Evening star., 1920-12-07


At the same time it. would do no
harm for those who believe in foot
bali as essentially Fan institutional
game played by amateurs. especially
those who are in positions of author
1ty in our colleges, to- take such steps
asc may seem wise to save the sport
from commercial influences
The one great reason why profess
eiohal foot ball should be treated as
q dangerous animal IL treated is be-
cause of the pernicious effects it ex-
erts upon college athletes. Foot ball
is little understood in its finer points
by a great body of the public. In this
respect it is not to be classed with
base ball, which is followed with ex-
act, appreciation by practically all
Americans, who feel themselves quail
ified not only to follow the fine points
of the game, but to pass judgment
upon plays and upon the work Of the
-Nmpires. -. ,,--.
4. Explains Appeal OF Game. =
THUS in large degree foot bail has
Its great hold because Of the enthus-
lowings, who have an adequate work
ing knowledge Of the game and In
any event are wholly thrilled when
Tho ball is moved toward an oppo.
neRts goal posts. alma mater thus
being glorified. Added to this is a
hOu-COllcS ~lOAkOW1hS wAfStt hAOw .
the game and loves to see it played.
1t is comparatively small. as can
Hasss of the crowd at any intercol-
1egtate game would show.
Thus professional foot ball promoters
Bee the necessity Of making yn teams
earned great reputation upon the inter-
collegiate field. For these names have
an advertising value which attracts not
only college following, but many who
do mot follow the intercollegiate Eame
This means that athletes of limited
means who still are undergraduates hxya
the incentive Immediately ethey have
been graduated to pick up easy money
on professional foot ball teams.
Old Grads Still Playing.
b the combinations which played last
Saturday at the, Polo Grounds were the
names Of players; who have been out Of
college several years and yet seem to
! have found nothing more useful to do
than spend two or more months out OF
q valuable year playing foot ball. OF
course. thiS' fs their own lookout, but 1t
doss seem that ySSns gsnt,s%sn H men nSIdsns ,sn
SELVES more useful in the world And. Of
course, 1t may be imagined that coa-,
, 1egSs. not being in the business OF pro-
vidfng material for professional elevens,
their names bracketed in lne-ups along
side the names of their alumni who have
0ofie In for the commercialixed game.
Net only does such advertising provide
weapons for critics OF our higher educa-
tioiial system. but 1t gives the fnstitu-
tiols involved a not especially desirahae'
'Saiih ustii this year it was the practice,
of professional foot ball promoters to
tndnce college students who were star
foot ball players to play ppder as
seaeon had closed. Thanks to the
savage fight against professional foot
bali made by the western sintercof-
leetate conference, it IL understood
thSt the promoters; have been less
acljve In this respect. At least the
promoters say that underGradua
ara not permitted to play. One may
hope SO: enough harm has been done
partmouth's action sn declaring
Cl4dy Murphy ineligible for inter
collegiate sports was result Of. his
plying {. .,xsgfs..sseesi, ,,s. sK.n;e in r No, 70,
generally known. It may be said that
With Harvard this seasaH sAnQpAe not
pliyed with profesSi0tAr team In
more sn sasssSs of sSsuysa s sas {.
game managed3kTk2kp their idehtity
pater this Yeses psrely an aadI:s
3opal arguAenf hgsfnst the niefcels
afy systemss x..s = @sf
4 Eas1 nIeSsl..Iere. :a,s;
rhere is asfson thAs thS siis1ses
athletes who have lSerTs little saohey. ,wi,e
tst SsSsts fe-y'.%.sf 4 s;se