Evening star., 1922-02-06

Certain forthcoming revelations IN
the west, it is predicted, will reach
into the east. However that may be,
it is recognized that problems east
of the Alleghenies are just as acute.
although not SO manifold as in the
west. Authorities there have to deal
with sinister influences arising out
of community gridiron rivalry and
out Of professional foot ball.. How
ever. one great evil affects the in
stitutions of the country in common.
1t is an inordinate desire for winning
teams. The element of sport for the
sake Of sport in American intercol-
legiate athletics is everywhere sub
ordinated in greater or less degree.
Means of Advertising.
Foot ball and other sports have
been seized upon by alumni and in
some cases by college authorities
themselves as a means Of institutional
advertising. This was a natural out
growth of increasing public interest
in college teams and athletics. Az
fairs eventually have come to such
pass that. the team that cleans up in
its section and perhaps defeats a
couple Of strong intersectional rivals
occupies a position in the public
prints and the public mind compar-
able to any public character that may
be named.
Can you imagine what such public
ity and prestige means to a little
back-water college? 1t means much
that is not SO intrinsically hollow as
mere reputation. 1t means college
sport among the student body and
enthusiasm among alumni that is
manifested in substantial gifts. II is
employed as an important medium in
the raising of endowment funds. In
brief. it means a place in the sun.
Nbw how. is the small college to at
tain this place and having attained 1t
to hold it consist entity? Why. by re-
cruiting Of material for the eleven. No
one believes that an institution whose
enrolment ranges from go to 700 can
put forth teams year after year that are
able to meet upon even terms teams OF
institutions that are from three to ten
times. as large. Such recruiting does
not mean that secondary school stars
or stars drafted from sister colleges. or
dropped from other institutions because
of poor scholarship, are hired on
downright money basis. However. the
stories one hears OF this being done
are too numerous to allow any one to
believe the practice does not exist. But
actual financial consideration Is not the
only way a boy can be bought. Cinch
| jobs in college at wages sufficient to
pay all expenses. with attractive sum-
rer jobs thrown in. are principal con-.
sideration of this barter for athletic
\ material.
Scouting IL Prevalent.
The small college that does not possess
| what amounts to a scout who has aI-
| thority to make arrangements whereby
athletes will be procured and sent
| through college. is the college that is
not standing very high in post-season
| team ratings, unless. Of course, the
| coach attends to duties Of the sort In
not know or are not supposed to
know of activities of the sort. as witness
| the fate of Lone Star Dietz when the
| Purdue faculty discovered the alleged
processes through which he sought TO
recruit next years team.
I, The big universities are almost
| driven to put forth successful eleven3
through the necessity OF maintaining
| expensive plants that have developed
| in recent years and paying interest
| ball and base ball must make enough
! profit to shoulder the burden OF
minor sports and intrsmural athletics.
| Does any one think that those deh-
niteiy interested in the athletic score
Of these universities sit back and
! wait for a star or bunch of stars to
appear in normal and natural proc
| ess?
This must not be taken to infer in
| all cases that athletes are bought, but
tenn in this country part of the ma
! terial Of which is not obtained year
after year upon the basis Of some
sort OF consideration? Scholarship
funds so camouflaged that it does not
| appear they were established solely
| for athletes. self-support bureaus.
alumni funds secretly distributed?
All schemes of the sort may be en-
ployed and. small doubt, are employ
| ed in the interest of winning teams.
| What is the answer to it all? Per-
haps the universities of the western
conference will supply it.
Copyright, 1927
M, no-S tba Neu, Enrlar6 b.avv.