South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-12-19
INDIANA WOULD
NOT LIMIT MEN
To SINGLE SPORT
State UniverSityS Vote Will
Likely be Cast Against Huff'S
Resolution Before Western
Conference.

BLOOM1NGTON. Ind. Dec. "a
Indiana universitys vote likely viii be
against George Huffs proposed reso-
luton in the western conference,
which provided for limiting athletes
to one branch Of sport Arthur
Berndt, athletic director. said that he
thought the idea Of giving more stu
dents a chance to make their varsity
team a very good one, but that such
resolution, in his opinion. would not
obtain the desired end, and that the
result would be merely inferior col
lege athletics in all branches of sport.
Although Prof. G.. A. GOOdenOugh
OF Illinois introduced the measure at
the meeting OF the conference mem
bers in Chicago two weeks ago. yet IL
Is known that the resolution was pre-
sented at the request Of the Illinois
athletic director, and that ii is his
plan. Director Huff, IN giving his
reasons for the plan, says: Il am
convinced after years Of experience
with college athletics that limitation
would be productive of great good.
In many institutions the same ath-
letes participate in almost all the ma
jOr sports. When the football season
ends they go to basketball. In the
spring track and baseball claim
them. The result Of this cOncentra-
ton Is that n small lotteries represents
the institution in all these sports.
The idea that as many students as
possible participate in sport is defeat
ed. The man who might make the
basketball quintet knows that he has
no chance. Were athletes limited TO
one branch there would instantly
come an athletic revival in all our
conference institutions Even If only
a certain number OF men could make
the team. there would be larger
squads, because the feeling that the
trained, all year round athletes were
there to win places would be absent.
Latent material would be developed.
A larger interest in athletics would be
stimulated"
Director Berndt agrees that the
largest number OF men possible should
be encouraged 10 participate IN atm
letics, but he does not believe that
more men can be got out by means
OF reducing the standards necessary
for membership TO the teams In
speaking OF the proposed change, he
said: 1T is not for personal reasons
that I take the stand l do, as il is
very patent to any one that Indiana
would not be seriously affected by
such rule, but such a change would,
In my opinion. lower the value of the
game from the spectators viewpoint,
and this would seriously affect the
financial end OF college athletics.
which make intercollegiate athletics
possible. Even the students will not
patronize a low standard os sport
whether it be baseball, football or
basketball.
1T has been my experience in col
lege athletics that almost as many
candidates turn out for Indiana's
teams when there are many veterans
back for places as when there are
only a few at the start of the season.
The benefit derived from trying for
position on the team is as great for
for his own development. as it would
ABOVE all, i believe that while there is
a danger of giving the members of
varsity teams too much hero wOr-
ship, vet that same feeling of the
students toward varsity members Oft
en- tends TO make the effort to try for
a place that much stronger for the
man off the squad or team. Our in
terclass and gymnastic contests should
keep the average individual in good
physical shape if that is all he
wishes"
Indiana would not lose much by
such a ruling, and for this reason
Berndt's stand can not be said TO be
from any selfish motives. Seldom
have students made all three athletic
teams here, and in the last few years
Berndt and Andy Gill are among the
most prominent examples. More have
made two OF the major teams but
even these cases are not common
here