plays have been too radical, and that
now we have n mOnOtOnous punting duel
| IN which the element of luck predomnates.
Undoubtedly some opinions on this VIII be
expressed during our conference.
The football rules committee is to he
heartily congratulated on two things ac-
| cOmplished:
likelihood of serious injuries, as witnessed
by the fact that there has not been fatal
ity on college gridron this fall.
second-The modified game IS such that
| average men and boys can and do play IL
with some pleasure. For instance, at Fort
| Ieavenworth there were half dozen or
more teams that played series of games
this fall In the & four Years OF my my aHty sEty
the men play the game TO any extent.
" il seems necessary to change the rules
sufficiently TO give plays through the line
better chance. 1t is to be hoped this
will be done with extreme care in order
that former conditions may not be re-
stored.
baseball has become acute. The tempta-
tions TO play the game for money seem too
great for many college students. who still
do not want to lose their amateur standing
! thereby. AS "a result all SDTtS III Ht''bNibIln
are practlsed and, surprising to state. are
often condoned by fellow students and the
alumni. The evil became 50 great and so
uncomfortable that the Missouri valley
Conference colleges prohibited intercolle-
giatc baseball this last season. The chi
cago Conference colleges are debating the
subject and the seriousness Of the situation
is known To all present here to-day.
The time, In my opinion, has come 10 30
something radical. The playing of summer
baseball is going to continue. We may rest
assured OF that The question Is, shall II
be permitted and be considered as not af-
shall il be permitted openly, hut effective
steps be- taken to prevent the participant
from representing his college I'm intercolle-
Ciate contests thereafter? One or the other
should be decided upon now. Certainly II
cannot be gainsaid that the present condi
tions arc "A disgrace and should be changed
one way or the other
Myron r. Scudder of Rutgers College. in
talking OF "rhe Influence Of Collegiate
Athletics on Preparatory Schools en-
phasized the importance of greater domi-
nance OF college athletics over schoolboy
athletics on the theory that "the cure for
the evils OF democracy is more democ-
racy" He said in part:
Preparatory schools are as completely
dominated I'm their athletics by the college
as they are in their college entrance
courses The headmasters and teachers
are college men, many OF them eN-athletes,
and some OF them specially engaged on ac.
count Of athletic prowess: the physical
directors and coaches for the most part are
also college men. and all these tend 10 in