The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-01-18
YOUTHS HAVE
IT TOO EASY,
Y0STS CLAIMS
Famous Athletic Director
Tells Of Difficulties Of
Making Good Athletes

Chicago, Jan. 18.-American youths
in too many homes Of the nation
live life of luxury and spend too
much time on the soft, easy cush-
ions of automobiles, in the opinion
of Fielding H. Yost, coach of the
University of Michigan, who, today
emphasized the value of football in
developing ''that unconquerable
fighting spirit SO badly needed in
our American life"
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 we'll as other ath-
letics should remain a. contributing
factor of college training, as the
sport will enable collegians to be-
come better fitted for their careers.
"Tnis is the one virile American
game and it is needed badly in our
American life" Coach Yost aaid.
"The benefits are derived net tnlv
by the thousands VINO play the game,
but by the many more thousands
who witness these contests. Our boys
ury and ease and spend too much
Of their time on the sofet easy cush-
ions 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,
keen, quick thinking mind and that
unconquerable fighting spirit which
Overcomes all obstacles in the end.
athletic games are generally rec
ognized as a necessary part in our
national School and college lifess
"The critics of college athletics,
especially football, suggest that we
should have less of football, or none
at all, and promote athletics for ev-
eryone. What have these men done
and what are their experiences in
establishing,s financing and putting
across such. voluntary program
Those in charge of intercollegiate
athletics, through the funds obtain
ed largely from football, nave financ-
ed and developed broad intercol-
/legiate and intrammural- athletic
program, based on voluntary partici-
patton. III
"Boys go to college to obtain
better education and to become bet
ter fitted for life. Football, as other
athletic activities, is, and should ever
remain, a contributary factor to this
main object Of college training. 1t
should not be made an end in itself
and then it loses much of the ordi-
nary benefit That is usually derived
from it. ~
"This difficulty can be eliminated
by arranging schedules so as to
cause players to miss as few classes
possible, by limiting the length of
practice periods and by seeing that
the schedules of the season. do not,
extend over too long a period Of
time. All football schedules should
close by Thanksgiving Day. At the
same time these boys will learn to.
sacrifice themselves to group or
institution for the attainment of a
common goal, which means that trey
will learn cooperation, team play.
loyalty and service, Likewise, they
will cultivate the qualities Of deter
mination, will power, persistence and
courage, both moral and physical. 4
Even those who do nat participate,
learn the lessons Of service and 10y
atty which permeates the student at
mosphere as result Of football.