The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1917-12-23
SENTIMENT FAVORS
RECONSTRUCTION OF
COLLEGE ATHLETICS
Statements From Two of
the Prominent Eastern
Universities Indicate a
Complete Change

New York, December 22.-Sentiment in
favor of a reconstruction of college ath-
lettcs after the war upon what has been
termed safe and sane basis, is said to
be increasing at eastern educational in
stitutions and is likely to be the subject
of consideration at the coming annual
meeting of the National Collegiate Ath-
letic Association. An idea Of the atti-
tude in this direction as the result of
what might be considered experiments
conducted during the football season just
closed, can be gained from two state
ments from prominent eastern universe
ties touching upon the subject.
PRESIDENT Faunce, of Brown UNIVERSE
ty, In recent address upon college ath-
letics at the Providence institution, said
we are well pleased with the result
or Keeping up intercollegiate sports on
simple and inexpensive basis in war
time. Out Of our last years football
squad OF 30 men, SO entered the service.
This seems to show that wholesome out
door sports. kept within bounds, are a
good preparation for the soldiers life
If our camps cannot go without outdoor
games our colleges need not fear to
encourage them. Let us hope that the
enforced absence training tables in all
orr colleges and huge expenditures and
faring publicity for individuals means
the introduction of saner policies when
the war is ended and that the over
grown business of securing gate receipts
may give way to the genuine play of
college boys who, through such play
become finer and stronger men"
Almost simultaneously the Yale Alum
nj Weekly. in reviewing the football
season at New Haven, printed the fol-
lowing commentary:
"A look ahead suggests at least one
formidable need. Football will be re-
sumed at Yale, as at Harvard and Prince
ton, just as soon as conditions at pres
ent beyond the control of any indvid-
uals permit. The Yale freshman foot
ball team, every one Of the eleven and
substitutes being members of the uni
versity training uits and subject to their
exacting schedules, gave an account of
itself which should not be overlooked
Good material but better spirits brought
1t through season in which the score
boards told an interesting story and in
which the character of the team and
its training amounted to an inspiration.
will Yale, then, have the courage to
resume varsity football next year or
the year after, whenever it becomes
possibility, upon a basis similar to that
freshman team? Will Yale be willing
at least to help lead the way to purer
amateurism and less of the spirit of
professionalism, to more of sensible econ
omy in keeping with the purposes of the
university and less of extravaganza,
smacking of commercialism, to less of
the trumped-up public spectacle with
its hero-worship and other inevitable
evils and more of the college sport for
the sake of college sport as such?
we cannot think too hard or too often
upon these things. To prove blind to
the opportunity would be a Iamentable
thing. To seize it and carry inter-col-
legiate athletics, football especially, far
away from its ancient abuses toward
the clearly suggested ideal will be splen-
did. Believing this and working for
this now will win half of the battle"