The Washington herald., 1922-01-07
Rice Suggests Safeguards
For College Gridiron Game
One Year Residence Rule, Increased Scholastic
Requirements and Faculty Positions
for Coaches Advocated

the other? Largely through the coll
lese spirit developed by football
thousands OF others go out for the
track. tennis. golf and basketball
teams to render service and get their
fun where they are best fitted to
stand. College spirit is a wond erful
thing and football Is its chief
builder.
In spite Of all its growth and great
ness as a sport. football isn't so per-
feet that 1t is beyond a careful guild
ance. The reward for a winning team
In the way of publicity and piled up
lsurel is entirely too great. 1t has
put too heavy a burden upon too
many coaches who often are called
upon to win or step aside. 1t has
started entirely TOD many along the
proselyting road where through
strong pressure of financial induce
ments they have bagged promising
talent for their institutions. We
have direct proof Of more than a few
colleges and universities that have
paid straight cash through their
athletic directors or alumni to promis-
ing stars. Others have been taken
care of in ways entirely too liberal
for any amateur sport. And football
In the main. Is all amateur in spirit.
be taken care of? Simply enough.
The best safeguards for football are
as follows:
1. A one-year residence rule
where no first-year men are allowed
to take part in intercollegiate con-
tests. =.
2. A scholastic standing that no
tramp athlete would care to meet.
.. IL necessary a rule preventing
any man from representing more
than one institution in. an inter.
collegiate way. The football player
who wanders from one college
team to another is rarely a help te
the sport.
4. The refusal Of the cleaner in
stitutions with higher standards tt
schedule games with those inclined
to be lax.
5. A stricter inspection of the
field at large by colleges and uni.
versities of cleaner athletic mold
to see that all offenders are barred
from their schedules.
s. To lift head coaches to faculty
positions, where. as long as they
are competent and are builders OF
character as well as builders of ma
chimes, they are dependent upon
successful scores alone.
2. To have no, men selected FOR
all-star teams that represent insti-
tutions Of lax standards. and tc
give such teams no ranking at the
end of the season.
The majority of the coaches are
a fine influence for good. The old
days OF raving and cursing are
about gone. There has been a
great improvement in the treatment
OF officials and in trying to obey the
spirit as well as the letter OF the
rules. But there are still coaches
who signal from the lines or who
teach that holding in the line is all
right IL not detected.
1t should be up to every faculty
to every athletic director. to every
old graduate and to every coach tc
see that the game is safeguarded
in every way-and this doesn't
mean bawling out or barring an OF.
ficial because he happened to cal
penalty at some important sector
of the game. There Is such a de
cisive element of luck in the pres
ent game that victory can no longer
oe set up as a matter of superior
skill or courage. The better team
in modern football, doesn't alway'
win by several kilometers. Know
/ ing this. victory must lose some o.
it's flaming glow.
Football. having come to tn,
heights. Is sure to be attacked anc
lied about. Envy always follow!
| success. So It Is necessary 70,
every friend of one of the creates
| sports ever. known to help guar,
its interest in every way. There il
still much to be corrected. Th
East has permitted the Westerl
conference and the Southern Inter
collegiate Association to take tn
lead in most reforms. 1t is abou
time that several institutions w
might name in the East are fallinl
In line. Why. not one or more East
ern conference associations, wit
fixed standards that all competitor
must meet?