The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1922-11-18

eastern conference.
Since his graduation from
Princeton. Coach Dawson has
been actively engaged in coach
ing football. He was head coach
at Columbia University, later go
ing to Nebraska, where he has
developed this year a team which
has attracted much attention.
Editors Note.
One of the greatest developments
in present day football has been the
increasing number of intersectional
games" said Fred Dawson. former
Tiger star and at the present time
head coach of Nebraska's famous
eleven. Il believe he continued,
that. these games will do more to
make the interest in football ma
tional one that any other develop
ment introduced during the past
fifteen years.
The great feature of the inter-
sectional game is the fact that they
help to mould the entire football
world together. BY having teams
from various parts OF the country
playing one another, better UNDER
standing is created between these
sections and strides are also made
toward the unification of the playing
rules. In the past the different
parts of the country have interpreted
the rules in different ways. How
ever, with teams from the four
quarters of the country playing one
another, the rules tend to become
standardized.
Favors Long Trips
objections voiced on this subject but
/ believe that the good that these
games do more than make up for
any OF the harm as quoted in argu-
ments advanced by those who would
like to see this feature of intercol
legiate football discontinued. The
chief argument of those opposed to
these games is based on the suppo-
sition that the long trips take too
much time away from the class
rooms and in this way rob the stu
dents OF valuable hours that should
be spent on their lessons.
"In some ways these DIRECTORS are
right. obviously. no team should
spend all it's time travelling from one
part of the country to another for
the sake OF playing football. Unless
the players can show marks above
the passing grade they should NOT
be allowed to play football at all.
However, IL the mon can keep up in
their work l do not see any reason
why they should not be allowed to
take an extra day off once in
awhile.
Lose Little Time
people fail to realize that most
teams lose only one half days work
on trip. Very few colleges have
classes On Saturday afternoons and
as the average team leaves the cam
pus on Friday night if 1t has a game
In another city on Saturday. 1t will
be seen that only Saturday mornings
classes are missed. Then too, most OF
the football players so arrange their
work as to have Saturday mornings
free. As there are also many students.
not football players. who are able to
fix their schedule SO that they have
no classes on Saturday the charge
cannot be made that the football
players are given special favors In
the case of games on the Pacific
coast, it can be pointed out that the
time for these contests comes out Ct
the regular Christmas recess. In no
way do they interfere with the col
lege work.
Urges Eastern Conference
"There is no doubt but that con-
ference football ia good thing.
People in the east do not realize
what they are missing when they
refuse to form a conference. Such an
organization makes football cleaner,
faster. and more interesting fail
to see where there are any valid
objections to such an institution. 1t
should be remembered that all the
teams in the conference do net have
to meet each other during any one
season, or for that matter in any
season at all. But by having con-
ference and by backing up its Of
ficials, all disputes and questions
raised over eligibility. Interpretation
of rules, etc. would be stopped
Good Of Conference
II have coached teams both in the
east and the middle west and there
fore / feel that l am able to judge
the value of the conference better
than the man who has coached only
in one section OF the country. The
coach who has never been connected
with a college outside OF conference
does not realize what a great bless
ing such an organization is, and the
mentor who has never coached a
team that is in a conference cannt
realize what great deal Of good
such reorganization can do. 1t is in
teresting to note that every player
and coach who has been connected
with conference football stands ready
to boost II at all times. This applies
to those who have had = taste OF both