The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-11-06
GRIDIRON HEROES.
VII, Numbering Football Players Is
OpDOsen.

To THE EDITOR or THE SvN-Sir. The
suggestion that football players be num-
ber"d seems to have met with no little
favor from the newspapers. In fact the
papers seem rather To have gone out OF
their way 20 give publicity to this idea.
That this numbering Of players Is a
matter for the decision ~ the individual
colleges seems never to have occurred to
the editors and sporting writers They
assume that the end and purpose 81 foot
ball IL an appeal 20 public support and
that the general public should be first
considered IN the conduct OF the games.
Were 1t true that football Is primarily
money IN k-r this point OF view would
be sound and quite justified. Were IL true
hat the game had fallen generally into
the same class as professional baseball
horse racing, six day bicycle riding or
seml-professlonal track athletics. the CON
tention Of the newspapers would be per-
fectly proper If football IL to he consid-
cred In that grade OF sport every player
should certainly wear his label on his
back
As It is. however, and so long as foot
bail remains the cardinal Illustration OF a
sport OF team play as opposed to indi-
Nidual play, any such numbering Of play
ers would be "A sad step In the direction
of professionalism. II is the team. not
the man, to whom belongs the honor of
victory or Of hard fought defeat. A
Bricklcy would be impossible were II not
for trc Hardwicks and the Mahans. Eek
crsall lazy Poe Sam White. Harold
Weeks and all the rest Of the gridiron
heroes could never have been heard OF
had they not had the sturdy support OF
tho ten other men of their respective
teams. Let us give the honor where IL is
due to the eleven men. not to the one.
That football Is the most popular Amer
lean game is matter for debate. hut II
M ri IL 49,.
tracted 10 single game the record OF
5000 people at one match attests the
favor In which II is held The perfection
of team play Is u very large factor In this
remarkable popularity.
with the adoption OF "A system OF num- |
herring will inevitably come "a tendency
toward achieving individual distinction
which must be prejudicial to the now pre-
vaiing spirit OF team play. A football |
player Is no less human than any one else
ne loves to see his picture displayed across
the columns OF the newspaper he loves
TO hear his name chartered by crowds OF |
people, with number on his back TO |
distinguish him from his fellows the |
temptation Is too great 10 be resisted |
And with this sporadic glory may come
a tendency To rate his own powers too |
highly. feeling that ne Is distinguished |
tboNe ms team mates. And such spirIt as |
thIs Is contrary 10 the very soul OF the |
sport ana would work serious mischief
mat this overglorlhcation might lead
10 desire for recompensc for services
To team or "A college il by no
means impossible. or this sinister possi
ollity there can be no doubt 10 the man
VINO has followed the records of a fow
men now playing, or who have recently
liayed' on the teams OF two or three par
lcular colleges
II Is Imperative that semi professional
SIN DE stamped OUT VI our college sport.
n" proposed innovation OF numbering
VII not help in cleaning up an evil that
VINE not now widespread. might cventu-
MY lntrench itself generally.
foothall IL wonderfully popular. II is
beneficial to the men plav. |
hg 1t Is scarcely wise 10 jeopa rd,ze by
uch an innovation as the papers demand
he splendid spirit 4 great game
KINGSLEY MOSES
Member OF the Central Board n,
Football officials
New YORK, November g.