, 1923-04-15
N0TRE Dame IN
BIG DEMAND AS
SPORT MAGNET
Fighting Irish Always in
Front.
BY WALTER

or conferences to be composed OF col
leges and universities in various sec
tons OF the country. Notre Dame IN
probably the only institution In the
country which does o belong to an
association and Il still in demand ~ an
opponent by ne leading universities
and colleges in the country.
Just how this situation comes about
is rather hard to explain. but it seems
to be the consensus that the public
knows II will get a run for its money
whenever the lighting Irish go into
battle. In years gone by Notre Dame
athletic teams were looked upon with
suspicion n coaches wero Il
of ~harboring professionals and that
athletes seldom attended classes
In those days Notre Dame was no
worse h a any OF h leading institu-
tons of the country. Professionalism
ran rampant and eligibility rules were
not near so strict as they arc at the
present time. As the athletic saying
goes, "A coach had to beat another at
his own game" There can be no deny
ing the teams of twenty-five years ago
were composed OF players who sons
time or other had received compensA-
ton for their athletic skin.
Start House Cleaning in 1905.
Since 1905. when tho real house
cleaning started in all sections of the
country, the pro has been weeded out
Gradually coaches have learned they
must follow h trend OF the times to
secure the competition which win
make their seasons successful from b
self-supporting angle. Certain coaches
and athletic directors were told they
would be dropped from all schedules
unless the athletes lived up to all re-
quirements regarding amateurism and
scholastic standing.
Some tried to dodge the issue for .
spell. but as years went by nearly all
ooaches have cleaned house. with the
result Intercollegiate athletics are now
on a cleaner basis than ever before in
history. Some proselyting still goes
on, but this is a feature which will
never be eliminated as Ions as the
present enthusiasm in college sports
exists.
officials OF the University OF Notrs
Dame were among the FIRST to realize
the necessity of keeping step with the
leaders in their quest for simon pure
athletics. This happened shortly after
Jesse Harper. a former University Of
Chicago athlete. took over the athletic
dictatorship. Harper lost no time to
get rid Of those who had the slightest
suspicion Of professionalism
Follows Conference Rules
He made up his mind to follow Al
closely a possible the rules which
govern competition in the western con-
ference. Institutions not only In the
rnNddlA Uyagf hut In all gorffn1a ~ fhA
country took notice OF this action. with
the result Notre Damo was a much
sought for competitor. Harper con-
tinued to Improve conditions during
his regime. and with the advent OF
Knute Rockne, h present director OF
athletics and coach, conditions were
and are being improved
When college football players were
accused OF playing professionally .
few years ago Rockne was among the
first to start an Investigation Two Of
his players were the FIRST suspected
They admitted having played In Wis
consin and were summarfly barred
from further competition as represent
atives OF h university. The sama
condition existed when players of Noere
Dame and Illinois engaged in a pos,
season game at T~aylorvile. Ill
Admit Guilt
Some years ago Notre Dame won .
conference rack and Held meet. Two
OF the athletes were protested for hav-
ing competed longer than the allotted
time. Their cases were investigated by
Notre Dame officials. with the aid Of
Big Ten representatives. The offend
ers admitted their guilt and the honor
OF winning went to nothe team. As
the points won by the suspended ath-
letes were taken away and given to
those who finished next In order.
Many other instances could be men
toned TO show that Notrs Dame 10
playing the game clean. at least As
clean as any university or College in
the country.
It Is more or lees of an honor for any
football team to be chosen to meet
West Point Sdl Notre Dame has
played the Army for a number Of years
n these annual clashes are looked
upo as among the most interesting in
the asst Whenever any gridiron
struggle OF an international character
is proposed Notre Dame is OF the
FIRST elevens mentioned. Those in
charge of such affairs know that Eotrs
Dame Is representative OF It's section
and will play the game rs It should Be
played
sth Grid Schedule This Fail
Not alone does Notre Dame meet the
Army. but It will meet Carnegie Tech
this fan. together with Georgia Tech
II viii go west to meet Nebraska aside
from meeting some of the teams in
h middle west. Coach Rockne does
vol have TO look for contests. Each
year no Ia besieged with offers, and
nj matter how the compett-
ton Notre Dame will play. irrespective
of tho number Of hard games. on sue
cessive Saturdays.
The same conditions prevail in base
ball and track and field athletics. The
Hoosiors win meet Yale IN a dual meet
this spring. While the baseball team
viii clash with some in the south. not
to mention some OF the leading west.
ern conference mines. Year In and year
out Notre Dame has material because
Of its grade schools, which are yearly
feeders to The varsity squads in all
branches Of intercollegiate sports.