Evening star., 1922-12-27

1t is its destiny.
Every sign seems to indicate that
eventually college sport Will be con-
trolled in all its ramiflcations by TINS
that development of the sort Is
highly desirable. But there Is
thoughtful minority who are wonder
ing whether or not in the END tns
complete elimination of student con-
troll in intercollegiate sport Will De
found to have justified the aims OF
those who brought it about.
May Not Be Wise Course.
In institutions devoted to education
of youth is il logical to W1thholu
from students these opportunities for
administration. for organization ana
for broad contacts that intercollegiate
athletic relations offer so abundant
ly? This, at least. is one OF tnI
questions asked by the thoughtful
few who have marked with regret
that ever-increasing tendency TO
eliminate undergraduates from an
save active participation in the great
college sports.
respect to the n. C. a. A., 1t has no
executive function. 1t may merely
discuss. recommend and criticise. A
fine influence. beyond doubt, ana per,
sonally the writer is not convinced
that Its attainment of some measure
other than a beneficial one.
So far as foot ball rules are con-
cerned, 1t will be Grasped that the
National Association has no authority
to change them. And neither nave
the foot ball coaches. whose meeting
at the Hotel Astor will be held as
a sort of adjunct to the convention
The right to alter the playing code
Of the gridiron game is vested IN
the rules committee. which will meet
in February. None the less. 1t is
likely that there will be forwarded
to this committee various sugges-
tions in the way of changes-few. If
any, of which will be acted upon.
Believe Game Is Standardized.
The rules committee takes the
stand that foot ball at the present
time is approaching standardized
form. that the flavor of sectionaiism
has been pretty completely elm
mated, thereby making of the grid
iron sport a game that is played
along national lines.
One suggestion that probably will
be forwarded from this weeks con-
vention to the rules committee re-
lates to the relegation of coaches
from the side lines to the stands.
What will come of it no one knows;
probably nothing.
Then there will be representations
from those who oppose rules which
make of fumbling such calamity to
the butter fingered team. Nothing is
likely to be done about this. either.
1t might be suggested in this con-
nection that the way to reduce fum-
bling to an approximate minimum IS
to have a less highly polished and
slippery foot ball.
How far a college might go in
employing it's foot ball eleven as
producer of funds for needs of the
institution is given some point by
the present enterprise of the Pennsyl-
vania State team.
The Nittany outfit. as all know, will
meet the University of Southern Cali
fornia eleven on New Year day in
the annual gridiron feature of the
tournament of roses at Pasadena
1t Is estimated that state will re-
ceive some $4,000 for playing. This
in process of collection which will be
used for the construction of greatly
needed college buildings. Specifically.
the money earned at Pasadena VIII
bc applied to the building OF a new
training house.
ANY one who has visited Pennsyl-
vania State realizes the inadequacy.
the, Inconvenience of the present
frame track houses where athletes
make their headquarters.
Modern intercollegiate foot ball
has come to be an enormous Garner
Tho big three universities now talk
in terms of half a million dollars as
tho gross earnings for season and
everywhere throughout the country
proceeds from the autumn sport have
fattened beyond dreams.
what shall be done about It? Shall
the earning capacity of the gridiron
game be openly accepted by our seats
Of learning and the sports definitely
applied to economic problems? Or
shall 1t be so conducted as to remain
merely a sport with no significance
other than the diversion and benefit
it Yields to those who play and watch
it? A serious question.
Copyright, 1927