New-York tribune., 1912-01-01
COMMENT ON SPORTS
Good Work Being Done Toward
Hiuher Standard in Athletics.
ROOM FOR SOME CRITICISM
Faculty Representatives Blind to
the Needs of Football at
Critical Time.


once more approval must he spoken for
The work being done by the National COL
Ieriate Athletic Association. Under the
guiding hand OF Captain Palmer r. Pierce,
l. S A., who was elected president for the
sixth time on Thursday, much has been
done 10 foster and encourage clean sport
and better spirit among college men.
Every indi, alton was given at the meeting
last week that its influence is spreading
IN all parts OF the country and making
for higher standards. The purposes ana
scone of TIE association are not fully un-
derstooG b a great many persons who are
impatient for sharp. ready action, and not
content 10 await developments from the
.lovnr but oftentimcs surer campaign of
education. Much more, however, could
have been accomplished II the faculty rep
rosentat.5es who gather each year as dele
gates from the various colleges and uni
yersites which make up the membership
NJ the association were better Informed on
tho practical side of the subjects under
discussion and consequently did not nam
por those who are bold enough TO commit
themselves TO some line along which tG
work.
II has been my pleasure TO attend every
meeting of The National Collegiate Athletic
Association since ii was organized, SIX
wears ago. following the conference OF col
Iege men who gathered together for the
ayowed purpose of tearing football up by
root and branch and casting IT ruthessly
aside. Captain Pierce at that time saved
the situation and stood between the great
yirile American college game and its de-
tractors. who we're moved TO drastic meas
rres because OF grossly exaggerated state
n,cnts and unfortunate misrepresentation.
Since then many reforms have been urged
and many athletic subjects discussed from
an ethical point of view, and results have
been obtained too. in spite OF the fact that
So many IL the delegates are wholly I'M
practical il Is along this line that | have
NV ouarre with the association, even
while recognizing the sure growth OF
better conditions due to Its efforts.
II was Disappointing to me that the
delegates were not more alive to the actual
needs of football in the way of rule
changes When the pressure came from
without their demand for a safer and saner
game was loud enough to be heard on every
college campus in the country: when the
pressure comes from within they are blind
10 the very things against which they cried
so loudly six years ago and again two
years ESQ.
The sen ment plainly was that the game
under the present hodge-podge rules was
emne rtly satisfactory. In spite OF the
warnings from those we'll qualified to speak
that the game is still too dangerous, they
sat back in fancied security with the feel
Ing, no doubt. that their full duty had been
done Accidents have been fewer, more
particularly fatal accidents, but this has
been ue as much TO good luck as TO the
rules. ! am not a calamity bowler. but
firmly believe that the forward pass over
the line OF scrimmage opens the way TO
hazard quite as dangerous as any in the
days OF the guards back and the tackles
back and other crashing mass plays-a
hazard that will bear acrid and distressing
fruit. When Professor Reddik, speaker
who charms by his ready wit and homey
statements. and two or three others
said confidently that the rules were all
right as they were. some Of those present
could not help but wonder II they spoke
from hearsay or from a careful study Of
conditions. IT is feared the former other
wise they would have been more disposed
10 instr It the members OF their rules com
mttee 10 take down some of the unnec-
essary bars so hastily constructed. 1t Is
true thst the committee was not hampered
IN ary way. but II is true also that in
directly II was encouraged to '1et we'll
enough aione' and to adopt a stand-pat
policy.
Earnest in their desire to uplift. but mar
row ofteutimes and constrained in their
views the delegates missed a glorious
chance. in my opinion. to prove their un-
bounded interest in a sport so dear TO the
undergraduates. One professor asked for
fixed standard for payment TO officials
0he pocketbook had been touched), but not
one had made a close enough study OF the
game of football. against which they rallied
quite as unknowingly two years ago, to de-
mand that q glaring and dangerous hazard
be removed. 1t is hoped that the rules
committee when II meets in February Will
be bold enough 10 take the bull by the
horns and make the much needed changes
along lines suggested by G. Foster Sanford
and others.
Tho summer baseball evil. which took up
50 large a part of the discussion. is no
nearer immediate solution than before, but,
thanks 10 Captain Pierce, a line was
hewed out i'm the form of a broad rcsOu-
tion that eventually will make for good IL
the gospel OF amateurism is properly
preachej. Some Of those present, for one
reason Q. another. held back until the real
punch was removed. They refused to be
committed TO anything which implied a
threat or which indicated any hard and
fast Ian. Some openly admitted that they
had no quarrel with their students playing
for money " IT aided them in getting col
lege education. although none was brave
enough 10 admit that winning team and
was 81 ulterior motive. Still. as said be-
fore, a forward step was taken by the
adoption of a resolution which commits the
colleges in the association to work against
the insidious evil that playing for money
in the s.inmer is likely TO work among
BOYS and young men who otherwise might
be .ae from the taint of professionalism.
The resolution aims to discourage semi
professionalism by the honor system, with
the violation OF the spirit TO be considered
the violation OF gcntlomans agreement.
Personally, think the big stick" in the
way OF plain, straightforward rule. would
bring uicker results II the faculty repre-
sentative Of athletics and the captains and
cOachcg would play fairly and not blind
Themselves TO the tricks which have been
30 cosamonly practlsed to deceive Still