The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-09-04
OUTLOOK FOR FOOTBALL IN
 COMING FALL
Sol Metzger Reviews Condi.
 tions and Probabilities of This Great Sport.
(By Sol MetZger)

Again we stand on the threshold of another football season each follower of the fall sport wondering what the immediate future holds in store. With all America fighting for democracy and with the athletic world turned topsy-turvy there is little of the old time Glamour left what with profes- sional baseball upset by war and with our colleges greatly depleted while striving in all seriousness to aid the cause.
 Furthermore, most football stars, ably fitted by this training, are play ing a far more serious game, one which holds the attention not only of the sport public but of the whole world with a grip that strains all heart strings Meantime those stars who will play in college are but mark ing time while awaiting the call. Ma turally their minds are set upon more serious matters.
 Recognizing this vast change and as leaders in 1t the press is filled with deeds of valor. Space for root ball is limited. Big games cannot hope, nor do they wish, to assume the news importance of other seasons. All of us are engrossed in the cabled stories from France, for there our best blood flows freely that peace may come to all the world.
 From France our boys repeatedly wife of the heroic women. At all times the white faces of French women in mourning cheer them with smiles. Each, it would seem, has in herited the pure soul and unGyfng spirit of the Maid of Orleans. This ] heavy iron cross which the Hun has placed on France will shine as of gold through all time to come as a sym bol of the fortitude of this nation. Already 1t has quickened in the l American doughboy an unconquerable spirit. That is what your boy means when he writes you, Nov I know why I came" For you, yes, but as l much for the smiling widows and sweethearts of France your boy gen. erously offers his all.
 Football plays no small part on the Marne. American sport must be credited with having built up the mor- ale and physical efficiency of our forces. That college spirit, born of the gridiron, breeds patriotism has been proven thousands of times in that flaming fringe of northern France. For when the boche salient was broken the Roll of Honor and the list cited for bravery contained the names of many former football stars, men who in no small measure receiv- | ed their baptism of fire in the big games of yesterday.
 Footba1l-more than any other of our sports-has pounded into Ameri- can character a fighting spirit which knows no defeat. That old sport alibi Wait til next year'-is but slo- gan of Yankee determination. Time after time we have seen college elev- ems overwhelmed in defeat only to return next year with the same per sonnel and sweep the field.
 | Many are the views anc opinions about playing football during this war. They are as divergent as op- posite points of the compass. Some educated men oppose It's continuance Many hold that a time so serious should be reflected in both act and deed. Some believe that the com- mercia1 side of football is forcing the game down the pub1ic's throat. But none of these express the view of the majority which has so willed.
 Often, I take 1t, we least understand the motive for our acts. In the mat ter of football why we will play is
 little understood. The answer fl seems. comes from the smiling widows
 and sweethearts of France. While we | earnestly pray God that no such
 kultur as was visited upon the womer
 of France and Belgium may fall tc
 our lot you and know that our bur.
 den during this war may be all that
 heart strings can bear. The long way our boys must go, the indefinite
 separation from family and friends
 the length of time that must neces
 sarily elapse ere news of our loved
 ones reaches us after each mighty
 attack-these and other strains teal
 the soul of America perhaps as fully
 as the heartstone horrors of Hur
 ftendishness eat at the vitals O
 France. Yet the women of Franc,
 smile!
 It is well that American answer
 the boche brute in the same manner
 Let us smile for our boys love
 thexe," let us send them the letter
 they want to read, the news they lon, for. Our happiness is their cause
 Our joy is the victory for which the, fight. So whenever we-without il
 any manner handicapping our gov ernment in its struggle-can brin; relief and happiness to the countr we should do so. Football, serious a 1t may seem, is a wonderful sport, brings joy to thousands each year. & 5 we have decided to be good sports an [ play the game for all it Is worth And your boy will welcome the new
 of the big games and you-you vii . welcome such news about the old col
 1ege to write him.
 f Football has other purposes. Seri ' ously, 1t breeds men who can bes
 fill the gaps that are destined t
 come. Let us not forget our frs
 call to arms. Young men were aske to volunteer for the officers trainin camps. In all the stress of excitemer
 of war do not forget the boys wh : answered that first call. Among ther were the college football player proof sufficient as to the kind an type of Tank our gridiron game de velops.
 Standing, as we now do. on tn