Norwich bulletin., 1918-01-10
New Light on Yale, Harvard and
 Princeton. [ Py Maf1aar
By Sol Metzger

Because Princeton and Yale will be represented in the intercollegiate bas- ketball race in the east this winter many followers of college sport are of the opinion that these two institutions With Harvard, are preparing to re- enter the intercollegiate athletic are | na. Likewise, these same men see in. this move the first logical step to- wards reviving the annual intercol- ]egiate track meet with all members present.
 I But survey of fact does not war | rant this view. True, one may piece | together many chance remarks and l arguments. leading up to these con- clusions but there are big and con- trolling facts of such a nature as to raise doubt that such gratifying re- suits may come about.
 I did ask a long time member of the Inter- collegiate Basketball Association why Yale and Princeton were going | IF for this sport. He replied, "All I know is that when we called meet 1 ing to decide the question their dele gates voted for it. My own view is that they want to resume intercollegi- 1 ate athletics. They feel they have made a mistake and this is the enter | ing wedge"
 But the Yale Alumni Weekly cleared the whole situation when it recently published the following item:
 Falling when they do and being conducted upon the simpler scale l which has continued to distinguish them from major sports, the minor sports are apparently possible It is in earnest therefore of Yale's inten- tion to continue her athletic sports upon as normal basis as possible
 that, with the exception chiefly of hockey (which the absence of a rink
 makes impossfble), the usual winter minor sports will go forward about as usual. The only essential difference will be the freedom from professional
 coaching, training tables and similar
 induigences. ... No one wants te abandon the salutary pursuits oi
 peaceful times. By the same token
 no one wants to make the unwarrant-
 ed sacrifices which such a major sport
 as intercollegiate football demands. ,
 At last Yale has come out with the
 reason why she abandoned intercolle.
 g1ate sport when we entered war. As Princeton and Harvard worked hand in hand with Yale at that time this
 reason must apply to all three. Yale , and likewise the other two, have con
 cluded that major sports, chiefly foot
 ball, are not salutary at any time ana
 that they demand unwarranted sacri. , fices during war, as well. In shor , the Big Three are making use of tn,
 present unsettled times to clear l. house, 50 it would seem
 All this leads to the immediate con. tclusion that these colleges will not re
 turn to an active intercollegiate ath letic basis during the war It alst brings to light the fact that athleti, matters have not been conducted along lines satisfactory to those il authority for some little time Ther, were rumors of this from New Haye1
 for several years before war was de , clared. A struggle was going on, un, der the surface, between those who be lieved in intercollegiate sport as it ex.
 isted and those who sought to reform
 it or abolish it.
 It is evident, if the real reason fol
 keeping out of Intercollegiate spor
 during the war is the one given by
 the Yale Alumni Weekly, that thos, who demand reforms at these three
 Institutions now have the upper hand
 and that they are using "bad taste
 and other reasons for not playing var.
 sity games today as cloak in order , to bring about these reforms. . ] What are these men driving at ? Before the war it was evident. -tha
 much criticism was being made a
 Yale of the tremendous expense at
 tached to intercollegiate sport, espec
 ially football, and that there was {
 move on foot to abolish professiona
 coaches. The war time sport pro
 gramme follows this idea closely There IS also a great desire on tn,