New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-09
College Yell
Biggest Spur
To Athletics
Michigan Finds That InMa.
mural Sports Fail Withou,
intercollegiate Contests
Sports Data

Intramural sports do not thr-vo :.
colleges where intercollegiate ccmnst;,
tions are barred or even restricted
This, at any rate, is the verdict of N.
University of Michigan, where a thor.
ough test covering a period of sour
years has been made
The experience of the Ann Arbor IN
stitution has especial interest lust now
when the cry of many college faculties
is for the establishment of system Of
universal athletics whereby every stu.
dent will be Obliged to take I'D soma
branch. of sport.
This was the slogan at the ANNA,
meeting OF the National Collegiate Az.
soclatlon held in this city last Deeem.
Der, when the professional coller.
coaches received their severe nann;ns
and the association urged upon the coI
leges composing its membership ths
encouragement of intramural and in
tterclass athletics as a substitute f.,
intercollegiate contests.
Michigan a "Pioneer.
The University of Michigan. if wo,,a
appear, had been impressed with Thu
universally of sport idea long hefors
Tor IN 1913 P. G. Bartelme was mt N
complete charge of all athletics At Ann
Aroor, with definite instructions ~
effect thorough organization of in.
tramural athletics.
~ TINS time, 1t must be remembered
michigan was in intercollegiate com.
petition with the leading institution.
OF the Middle West in practically everv
oranch OF sport, and in addition thers
were football games and track meets
WIN Eastern colleges on the athletic
schedule. '''''''
Mr.. bartelme took up his appointed
task with considerable zeal. and at tbs
END OF his first years labors in ths
promotlon of intramural athletics be
was able to make a most encouraging
report to the college authorities H.
showed that in the 1914 period a
TOTAL OF 1872 students had .alled IA
lhe call. Mr.. Bartelme was told TO CON.
tlnue at his post, and in l9l4-l5 the
number OF students engaged in intra.
mural and interclass sports had
jumped to 2,314. In 1875 The
magnificent total of 2,424 was reached
ana then came the slump that shat
tered the entire dream.
IN April, 1917, following our enty
INTO the war against Germany tbs
Michigan authorities decided to dis.
continue all further intercoIleriste
competition, and as the FIRST stem
twenty-six baseball games arranged
with other colleges were cancelled The
same including a spring vacation trip
during which the Ann Arbor nine WI
10 meet Southern rivals. Then cam
the, cancellation of seven track meets
and dozen tennis matches.
AS each of the sports affected had
special coaches the university notified
these tutors that they should all turn
IN and help Mr.. Bartelme with his in.
trsmural work, and this imposing ar.
ray of sport promoters" promptly got
busy.
War Not Alone to Blame
Mr.. Bartelme, while admitting thst
the unrest and excitement incident 10
the war undoubtedly had a marked
tendency to divert interest in OUTSIDE
activities, felt an additional cause for
the failure that attended the efforts Of
himself and his big staff of aids must
be found, and that cause he insists was
the abolishing of intercollegiate CON-
petition, with its accompanying incen
tive
Whereas, during the 1876 period
there were twenty-one class teams en-
gagged IN baseball only sixteen could be
organized in 1917. The response on
the part of the student body to The
call for track athletics was so negl
glble, says Mr.. Bartelme, that he had
nothing TO report on this particulai
branch. AS for tennis. whereas in 1911
296 men took part in the various tour
naments, in 1917 only 1872 particl
pated.
Time and again the coaches wer
called together to discuss ways AM
! means of encouraging participation II
, lntramural and intercollege activities
, and every conceivable method was en-
: ployed to obtain better results. bu
, without avail The final data DISCLOSE
the fact that there were GA fewer pa
Elephants in athletics than in the pre-
, vious year. or a decrease of 80 pe
cent.
In the opinion of Mr. Bartelm'
: Michigan is satisfied that the absenc
Of intercollegiate athletics would spel
the doom of intramural activities. IN
college lad. it would seem. does no
care to expend his energies in athlell
tussles with the fellow from the 80
joining dormitory, or from anotne
: class. unless by so doing he may get
: chance 10 make" the big team 81
+ wage battle against a foreign" roe
the accompaniment of the old coleg
: yell.