The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-09-24
FOOTBALL.

Football has it's critics and its enc
mics. They used to be much more
numerous, or noisy, than they are
now. And the mere fact that foot
bail has survived the vigorous and
sometimes violent crusades that have
been waged for it's determination is
about all the evidence needed of its
substance and worth as a sport. AS
matter of fact it is the greatest of
American college games, and each
succeeding year sees the general pub
lie taking a larger interest in it.
1t is no pastime for the mollyeod-
die or the weakling. But at that,
every young fellow could add to his
vigor and dye the red in his blood
deeper hue by chasing and booting
the pigskin about, even though he
might not be able to stand the rigors
of training or the play in hard-fought
contests Football is essentially
game for the brawny, for the physical
ly fit; for the young men with nerve
and pluck, for those who have crafti-
ness and courage. 1t takes brains, too.
And the all too general impression
that its stars come from the college
students who stand at the foot of
their classes is in reality one of those
myths that is kept alive by the pro-
fessional jokesmiths. Fortunate, in
deed, is the college boy whose ply
steal equipment permits him to take
a course in football. 1t is a wonder
full developer of the right kind of
manhood, and the whole truth is that
the heroes of the gridiron are among
the men who deliver the goods. who
are found on the firing line in the
battle of life.
Indications are that the present
season will be a banner one in the his
tory of the game. During its develop
ment methods of play crept in that
made it unnecessarily dangerous and
possibly brutal. Mass plays and fly
ing wedges were fraught with real
danger to the lone opponent, or two,
who tried to stop them. But these
and other Objectionable features have
gradually been eliminated, until to-
day the game has more admirers and
followers than ever. OF course, acct
dents of one sort or another will oc-
cur on the football fields this year
and during every other year to come.
No system of play or set of rules
could be devised that would be certain
to prevent them. But accidents hap |
man has been killed as the result of |
playing baseball. The drowning rec |
ords of a year. from swimming and |
boating, roll up much bigger death |
list than any football season ever did, |
even during the most vicious periods |
of the game. But if men will play, |
men are sure to be hurt. and play |
they must or the dull ones would be |
too numerous.
Topekans are fortunate in having a !
big college in their midst that affords |
them the opportunity of seeing the |
best in football that is played in this |
section of the country. Not so far
away, too, are the teams of the state
and the agricultural col
lege. The Washburn team has played
with varying degrees of fortune during
the past few years. But the prospects
for an excellent team are bright this
year, and proper encouragement and
from Topekans will help it
On its way to victory. Football is
thrilling an intensely interesting game
to watch, and more Topekans should
lake advantage of their opportunities
to familiarize themselves with and
enjoy this good sport.