The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-10-15
WINNING SPIRIT
CARRIES WEIGHT
The YEAR ROUND
by JOCK" SUTHERLAND
University Of Pittsburgh Football
COach)

University Of Pittsburgh Football
COach)
Football games are not won the
day the game is played. They are
won during the spring training per-
iod, during the summer months and
on the practice field during the fall.
The spirit which carries team to
victory develops during the entire
year.
| should hate to think that the
men who make up my squad this
season forgot about football when
they hung up their suits at the close
Of last season and that they think
football only during the actual play
ing season.
A college football game today con-
Germs not only two teams, but two
schools, two student bodies, two
groups of alumni and two commune
ties. In intcrsectional games two
sections of the country are vitality
interested in the outcome of the con-
test.
Spirit As Important
Winning spirit" is a term hard
to analyze. We know many schools
have it. 1t is a compelling influence,
as essential to team as formations
and plays.
The University of Pittsburgh has
winning spirit. The football teal,
won eight games and ticd one dur
ing the regular 1927 season and
strengthened that desire to win.
The basketball team opancd the
season with trip through the West.
ern Conference, winning four games
in five nights, and the winning pirit
had SO gripped the school that the
swimming, track and tennis teams
were inspired to keep up the good
work.
! think almost without exception
college football teams have q whole
some desire to win. We're this not
true, the game would no. have de-
veloped as it has and, undoubtedly,
would have deteriorated into some
thing less desirable.
When the proper spirit is present,
the player develops more between
seasons than he does during the
regular season.
AS the player natures, his school
means more to him, and the athletic
prestige Of his school has taken on
significance. The friends he has
made are interested in his success
and in the success Of the school.
Responsibility Is Developed
A sense Of responsibility develops.
The school and his friends arc de-
pending N him. and the athlete re-
spends. He is willing to sacrifice to
win.
The students who cannot play
football admire the athlete for his
unselfishness on the playing field
and for his courage and tenacity. To
the students the players represent
the school.
The coach's influence over the
player, the players contacts with
the students and his ideals Of sports
manship are imrortant factors in
creating winning spirit. Mass meet
ings or pep meetings, when properly
conducted, are invaluable. They in
still determination in a team.
/ shall never forget one Of our pep
meetings which turned out to be
a complete "flop" because an error
was made in announcing the time of
the meeting. It was held several
hours earlier than the students ex-
pected. The team filed out on the
stage before handful of spectators.
The reaction of the team was al
most disastrous. The players spirit
was low. They did not understand
that a mistake had been made in
announcing the hour of the meeting.
They had anticipated rousing half
hour Of cheers and inspiring talks;
instead they faced an empty auditor
ium that echoed their footsteps as
they trailed off the stage.
We had hard time winning the
game from a team which we should
have defeated by four or five touch
downs.
There is romantic and venture
some spirit in almost every boy
which, when properly guided. gives
him a chance to excel. Winning
spirit is morale, determination, cour-
age. 1t is the will to win.