Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-12-23
Cannot Be Answered Until
Effects of Next Draft Can
Be Studied.
AMATEUR GREAT PROBLEM
Eastern Coach Believes Service
Games Of All Kinds Must
Be Continued.
By Bud Fisher
Gy SOL METZGER)

Now that we know this country not
only wants but needs sport during
,hs war because athletics provide re-
lief and recreation, build up moral
and physical strength and may be
made to produce patriotic funds, II
is but natural to wonder just what
forms sport is to assume as we be-
come more and more deeply en-
crossed in our fight for victory
At this time it is impossible to tell
just what definite forms sport Is 10
assume should the war continue for
some years. One may but guess.
Conditions and influences are so con-
stantly changing that ii is most diff
cult to put ones hand on something
tangible and permanent in order 10
base even a conjecture.
Our larger institutions OF learnm.
have widely different views and have
practiced widely different forms of
sport during this college year. With
scme there is a crying need for inter-
collegiate competition; with others
military training has not only an
swered this demand but filled a far
higher purpose as Nell.
Differences Everywhere.
Even our two service academies
may be said to have different views
relative to the immediate future of
athletics. When I was at Vest Point
early In November the feeling was
that football with college elevens was
having It's last days until peace came.
A month later the naval academy was
planning for another season Here
the view is held tnat intercollegiate
sport serves a needed local purpose
in keeping the middies busy within
bounds
But at neither academy is there
any hope of an arny-navy game until
me war is over. The mere fact that
the coming together of so many off,
GERS and future officers at sucn a
spectacle offers too great an oppor-
tunity for disaster at the hands of n
1anatic-in other words Cf n TIER
man-is sufficient to prevent such n
contest being approved during TINS
war even If ii were sought by tho
academies.
In seeking an answer ms to what
form college sport will assume as the
var continues one finds no aid from
either the financial or patriotic side.
In the matter Of. money about every
thing that was possible happened
during the recent football season.
cams went bankrupt, others reapeu
n golden harvest. one the biggest year
III lts history, and still otherg had an
average budget. Receipts, on the
whole, were away below normal
from patriotic standpoint about
everything has happened also. Some
eieNens created opportunities for
paying Tor patriotic funds. others
maze no effort In this direction, and
)ne class went so far as to refuse
even the chance. Too much cannot
ne said in condemnation OF the latter.
one can get nowhere in the matter
81 what form sport, and more parti-
,ularly college sport, Is to follow. NV
nc usual method of procedure. An
analysis OF intercollegiate sport today
proves beyond all doubt that This ma
loh is considerably off its normal
Iuck. what then can we seize upon
% hid IN FORMING a conclusion as TO
nat Is 10 oe done in college sport?
Waits on Draft.
The whole matter is held in abey-
'Ece uhtl the country makes decl-
Ion about the draft. If the nge limit
: lowered to is or 10 years intercol-
ezlate sport, as we have known ~
n the past and as Il wns followed this
car is both relic OF the past and n
tope or the future. 1t will close up
hop, Indeed, most oc the colleges
WI ne forced to 60 likewise. Those
'hich Keep their doors open under
'uch condition viii be those sup
'orted almost entirely by endowment
'r by appropriation.
but the question of continuing
sport during war Is
,ot all question of the minimum
'raft age. There IL the patriotic note
.the inability OF alma mater or
1000 mother to prevent their sons
lnder draft ago from doing theI-
" as tho war increases In intensity.
oung men under draft age of good
ed blood won't long keep out. And
1nese athletes have mighty good sed