New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-31
Statement Fails to Raise a
Ripple at Meeting of
College Body.
DELEGATES ON HAND
FROM FAR AND NEAR
More than 100000 Expended
Annually to Develop Varsity
Teams in This Country.


Against the forward pass play. skill
fully devised and perfectly executed. there
IS no adequate defence" said DR.. Harry
1. Williams. coach of the University OF
Minnesota eleven i'm his football report at
the eighth annual meeting of the National
Collegiate Athletic Association in the
Hotel Astor yesterday.
This rather startling statement did not
seem TO have much effect upon the dele
gates. and when ne added that the foot
ball rules committee will be glad to take
this opportunity TO ask for an expression
of opinion as 10 the desirability of retain
ing the forward pass and its essential
features not man rose in response.
To all appearances none of those pres
ent felt qualified to talk on this delicate
technicality; nor did any Of them show
interest enough TO again burden their
minds with the question Of football which
eight years ago brought them together and
really led up TO the organization of the
association.
REPRESENTATIVES. from most of the lead
ing colleges and universities were Oh
hand. Fully one hundred attended the
business meeting in the afternoon. and re-
ports were read from all sections as TO the
worl; accomplished in the last year in the
effort being made TO improve the morale
If college sports and put them on plane
in keeping with the high principles Of edu-
cation.
Little OF a definite nature was accom-
plished Yesterday. as the association IL
one of education rather than of control
but plans were perfected 10 carry on the
good work. II was voted that the execu-
tive committee be authorized 10 prepare a
pamphlet pointing out the evils OF pro-
fessionalism and so spread the gospel OF
clean athletics to the schools and colleges
of the country; the ACCESSIBILITY Of num-
bering football players was recognized
the question OF banishing the baseball
coach from the bench was discussed as Il
way TO work q reform, while various
standing committees were appointed and
other business was transacted.
IL was brought out that 100000 was
expended by American colleges annually
for varsity athletics. in paper prepared
by Professor II. s. Wingate, of Ohio state
University. which Professor Nicholson
read in DR.. Wingert's absence.
The paper set forth the results OF an
nquiry conducted among the colleges as
. the value OF athletics and what the
arious branches OF athletics cost, and
ne figures referred 10 were ELECTED in
answer TO these questions:
what physical exercise and recreation
are YOU providing for the students who
do not take part in intercollegiate ath-
letics? How many students participate
i'm these sports? How much money is eX-
pended annually on these activities!
What is the number OF male Students?
This table answers most of the cues
tons which 143 colleges answered:
students male stu
intercollegiate athletics, Is. $50 H.G00o ni'Vyv
Intercollegiate athletics 1888 d'V0o lii'V''
Attention is called" said DR.. Wingert.
to the relatively small number OF men
engaged in intercollegiate sports and the
large amount OF money expended on these
activities. and TO the almost insignificant
sum of less than $4,000 spent for non
varsity athletics
DR. Ehler. chairman OF the committee
on football fatalities. reported that there
rad been only four deaths through the
year attributed 10 football, which on in
vestigation brought forth the fact that
in only one case was football more than
n contributing cause OF death. DR.. Ehler
said:
THE press reports during the football
season OF 1913 recorded the deaths of four
members OF college football teams. In
the graphic language Of the news writer
this was characterized as the gridiron' s
toll for 1873
Football is a rough game, however IT
is PLAYED. and accidents. avoidable and
unavoidable, Will occur. II should never
be INDUCED IL unless every precaution Is
taken I'm advance, not only in the way of
training and instruction in the matter OF
akll and condition, but also In regard TO
the spirit Of sportsmanshp that should
prsvsll And further, in no case should
game be mayed or practice held without
adequate provision for proper and inn
mediate hygienic and medical care
Even then there will be accidents, and
possibly even death, but, as has been
said:
This game i'm particular, and intercol-
leeiate sports in general, cannot stand or
fan because OF the number Of knees
snrained. or the number OF hearts dilated,
ny even the number Of lives lost because
lives ere lost in far larger way and with
far more direful results through social
and moral decentralization Go which these
games are direct antidotesD than through
the physical injury OF a comparatively
few persons. The question must turn
upon the effects of this playing upon the
moral character OF the general student
body
Dean Louis =. Bevier read paper OH
Kidding college baseball OF its unsports-
msnlike usages and aroused more DISCUS
sion than any other speaker.
Dean Bevier. who represented Rutgers
College. had summarized the recommen-
datious which his committee had adopted
and presented them for approval. After
discussion they were adopted without dls-
sent with the instruction that they be
sen, broadcast TO the schools and colleges
Of the country. They have TO do with
sportsnanIike conduct on the field. and
read as follows:
First--Thc catcher must not speak 10
the batsmsn except TO caution him against