Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-02-02
BIG CHANGES
ARE EXPECTED
AFTER WAR
Rapid Progress Made in
Eastern Athletics, is Opin-
ion of Sport Followers.

~6 VI OooSSA1 SVAAOoV
athletics appear to indicate radical
changes in intercollegiate contests aft
err the war. Up to the present time
there has been no concrete suggestion
or plan offered, Incorporating the
ideas under discussion but it is con-
sidered likely that there will be rapid
progress in this direction one the
agitation reaches a plane above IDEAL
istic propaganda. Notwithstanding
the attitude of a certain faction to
the contrary. it. is generally conceded
that in~ter-varsity competition is the
stimulus necessary to lift participation
In exercise and sport above the level
Of daily college routine
Just how to accomplish this, while
giving opportunity for participation in
these games to hundreds of students
instead Of a chosen few specialists or
experts, is the problem which must be
mastered by those who are advocating
the change. That much Of the unnec-
essary and unscholastic glamor will be
contests appears inevitable but beyond
this point suggested action merges in
to discussion. But one suggestion
looking toward reimbursement in a
prominent eastern intercollegiate
sport has been advanced to date.
This is the proposal to supercede
the intercollegiate championship
regatta with a series Of short, dual
boat c in which each college crew
would meet each rival in turn during
the spring rowing season. Just how
this would increase, to any extent, the
number Of oarsmen now competing is
not made clear. Providing that a
given college crew was to row even q
one mile race against a rival eight
each Saturday during May and June,
as football elevens play contests in the
autumn, it is likely that the coach.
once he had seated a satisfactory and
winning combination in the shell
would send about the same eight to
the line each weekend.
That there is need Of greater par
ticipation in sport exercise and train
ing by the average student is pointed
out by no less an authority than DR..
Dudley A. Sargent, Director Of Hem
enway Gymnasium, Harvard univer-
sity. DR.. Sargent, in a recent article
in the Harvard Alumni Bulletin, states
in part:
ter Harvard come to prepare hem
selves physically as we'll as mentally
and morally for iife's great game. Re-
cent examinations have shown that
from IS per cent to so per cent Of our
young men are physically unprepared
for military service. History shows us
that gymnastics and athletics were
originally practiced for the purpose OF
preparing men for war. Gymnastics
furnished the preliminary training;
athletics afforded the opportunity. for
competition.
In view of the conditions confront
ing us a. a people. would it not be a
wiser plan so to conduct our athletics
as not only to select the At n elm
mate the unfit from h major con-
tests which are the basis of the pres
ent system-of which I approve as
far as it goes-but so to modify, sup
plement, and conduct these OF other
athletic contests as to encourage the
unfit to continue their practice and try
and make themselves more fit for the
duties of a citizen and a possible SOL
1dier?
The one great difficulty that is con-
tinually operating against such q
modification of our ~present-day
method is the high standard demand
ed by the candidates of u major ath-
letic sports. In my opinion any game
or sport that has become so highly or
sanized as to require a special apti-
player who would engage in it has
ceased to be of practical service in a
democratic community, except as a
source of occasional entertainment
and amusement.
It is almost impossible to keep up
any interest in a highly specialized
game after leaving college. for the
simple reason that not enough skilled
players can be found to form q team.
1t is largely on account Of the sim
plicity of the game and the readiness
with which one may find some OF
equal ability with whom to play, that
tennis and golf are proving 80 poppy
liar Of, late"