Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-02-06
PROPOSE RADICAL CHANGES.
College Athletics to Afford Competi

College Athletics to Afford Compel.
ton for Greater Numbers.
New York, Feb. 6.-Opinions among
followers of eastern college athletics
appear to indicate radical changes in
intercollegiate contests after the war.
Up to the present time there has been
no concrete suggestion or plan offered
Incorporating the ideas under discus
sion, but it Is considered likely THAI
there will be rapid progress in this d.
rection once the agitation reaches \
plane above idealistic propaganda
Notwithstanding the attitude OF a GER
ton faction to the country, IT Is gener-
ally conceded that inter-varsity cornpe-
tition is the stimulus necessary to lift
participation in exercise and sport
above the level OF daily college rou-
tine.
Just how to accomplish this. while
giving opportunity for participation Iii
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
stripped from such intercollegiate con-
tests appears inevitable but beyond
this point suggested action merges in J..
to discussion. But one suggestion look
ing toward re adjustment in a promi-
nent eastern intercollegiate sport has
been advanced to date:
This is the pl oposal to supercede the
intercollegiate championship regatta
with series of short dual boat races,
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 q given college
crew was to row even a one mile race
against q rival eight each Saturday
during May and June. as football elev-
ems play contests in the autumn. it is
likely that the coach, once he had
seated satisfactory and winning COM
bination in the shell would send about
the same eight to the line each week.
end
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 Hemen-
DIR. Sargent, in recent article in the
Harvard Alumni Bulletin, states IN
part:
Presumably the students who enter
Harvard come to prepare themselves
physically as well as metally and NOR
ally for LIES great game. Recent ex-
aminations have shown that from 25
per cent to so per cent Of our young
men are physically unprepared for mil
itary service. History shows us that
gymnastics and athletics were origin
ally practiced for the purpose Of pre-
pairing men for war Gymnastics fur
nished the preliminary training: ath-
letics afforded the opportunity for
competition.
I'm view Of the conditions confront
ing us as a people, would it not be
wiser plan so to conduct our athletics
as not only to select the fit and elimi-
nate the unfit from the major contests
which are the basis OF the present sys-
tem,--of which I approve as far as it
goes,--but so to modify. supplem ent,
and conduct these or other athletic
contests as to encourage the unfit to
continue their practice and try and
make themselves more fit for the dut-
les of citizen and a possible soldier?
The one great difficulty that Is con-
tiually operating against such a mOdi-
fication Of our present day method IS
the high standard demanded by the
candidates Of our major athletic sports.
In my opinion any game or sport that
has become so highly organized as to
require a special aptitude or ability on
the part of every player who would
engage in it has ceased to be of practi-
cal service in democratic commune
ty. except as source of occasional
entertainment and amusement.
1t is almost impossible to keep NY
any interest in a highly specialized
game after leaving college. for the
simple reason that not enough skilled
players can be found to form team.
1t is largely on account Of the simple
ity of the game and the readiness with
which one may find some of equal abil-
ity with whom to play, that tennis and
golf are proving no popular OF late