Omaha daily bee., 1915-04-04
| TAKES RAP AT PAID COACH
Cornell Professor Declares Coach
Sacrifices Sportsmanship to
Register Victories.
ADVOCATES CHANGE OF SYSTEM

ITHACA, N. Y, April s--The greatest
danger to intercollegiate athletics in this
country today lies In graduate coaching,
according to Prof c. v. p Cornell. He
believes that too much emphasis is placed
on supremacy In athletics and that ath-
letic coaches should DO come members of
the faculty He says
1.-THE graduate coach, as a rule. is a
recent graduate, man who has not yet
had much experience in life. or who can
look upon It from the vantage point Of
the home and an established position, He
is apt to know little and care less about
tho laws Of health and exercise, and Is
often influenced by motives and ideals
which are entirely foreign to the pur-
poses for which the institution exists.
Having regard primarily for his own
reputation as coach and for the ath-
letic prestige OF his team. and with no
responsibility to the teaching staff or
for scholastic work of the athletes, he
will often recom~nand tactics and approve
actions which professional athlete even
OF the prize ring would be slow 70 coun-
tenance. He IL generally paid salary
out OF all proportion to the value OF the
service rendered. which gives him and
the student body an exaggerated idea OF
his Importance and OF the real signifi-
canoe of the intercollegiate contest.
Even IL he does not receive any direct
compensation, the graduate coach is out
OF place in the present highly developed
state of intercollegiate athletics. There
may be exceptions. of course. and the
character OF the sport may sometimes
alter cases, but II we are TO hold as of
first importance the physical welfare OF
the student and the development OF many
instincts. then we must have men IN
charge who can disregard the excited and
unreasoning demands OF students and
alumni and sacrifice victory and VIC
tories, II need be, for the sake OF sports
msnship or the permanent good of those
under their care; we must have I'm charge
men who are selected because they pos
sess qualities Of leadership and are fitted
to train young men, men whose age and
experience gives guarantee that they will
SEQ things In their proper perspective and
hold In mind constantly the real purpose
of athletic competitions and the real pur-
pose for which the college or university
exists.
"As 70 just what changes are to be
made in the existing system In any in
stitution, and how they are 10 be brought
about, decision must be left to the wis
dom Of those directing the educational
policy In that institution A compre.
hensive change cannot be brought about
In our eastern colleges and universities
In a short time, bound down as many OF
them are by tradition and custom.
would not take from students or alumni
their voice in determining athletic policies
or the management OF athletic events
regulated as they are by faculty com
mittess. but would have the educationa
authorities. in whatever way they arc
accustomed 20 regulate this function
participate in the canvass Of candidates
for positions on the athletic staff, sub
jecting them TO as careful scrutiny as any
other member OF the teaching body. n,
upon a compensation which will comment
itself TO the sober sense OF the community
and determine upon Just apportionmen
OF that compensation between the athletic
association and the institution"