The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-01-18
FOOTBALL BUILDS,
UNCONQUER A BL E
SPIRIT IN YOUTH

CHICAGO. Jan. 17-American
youths in too many homes of the ma
ton live a life of luxury and spend
too much time on the soft, easy
cushions of automobiles, In the opin-
ion of Fielding Fl. Yost. coach of the
University of Michigan, who today
emphasized the value of football in
developing that unconquerable
fighting spirit 30 badly needed in our
American life.i
Playing the popular college game
will cultivate the qualities of deter
mination, persistence and courage,
the veteran mentor declared, that
can nowhere be better learned than
on the gridirons. Coach Yost believes
that football, as well as other ath-
letics, should remain contributing
factor of college training, as the
sport Will enable collegians to be-
come better fitted for their careers.
Americas Great Game
This is the one virle American
game. and 1t is needed badly in our
American life" Coach Yost said. THE
benefits are derived not only by the
thousands who play the game, but
by the many more thousands who
witness these contests Our boys in
too many homes live life of luxury
and ease and spend too much of their
time on the soft, easy cushions of
, automobiles. What they need and
| must have to fit them as men-real
men-are the very things which are
taught and developed on the football
field, strong, alert body a keen,
quick thinking mind and that un-
conquerable, fighting spirit which
overcomes all obstacles in the end.
athletic games are generally rec
ognized as necessary part of our
national school and college life.
Advocates Less Football
"rhe critics of college athletics, es-
pecially football, suggest that we
! should have less football. or none at
ALL and promote athletics for every
one. What have these men done and
what are their experiences in es-
tablishing, financing and putting
across such voluntary program
Those in charge of intercollegiate
athletics, through the funds obtained
largely from football, have financed
and developed broad intercollegiate
and intramural athletic program,
based on voluntary participation.
Boys go to college to obtain a
better education and to become better
fitted for life. Football. as other
athletic activities, is, and should ever
remain, contributary factor to this
main object OF college training. 1t
should not be made an end in itself,
for then ii loses much of the ordinary
benefit that is usually derived from
it.
COMPREHENSIVE Schedules
This difficulty can be eliminated
| by arranging schedules so as to cause
players to miss as few classes as
possible, by limiting the length Of
practice period and by seeing that the
schedules of the season do not ex-
tend over too long a period of time.
All football schedules should close
by Thanksgiving Day. At the same
time these boys will learn to sacri-
flee themselves to a group or insti-
tuition for the attainment of COM
mon goal, which means that they will
learn cooperation. team play loyalty
and service. Likewise, they will Gull
tivate the qualities of determination,
will power, persistence and courage.
both moral and physical.
Even those who do not participate
! learn the lessons of service and 10y
atty which permeates the student at
/ mosphere as a result of football