South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-12-29
SAYS FOOTBALL
IS IDEAL GAME
Amherst Professor Finds 1t
Typifies Discipline, 0bedi-
enCe of Individual.

NEw YORK. Dec. 29.-In an ad-
dress on THE Value Of Football
delivered At the 18th annual con-
vention OF the National Collegiate
Athletic Assn here Thursday. Prof.
RAYMOND Garfield Getter OF Am
herst college, said:
AS might be expected. football
has been subjected TO unusually
severe criticism. The danger 70 life
and limb. the accompanying evils
OF gambling. professionalism. or UNI
sportsmailike methods. the enor-
nous expenditures. the comparative
~ small number who actually take
part in proportion 20 the numerous
spectators. the false standards
created i'm the minds Of growing
school boys. the over-emphasis on
athletics in general in colleges and
unlversities-these are some OF the
direct accusations that the sport has
been compelled - face.
In spite of these criticisms and
these defects. however, football has
become during the autumn season,
the preemincnt sport, especially IN
American schools and colleges The
football star" is a college hero;
ambition % make the team Is a
chief desire in the mind of many a
student. and pride over football VIC
tories is a powerful stimulant to
IovaI college spirit. Nor does public
interest i'm the game show signs OF
decline Each Saturday during the
season. thousands assemble 10 wit
ness the contests. additional thou
sands. even in the remOtest parts OF
the country, crowd around bulletin
boards. which give detailed descrip-
tions OF the plays or announce the
scores. and still other thousands
turn first TO the sporting columns
A game that inspires such wide
spread devOtions must rest upon GER
tain vital underlying principles OF
human nature.
Not Individual Contest.
football is not contest between
AlluAN AuudAS- II - a GOAAAtTA NNA ~ &C ~
groups or teams The union Of eleven
men under their captain typities the
characteristic human factor OF or
ganization. In no other game is the
Individual. as individual, OF so little
moment. and the unit, or team, so
closely .ntegrated The success of al
most every manOeuvre depends up
on a detailed division Of labor, a
distinct part being assigned to each
member within the machine; and
the success of team in COMPETE
ton with others depends mainly up
IN the perfection of its organized
teamwork Football. then. demands
cooperation. the subOrdinatiOn OF
the individual interest to the welfare
n the larger unit. Il reproduCes
On a small scale that process of or
ganized social effort by which man
first attained supremacy over the
world OF nature and by which the
more highly organized and more
closely cooperating peoples have
conquered and surpassed their less
advanced rivals
Football. while retaining the vir-
tues OF physical combat. remedies
its worst evils by emphasizing or
sanitation. cooperation and obed-
fence. These neCessitate self-sacri-
fee. subordination. mutual aid and
fair play. They discipline the indiv-
dual teach self-ContrOl, and incul-
cate principles OF honor and loyalty.
Especially do they build mp an ideal
More than any other sport il
retains the vital elements OF physi-
cal combat and ueCessitates an ex-
hibition OF all its essential factors
strength speed. skill. and cum
ninE In addition 20 this primitive
lust for battle. il satisfies the higher
and distinctly civilized interest in
organization. cooperation and the
skilled INTERPRETATION Of individual
effort directed 20 "a common purpose.
10 typihes the highest human
achievement i'm its unusual emphasis
on discipline and obedience. on the
suhordination OF the individual TO
authority and law Finally. IN its
purpose and in its spirit. il repre-
sents that highest craving OF the
human soul. the striving for an
ideal