New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-03
Yale Will Not
Play Football
IfWarGoesOn
Two Thirds of Regular
Athletes Have Left
College Halls

New Haven. June Although ei-
forts are being made at Yale TO revive
athletics az the opening OF the fall
term, indications are that no organized
intercollegiate sport will be possible
this fall. In the case OF the football
schedule notice has been given that
games cannot be played in case OF the
continuance Of the war
While the need Of athletics is felt,
the difficulties OF staging definite inter
collegiate sports are felt to be too
great to be overcome. Members Of the
athletic council. which has executive
control Of athletics, detailed to-day
some of the obstacles to carrying out
a formal programme Of sports next fall
or the following spring.
"Y" Men Gone
These include, first, the departure
from college of more than two-thirds
of the regular athletes, including the
undergraduates who have won their
"Y": second, the fact that the hours
usually devoted TO athletics are now
given over TO military training. from
till p. m; third, that fear IS felt that
the public will not take kindly to sports
between athletes who have had little
time TO train; fourth, because OF con-
tinued uncertainty regarding the inter-
national situation and the posslOllty
that, even if fall schedule we're ar
ranged, it might be summary inter-
rupted.
From the present Yale senior class
practically every athlete has already
gone TO the war. All of the majo sport
captains for 1917 and for 1918 are en-
rolled in a military unit of some kind,
and if football and baseball are TO be
played next year new captains must be
chosen. as Captains Art Gates OF the
eleven and Ray Smell of the nine are
already in khaki uniforms.
Half of the members of the class OF
'fg and Of rs have already enlisted
for military service. Yale has already
sent 600 students into its country's SER
vice. and more than 1000 viii be en-
rolled before the close of the summer
vacation.
Yale, Harvard and Princeton are not
only considering the situation together,
but all three feel about the same way
regarding the outlook. They believe
that difficulties which are apparently
too great to be surmounted will pre-
vent football season next fall re-
resembling those Of the past.
At the same time they greatly de-
sire a revival of sports on some basis.
At Yale a feeble attempt was made to
start athletics on either the basis Of
rival departments or classes, but It
fell fiat. Intermural athletics seem to
have no future here.
Resent Criticism
Yale men are inclined 70 resent the
criticism that has been made by West
Point and Annapolis that the big uni
versities did about the worst thing
possible by abandoning athletics. 1t
is felt AT Yale that conditions are en-
tirely different here from those at the
army and navy headquarters. where
the morning and early afternoons are
given TO routine instruction and mill
tary drill, leaving from or 4 to 6
o'clock for athletics.
At Yale Rotations and lectures oc-
cupy the time till 9 or o'clock and
military work the remainder Of the day.
The only chance for athletics TO be re-
vived seems TO be 20 give some of the
hours now allotted TO Rotations over
TO athletics, for the military work
comes first in the scheme Of things
now regarded essential at Yale.