Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-08-06

ii advisable an
u logical to give
.,o,rpr ~ MAXWELL athletics IA trial,
rver since the adoption of football
=. an intercollegiate sport, Yale. Harvard
and Princeton have stood In the front rank.
They were looked upon to set the pace for
others to follow. and their actions were
snvio,sly watched by player on the
smaller elevens Each year they played
the worlds series of the grdiron and the
entire country was interested In the games.
They we're regarded as the leaders OF the
game and naturally, in crisis like TINS.
wore looked upon to pilot the others
through the rough and rugged places. But
nothing like that happened. Instead of
taking firm stand for the promugation OF
the sport the Big Three chose to lie down
and quit-and allow the otters to get out
Of II the best way they knew how. They
were first to desert n sinking ship when IT
was supposed that they would be the last
to leave
Prestige Is Lost
Yae. Harvard and Princeton have lost
prestige by their action. No longer will
they be looked upon 81 the supreme factors
Of football. They will take their place with
the others and perhaps a trific in the rear.
They struck out with the bases full.
"All Of our varsity men have enlisted"
they say. $50 why should we try to play
football with ScCOEd-C ass men 10 represent
our college? We don't mind defeat so much
but we haven't got the men to make up a
team" But what's that got to do with the
question? The real query is. How many
men are there in Yale. Harvard and Prince
ton who are willing TO try for the team
I'll venture to say that more than 100 can
ddates would report for each team. ana
IT'S a cnch that a few star players would
be discovered before the season was well
under way.
No doubt the Big Three would hate to
see their eevens defeated by every one and
weak, puny athletes trying to Uphold the
tradition and honor of alma mater, but 1t
was supposed that they were big enough
and broad-m,nded enough to take their
medicine with the others 1t looks as II
the system is, III we can't win we won't
play"
We are getting the wrong idea of inter-
collegiate athletics. We compare the teams
with the big league baseball clubs, where
4 the players receive high salaries for their
work. Athletics cannot be called the biggest
thing in co lege course. Students attend
the university to take up a course of study,
and during the recreation periods they take
up some form of exercise to develop them
selves physically as well as mentally.
Only Side Issue
Football really is only side issue-like
. game of catch indulged in by bunch
Of clerks during the noon hour. After the
regular work is done in the classrooms the
students take up their favorite sport just
to ill in the time and get some diversion.
This is not a knock at football or any
other college sport 1t merely is an at
tempt to point out the real status Of
athletics in the college curriculum and the
data has been obta lined from personal ex-
perience. We take sports too seriously
and this, no doubt, is due to the large
amount Of publicity connected with them.
all l,,.
this makes us all the more enthusiastic.
10 the average citizen that Is, the mat
ter-of-fact person, football must be the
Greatest thing that ever has been installed
~ the colleges. At the opening Of every
season this matter-of-fact citizen reads
tnat Yale, Harvard or Princeton has been
terribly weakened this year by the gradua-
uon OF Hoos!s and Whatsis and Hoosit
PROBABLY the best backfeld that ever
,omped around the gr!diron. This is the
naroest luck the old college has suffered
IN years" Or he may read that Rusher, the
star tackle had to quit college to take a
position as president of the steel trust or
something. with the usual hard-luck wall
at the end
Popular Delusion
Now the matter-of-fact citizens labors
unoer the delusion that the college s maip-
saineu Tor the development of young men
.or more or less useful pursuits. He as
sumes That the matter of graduation Is a
ose Ior rejoicing both to the college and
e man who receives his diploma. lie has
an idea that the young man who gets q
~. nola on his sheepskin usually squares
sss shoulders, looks every man in the face,
The world is mine" and goes forth
Jackie the first likely looking job with
.he sest and enthusiasm of a thirsty man
uking a drink.
y sut this is WRONG. Mawruss, entirely
~ absolutely wrong 1t is a disaster
49,. Sun hoosis, Whatsis and Hoosit get their
srees The college loses them and the
,o.cns well-oiled and wonderful machine
wrecked beyond repair. Judging from
ne melancholy tone of these announce
n t,. s OF graduations or impending gradua-
N luis which have occurred, these three guys
una remain at college until they muffed
x .pie OF forward passes or missed few
& ~. "'ss s at critical stages. Then they would
diplomas W ee'''"e ''o'
we are forced to conclude that the sport
IA Il, PAGES including our own, do not give
rs =, ne news from the colleges When
4 see that Penn is bound to be terribly
teseu tor es next year because Of the gradua-
hsinoo y, .nree star linemen and two speedy
vahs we see no reason for solemnly
rssnng fond parents against sending little
cars " such debilitated institution be-
lo.. u might affect his standing as q
p,ss. II must be remembered that the
49, agent In the high-brow department
\ ;. is..si 's' on the job. and that many col
rs es are great on, economics and engineer
pass u'oush uncertain with the forward
0nouid Be Proud of Athletes
..hs, we mustn't feel 80 badly when sta,
Z 10 as 80 far forgets himself as deliberately
~ nnsh his college course and play
4 ei..s "portant part in the graduation exer-
4 Dr. ~ ~ not calamity, for a college
thsree WIZ get one more in the cruel world
Ths Dig reputation as a football player
r,ss same goes for those wonderful young
lsa who dropped everything to ioin the
~. ana help their country In this time
xs"so suppose the athletic teams dc
wan the scholastic standing Of
pf9es su6eri win the students re-
'gsss yqrsylnE spcut .I whs,