Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-09-29
NEED RADICAL REFORMS
IN COLLEGE ATHLETICS
Dean Briggs, of Harvard, Declares
They Must BE. Rebuilt
After War.
POINTS OUT THE BEST WAY
As One Means He Suggests That
Rival Institutions Shall Limit Cost
of Coacling-siust Stop Bicker-
ings and Act as Gentlemen,


What will become OF intercollegiate
athletes after the war a question that
is the cause OF much speculation among
alumni and faculty members alike is
answered In terms that are as specific
as they could be at this time. by Dean
lie Baron r. Briggs. of Harvard College,
IN the September number of the At
iantic Monthly. Dean Briggs Is. fortu-
hately. one of the few men who has
peen able to see both sides of the col
iese athletic question. and in all his
relations with sports at Harvard he
mas been actuated by motives that were,
at the same time. both idealistic and
intensely practical He saw the futility
OF trying TO bring about radical re-
doubts whether even the war viii b,nc
so changed the opinions of those most
PECULIARLY interested in intercollegiate
athlctics as to convince them that the
situation as 1t was before the war was
IN need of radical reforms and that
In IT! the reconstruction period sports
other phase of daily life will have to
submit to being overhauled and adj
Dean Briggs is alive to the fact that
intercollegiate sports as conducted be-
l0re the war were good business that.
aa1lthough II cost Yale some $4,000 or
S5.uoo year for each player on its
FOOTBALL squad. nevertheless the fact that
the yale Harvard game brought in as
much as si96,O0o. made the outlay part
or q good business transaction. He
realizes, too. that some UNDERGRADUATES
got better discipline and more educa-
ton from athletics than from any other
academic experience Further,nore. he
recognizes the fact that publicity. al
tnough the source Of many OF the evils
was and Is natural Observation-Disclosures
OF having teams which perform before
the public.
POINTS OUT SOME OF
THE WAYS FOR REFORM
AS to what should be done i'm DAYS
OF reconstruction. it is perhaps best
TO let Dean Briggs tell it in his own
Yet. IL this war is ever over and
reasc nable peace is'ours. relative values
may soon be upset again One false
Start IN one large college may knock
oyer oyer our new and unsteady structure
IKE house of cards. No captain with
money in the treasury likes TO accent
s inc &C danger of defeat; expert help is
mand and supply. 20 coach of the first
s senk is Paid np too much It is crucial
coaching system Or, The men cannnt
hnn room togetherr at the big dining
In their meals Can't we have an eat.
Ing. place where we can ali meet" Here
reeves ~, s the training-table.
mus to find ii ready reply TO such pc
titions-, Whether we get an income
IRON rom; admission tickets or from solicited
but whether or not we cut down orr
income, we can and should cut down
Ha ep Drebasv b We at Harvard. who
oItenderS have In late years Checked
III r iavish and foolish MULTIPLICATION
Sc s%d hnve at bee the e sloss q
in certain other matters Yet in pre,
pnrins teams and crews we have spent
money like water. In reconstruction.
or the training table. 80
WOULD REDUCE COST
Oh" COACHING SYSTEM.
, Liter the manner of the proposed
lrses must 'ashe to limit the cost
OF coaching. must stick to the nrrees
mem In; ana MUST not annually suspect
r rsI,,., inr IN cost would probably mean
baseball and f ootbaI S ene coach for
i2 r strictly amateur coaching.
,hbneoretieally we all favor it, just as.
nraciieay YOU sc, better fa result, pesf f,
"a coach who. being paid for certain
Work. performs it. and. being respon
controlled by them Few suiIs6is
amateurs have both the means and ths
t flmg; There is no objection to pro-
there are many objections to transiemt
aanritcurs. who. doing the college
favor. feel responsible to nobody: who
may be tempted under expenses paid'
TO all Kinds of graft; who may enter
tain their friends, mentionable and UNI
at hotels, and send nm
annlyzable bills to the athletic as
ISOLATION. Year In and year out. the
who has his expenses maid ;s
more demoraliZinS than the nrofas
sional responsible to his EMPLOYERS and
to his job. The right kind OF amateur.
with leisure is the best coach OF all
and may from time to time be found
IN any one sport at any one college:
but the right kind of amateur~the
right Kind of anything-.is rarely a
man or leisure, and careful direction
OF athletic sport takes time.
Again. this war should teach us TO
stop petty chickering's and TO treat each
other as honest gentlemen Colleges
whose boys fight side by side for fhe
mish tiest cause that ever shook the
world. can we live again In constant
Tear that some one will take ADVANTAGES
oil ,us in u game unless we take ;si-
vantage of him first? ~:en we play
again. can we afford to begin EXCEPT
rs friend and friend. as host and guest?
lhtercoliegiate athletics are brought
race to face with the problem that
tremendous force. the war for the
mastery or the liberation of the world
Like America, they will stand or fall
according as they choose between
luxury and simplicity, trickery and
lntcrETlty. the senses aud bo 10 :,