South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-12-17
To Reconstruct
College Athletics
After This Year

NEW YORK, Dec. 17.-Senti-
nent in favor of a reconstruction IF
college athletics after the war upon
what has been termed a safe and
sane basis, is said to be increasing
at eastern educational institutions
and is likely to be the subject of
consideration at the coming annual
meeting of the National Collegiate
Athletic association. An idea of the
attitude in this direction as the re-
suit Of the whta might be consider
ed experiments conducted during
the football season just closed, can
be gained from two statements from
prominent eastern universities
touching upon the subject.
Pres't Faunce of Brown university
in a recent address upon college ath>
letics at the Providence institution,
sad
I'VE are we'll pleased with the
esult of keeping up intercollegiate
sports on a simple and inexpensive
basis in war time. Out of our last
years football squad of so men, SO
entered the service. This seems to
show that wholesome outdoor sports.
kept within bounds are a good prep
aration for the soldiers life. If
our camps cannot go without out
door games, our colleges need not
fear to encourage them. Let us
hope that the enforced absence
training tables in all our colleges,
and huge expenditures and fiaring
publicity for individuals means the
introduction of saner policies when
the war is ended, and that the over
grow n business of securing gate re-
ceipts may give way to the genuine
play of college boys who, through
such play, become finer and strong
er men,
Almost simultaneously the Yale
Alumni Weekly, in reviewing the
football season at New Haven,
printed the following commentary:
"A look ahead suggests at least
one formidable need. Football will
be resumed at Yale, as at Harvard
and Princeton. just as soon as con-
ditions at present beyond the con-
troll C. any individuals permit. The
Yale freshman football team, every
one Of the eleven and substitutes
being members of the university
training units and subject to their
exacting schedules. gave an account
OF itself which should not be over
locked. Good material but better
spirit brought il through a season
in which the score boards told an
interesting story and in which the
character of the team and its train
ing amounted TO an inspiration.
Will Yale. then, have the cour-
age TO resume varsity football next
year or the year after. whenever
il becomes a possibility, upon a basis
similar 10 that which has proved
so salutary for the freshman team =?
Will Yale be willing at least TO help
lead the way 10 purer amateurism
and less of the spirit OF profession
alism, 20 more of sensible economy
in keeping with the purposes OF the
university and less Of extravaganza
s7nacking of commercialism, to less
OF the trumped-up public spectacle
, with its hero-worship and other in
evitable evils and more of the col
lege sport for the sake Of college
sport as such?
I'VE cannot think too hard or too
often upon these things. To prove
/ blind to the opportunity would be
/ a lamentable thing. To seize il and
carry intercollegiate athletics. foot
| ball especially, far away from its
ancient abuses toward the clearly
suggested ideal will be splendid. Be
/ Eeving this and working for this
| No. ru-iu win half OF the battle"