The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-03-31

.the DOPE
H. S. ATHLETICS
By VEDDER GARD


. El4A0 NNI1A4ASo
that one views the latest
trend in State high school athletics
that OF organizing sport confer
ances or Leagues within the Indi-
ana High School Athletic Asse Ga
ton.
The supnosition arises that If
enough Of these conferences r
formed they will seriously I'M
aer1nine the power of the /. I'll.
/. A.NA If such a thing hap
pens it likely will be the smaller
schools that will suffer most.
The 4 H. S. A. A. under the en-
ergetic and capable leadership OF
+. Trester, permanent secre-
tarys has been largely responsible
IN putting prep athletics in this
State on a high plane.
MUST BE A HEAD
There must be some such gov
erning body. Each Of the vari-
jous conferences, if formed, will
i be capable of taking care of the
different problems-at least that's
the supposition. In actual practice
it will be more difficult than it
looks.
But even if the big schools r
able to get along in good shape
under various conferences, the
little fellows would be left to run
themselves in haphazard fashion
20 49,. 4S~ao 1rvo. n ,, fha+ tho 7
H. S. A. A. should break up.
If such a thing should ever
happen there would not be a
great deal of sympathy for the
smaller institutions. They have
brought the present situation
upon themselves by welding
the power of the majority to
push through legislation favor
able to the small schools and
detrimental to the large. The
big fellows are retaliating,
that's all.
For the good Of all concerned,
and the public must be consid-
credit supports the schools-it is
hoped that the Indiana High
School Athletic Association goes
on functioning as in the past.
BONE OF CONTENTION
It seems right now that the
chief bone of contention among
schools which organized the North
Central conference Is the plan Of
final basketball Journeys used for
the past several years.
There is much to be said on each
side of the question. Many Of the
coaches Of the best teams are
against the tourney idea. They be-
Iieye a teams record through the
year should count more than the
fireworks at the finish.
Some say that they have the
choice of two courses-either to
win the regularly scheduled
games and forget the final
meets, or to '"pOint" their clubs
to the finals, regardless of the
outcome of some of the contests
played through the year.
puC OII LL0 OL1lOI 1ldI1O, L1ISIS d1O
clubs who keep up their morale
through a disastrous seaso by the
hopes Of wiping defeats off the
slate by a fine showing in Sec
tional, regional and final meets.
GRAND FINALE
For many teams the grand
finale Of the season Is looked for
ward to all year. 1t Is their big
chance. This is true Of the
smaller teams, especially. With
out the survival Of the f1ttest"
struggles only the big schools will
receive recognition.
Many Of the best college play
ers have come from smaller in
stitutions. 1t would be a shame
to let sterling talent go I'M
recognized as is likely to be the
case without the big show at the
end Of the year. Basketball would
be likely to d~eteriorate.
There is a thrill attached to
the fight of a small school
against odds. The public at the
final meet always has been for
the "dark horses" A meet with
only the welLknown teams in
competition would lose some Of
4 its kick for the spectators. The
democracy of the whole affair
always has had a strong appeal.
We have not mentioned the ply
EMG cal strain VarS must nnderpO