Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-01-01
PENN TO REFORM
IN ATHLETICS
Dean Mcclellan Wants All
Men te Trains Wants
Mere Ground

Enough recreation fields with ath-
1etie facilities for every student, elimi-
nation of training tables and training
houses and the holding Of intereei-
ieglate boat races within term time
are some of the changes which the
war will force upon the college world
In the epinien of Dean William Me-
Clellan, chairman ef the University
OF Pennsylvania Athletic Council. OF
particular Interest is Dean MeCIellan's
declaration that "eity university
such as Pennsylvania is, owes IL to Its
students to supply them with sufnei-
ent recreation ground, even if to do Sc
it has to obtain the needed space In
the country where 1t could supply the
sert ef facilities usually found emily
in connection with a flrst-elass ceun-
try club In discussing the situation
before leaving for New York, Dean
Mcclellan amplif1ed his Ideas as fell
iowss
1.-THE war has taught the college
world many athletic lessons. 1t has
also given us some hard problems to
solve, In the early days of our war
were rejected because Of physical de-
feots which could have been prevent
cd. The draft merely accentuated
this condition, It was evident enough
that the American college had de-
Veloped the brains of It's students, but
It had not done as we'll with their
bodies. Then came the cantonments
and with them opportunity to show
what men of vision could do to utilize
athletics fn the development of
athletics came over night. 1t was
shown that q whole camp could be or
Eanized so that every man could have
his fun and make his athletics a di-
rect contribution to his soldierly de-
velopment. No man was neglected.
There were no bleacherites because
every man was a participant.
Need of More Ground
THESE former students are now
coming back to complete their educa-
tions, but they will not tolerate the
lack of vision with which so many
of our colleges endeavor to crowd all
their students into one little field for
their recreation. They will still want
intercollegiate competition, but they
will also demand that the student
spectators shall likewise be athletes.
I think that some of the changes they
will demand may be included In the
following:
"Q) Every student to choose, some
form of outdoor athletics in which he
can compete with his fellows 80 that
all may grow physically and morally;
by the college so that each may play
his chosen game. This means suf-
ficient number of fields so that several
football teams may play at one time
IL necessary, with additional space for
baseball, soccer. track. tennis, rowing,
golf, etc.
"(s) Every Varsity team in some
way to be picked from many teams
which may still be allowed TO- play
away with the system which dlscards
at the very beginning of the playing
season all but the picked few who con
survive. Training and competition
must. be continued for the entire
squad.
SEQ Training houses and training
ia bles must go. They are the clearest
evidence of professional spirit. In
proportion as they are emphasized the
student. To say that he REQUIRES q
special food, better than his fellow
students. because he is an athlete
leads to absurditw. To take the attn
lete out of his daily life as a student
house him separately, force him to &c
to bed every night at definite hour
develops in him no qualities or self
discipline whatever. IL he won't do
this as an individual out Of loyalty
to his university and sense OF honor
he would better fail.
"All this puts very grave problem
up to the big city university which
has not on it's campus acres and acres
of ground which 1t can occupy at ut
tie cost and without being disturbed
by interfering neighbors. | believe
the big city university will be forced
TO adopt something in the nature OF
country club plan. No university has
a right to gather several thousand
students together. many OF whom
wish to play golf. tennis and other
sports requiring considerable Brouno
unless 1t provides facilities Tor them'
Would Purge Rowing of Evils
At it's last meeting Pennsylvania
Athletic Council went on record as
declaring that rowing should be re-
Vived with the understanding that al!
boat races and regattas should be helo
within term time. This would auto
matically eliminate Pennsylvania's
competition in a Poughkeepsie regatta
held after commencement day. DIS
cussing this action. Dr. Mcclellan
said:
Growing has always been one of ouI
cleanest sports, but the former methot
of conducting the Poughkeepsie re-
gatta catered to the professional In
stinct The crews went to their boat
houses from two to three weeks in ad-
vace OF the races. which were hello
some times as late as the first week ir
July. All the college students hao
gone home. so that there could be lit
tie collegiate interest. The expense
was very great. To me 1t has always
seemed strange that our college crews
could go to Cambridge. Lake Carnegie
the Schuylkill or Annapolis and row
important races the day. after theii
arrival, yet feel the need of severa,
weeks of preparatory training al
Poughkeepsie.
'If a great intercollegiate regatta IL
to be held annually it should be on 9
course where it can be held at any
time and without voting for partfcu-
lar weather or tides. and where the
cost to each university would be re-
duced to the minimum: AS long as
this is not done only those universe
tiles with large funds can foster row
ing. Adoption of the simplifed plar
will cut rowing costs in two. 1t will
also make it possible for many minol
colleges. where a crew is now finan'
cially prohibitive. to enjoy rowing
Perhaps this could be done with a re-
gatta like the English Henley, extend
ing over three or four days of racing
with elimination races and ina
heat. Rowing wouldn't suffer in any
respect if to do this the regatta dis
tance should be shortened to two miles
or less"
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