The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-02-11
ALUMNI BLAMED
FOR PRO- EVIL
IN BIG SCHOOLS
Enthusiastic Recruiting
of High School Stars
Is Bad Policy


COLUMBUS, Ohio. Feb. 10.-Re-
oruiting okhigh school athletic stars
by alumni OF various universities is
tho real cause OF professionalism In
collegiate sports, Prof. Thomas IL.
French of Ohio State and president
OF tho Western conference said to-
day In n statement to the Associated
Press discussing the recent athletic
scandals In middle western schools,
This proselytinR Of college ath-
letics through the recruiting Of high
school stars by the alumni of tho
various universities is n growing evil
that Is causing more concern to the
authorities of western conference
schools than the financial tempta-
ton to college players 10 Join the
ranks OF the professionals" he said.
Professor French said the mntter
had been discussed AZ meetings OF
big officials and that IL undoubtedly
would be taken up again at the next
meeting OF the conference in June
Mt Iowa city. Iowa. Alonzo A.
Stagg, athletic director at the Uni
versity of Chicago and president OF
the Western conference athletic di-
rcctors, has announced the directors
will meet "at an early date" to dis
cuss Nigh school recruiting.
While declaring that he believed
present athletic rules and the attl-
tude OF the public were sufficient
to combat professionalism In sports
In Big Ten schools. Professor
French said the establishment OF
college conferences In all parts OF
the country. together with the pro-
mitigation OF strict sport rules by
those conferences would do more
than any other thing 10 purify col
lege sport In general.
High school Boys Paid.
There is no doubt" said Pro-
fessor French, that some high
school boys or exceptional athletic
ability are being paid to attend GER
tain schools in order 10 play some
sport.
Il am confident the authorities OF
western conference schools have no
part In this practice because they
khre taking drastic steps to break 1t
UP.
In such cases graduates or
| groups Of alumni generally pay the
| expenses OF high school stars. Sew
oral ALUMNI may chip In a certain
|
prospect to their school. This is the
worst form OF PROSECUTING and the
things we are trying hardest to
| break up.
| "whonever we find boy who has
been sent to school on a pot made
up by alumni, we refuse TO permit
him 10 take part in athletics.
alumni who try 10 boost ath
| tn N,
ner are misguided by their enthusi'
asm lust as surely as are men whC
insist upon betting upon their col
lege teams. At present some east
ern colleges send coaches over th'
country scouting for good higf
school material and good induce
ments are offered to enter thes'
schools. This la demoralizing.
Purifying Under Way.
"a series OF college conference
with strict sport rules would d'
more. than Hny other thing to stol
this practice. The various confer
onces fould not have to be guide'
4 by the same rules or regulations
Each conference could seek Its owl
| level.
The Western conference whicl
was the first such organization, ha
a decided effect In purifying colleg
athletics In the middle western, an
Its principles have been copied In tn
formation OF ohio conference an
the Missouri Valley conference
The football scandal, caused b
tho playing OF Illinois and Notr
Dame stars in a professional gam
at Taylorville, ILL.,. will have bene
ficial effect on college sport, Pro
fessor French declared, because
viii tend to educate both the pun
lie and the amateur players to clea
up sports and win make schoc
. authorities more alert,
when the public discovers tina
1t Is being humbugged In profes
= si6nal football games II will sto
} attending them" Professor. Frenc
= predicted And the public win 500
/ learn that professional footba
: games are actually staged by pre-
q moters only for the money that ca
+ be made,
70 Former college stars who pla
. professional football Tor money
not Put the same spirit into the
playing that the college amateur
I do. A college player gives all
Q has for the glory OF his school.
o man paid 10 play will take no pei
sonal risk and only pretends TO /
70 playing"
= --=--------------
| Reds Sign Pitcher,