Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-09-30
JOHN w. HEISMAN
On Athletics In College

TNIIAT athletics in general and football in
l. particular do much to fit the college boy
for the more important struggles OF lite Is Is
the opinion of John w. licisman, football
coach at the University of Pennsylvania.
THE purely physical benefits of college
athletics. especially football" said Mr.. Hes-
man. ARE so apparent and have been so
often and so we'll set forth that it is not
necessary for me to dwell on that phase;
But the equally valuable mental and moral
effects have not had the emphasis lald upon
them which they deserve.
1T has often struck me aS peculiar that
we have nowhere a school for the training
and the strengthening of the moral qua'ltlcS
of the young American. Colleges ana otncr
institutions there are in abundance for the
imparting of knowledge, both theoretical and
practical, Usevery known branch of science
and art there are gymnasiums Tor the dc-
veopment of bodily strength and there are
churches for his spiritual needs.
but nowhere is there an institution lor
the development of the moral qualities of the
mind. Is there place wherein boy WILL
temper or disposition can be trained! llqs
any scientific study been made of these! III
So | do not know where it is.
II do not believe that the importance or
this matter will be seriously questioned. 1t
is a matter of the utmost moment that u
young man be able to start out in life with
the ability to shut his jaws tightly and say
1 will or i will not, and mean it.
Question of Temper
'If it be conceded that the development
of n deDendable will in every young man Is
not only worth while but absolutely ndispen-
sable, then l can say that the athletic field
Is about the best and, in fact, the only
laboratory known where he will get the
training, the discipline and the experience
which will bring about this result And
football will build up the will power in an
immature mind about five times faster than
anything else.
1T is II great achievement to be able to
hold the temper in thorough control. This
is thing which is not taught in the class
room 1t Is occasionally talked about in the
Sunday schools, but the average boy seldom
gets n chance to try himself except through
the medium of participation IN athletic
sports.
And of the athletic mediums, by far the
best is football. The football player is
compclled to control himself through the
game which, with it's man to man contacts,
Is the one above all Others in which his good
nature and serenity of disposition are tried
hard and often. The game is worth playing
if only to acquire this self control.
Clear Thinking Under Fire
'Is thore any place except the athletic
fold where boys are taught to think rapidly
and correctly under fire? None that know
Of It. is preached to them, but not taught.
Some might say that examinations do this
and it is true they compel the boy to think
md that there are considerable results at
tached to his thinking correctly.
But. on the other hand, he has usually
nlenty of time to think when cndcavoring to
noss an examination he does not necessarily
have to think fast. And, tOO the conditions
surrounding a scholastic examination are
not exciting; it is no such case of being
under fire. as Is presented In the man to-
| man shock of football game in an atmos-
nhcre highly charged with excitement The
cases are not parallel in the speed of thought
required or in the conditions in which this
thinking must be done.
Every boy is wildly excited upon going
into his first big game of football. But in
time ne learns to keep COOL to think calmly
and quickly in the thick of the most exciting
cuisodes and then he comes to correct con
| ciusions and makes faultlcss decisions in the
| fraction of n second, time and time again,
| in every five minutes of play.
Matter of SpOrtsmanship
"In no game - and it might be added
| truthfully in no calling in after lifc-is there
| so much temptation for a participant to
| cheat, to take unfair advantages, to do small,
mean and petty things, to lose the temper. to
| indulge In profanity, to show nasty disp0si-
| ton and even to indulge in downright fight
ing, as in football
| T'But that is the time, the place and the
! way to learn how to govern, to control and