Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1913-10-18
AGAINST SPY SYSTEM
Scouting Practice Of Football
Coaches Called Unfair.
DR.. Cal Mecracken, Former Penusyi-
Vanla Grldlron Star, Would Abo'-
ish Secrecy and Declares
Against Locked Gates.

DR.. J, Cal McCracken. former grid
iron star. in lecture before the Uni
versity of Pennsylvania students, con-
demned coaches and schools for the
present spy system Many schools
send scouts to spy out the style of
games of their opponents. he charged,
and declared against this practice as
unfair and unsportsmanlike.
If spying out practices are justi-
fable" said he. why not pay a play
er to enter your opponents institu-
ton. make the team and keep you
fully informed"
Such a player might secretly in
blackboard talks are given. and so
be able to sell nightly records to all
his teams opponents"
The members of the faculty of the
college or university should realize
that athletics are desirable and alb
solutely necessary to the best devel.
opment of the student and stu
dent life. If each teacher were
fully in sympathy with athletics
and athletic contests there would be
greater sympathy between teacher
and student. less friction and better
work done by both. Rosters would
be made and examinations set on
dates which would less frequently
conflict with important athletic
events. Athletes would feel their
teachers were interested in their
success on the field and this thought
alone would do much toward making
the students wish to conduct them.
selves in a manner worthy Of the APP
prevail of their instructors
"All regularly employed coaches
and athletic instructors should be re-
sponsible to the university and con
sidered regular officers Of the insti
tuition. This would give them greater
dignity and security and consequent.
ly better men could be obtained to
fill these positions which are of
great Importance to each individual
student. If so engaged. an athletic
instructors position would not de-
pend more largely upon the general
influence for good or bad which such
contests had exerted on the individ.
ual contestant.
prof R. Taft Mckenzie read be.
fore the National Collegiate Athletic
association paper in which he men
toned, as the most prominent, the
following four evils of the present
day system Of athletics:
Il The standard of all perform
Ances is raised so high that the or
binary student, realizing that he is
/ hopelessly Outclassed. gives up play
Ing the game that he would otherwise
enjoy and that should be kept with
in his reach
%. The competitor is elevated and
separated in special class apart
from his fellows requiring separate
quarters, special diet and consequent
privileges to make the drudgery less
irksome
'3. The publicity that accompanies
the contests puts them into the class
Of public spectacles for which spec
tators pay to see, and so acquire Ger
tain rights over the players, who be
! come mere performers. Pressure Is
thus brought to bear on athletic au.
thOrities and rules committees to con.
slider the spectator rather than the
man for whom the game should be
! designed
a. The winning Of the game be
! comes more important than the OBJ
/ servance Of the spirit OF the law and
the practice Of fair play 1t is the
/ professional motive, which is gain,
/ replacing the amateur motive, which
is the thrill OF the contest