Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1917-05-02
INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS,
Present College Sports. Situation Ex-
planned by Metzger.

The sole examples we can find in
this country to apply to the present
situation in intercollegiate athletics
is at the service academies, at West
that there has never been a similar
situation it is also true that prepara.-
ton for war is the function of these
two academies. Today, our universe
ties and colleges are being made over
into somewhat similar schools, with
the exception that physical fitness is
not a requirement for admission and
the scholastic curriculum differs ma
terially. Army officers are in charge
of the military training at these edu-
cational institutions adm the purpose
is to fit these young men to be officers
in the fighting force which is to be
formed. Therefore our istitutions of
learning have much the same function
for the present that has everbeen the
purpose of the two service academies.
There is the difference: War is now
an actually.
At both West Point and Annapolis
intercollegiate sport is and has always
been encouraged and fostered. 1t is
recognized as a splendid part of the
course of preparation which has con-
Stantly been going on But it has been
conducted on different lines than at
the majority of our colleges. There
has always been this difference: Less
time is permitted for practice than
elsewhere. At that tn results in ac-
tual competition with the largest col
leges have in no way suffered. Many
of the big ones have left the two grid
irons at West Point and Annapolis
with the small end of the score.
There is much system and much
concentration in everything done at
the two service schools. AS has been
young men for commanding our armies
and navies. Like unit them today is
the function of the various colleges
ad universities. If these institutions
are to continue with itercollegiate
athletics it is not stretching the imagi-
nation to say that they will follow
much the same plan that has been in
vogue at West Point and Annapolis.
Take football, for example. l spite
of the cry that is continually raised
agaonst the game on account of the
time given to it has been found that
an eleven can be brought to champion
ship form in five hours of practice a
week At West Point and Annapolis
the teams have each approximately
sixty hours of practice in all for their
final clash around Thanksgiving time
and the game suffers not in COMPARE
son to that played by any others
whether they have practised sixty or
one hundred mad sixty hours during
the two and a half months of season.
Thus if we are to have competitive
sport between colleges by fall, it is
likely to be of such a nature for these
two academies have found it possible
to educate boys thoroughly, to fit and
prepare them 1Or war ana TO nave
them at the same time participate in
intercollegiate athletics. Which is
just about what we a nation wish
every college to do as long as this
war lasts.
The direct athletic problem is an
other matter. Most of the athletes
will be in this war when the army is
at the front. That is as it should be-
All history has proven the outdoor
man make sthe best soldier. And the
outdoor man is nothing if not an ath-
letee. Thus we come to a situation
which will be a good thing in the end
for intercollegiate athletics as it will
force US otdevelop boys from the raw
to fill the places of the veterans. We
are to learn much of future value in
this respect. Athletics, physical fit
ness and preparation are to be doomed
by this war.
A football coach has said that very
few coaches and very few players will
turn out this fall in case of war as
they will fear being called slackers.
If the country is then represented by
an army at the front it would be best
for all young fellows able to fight to
be with this army. But preparation
is first necessary before going to the
front and college men will likely be
fitted at their respective institutions