The Washington times., 1928-12-06

Thanksgiving Day saw the close
of one of the most unsuccessful
seasons ever experienced In the
history of George washington Uni
versity football. TO review the en-.
tire situation would be a waste OF
time and energy. because Of the
many factors which contributed to-
wards failure. 1t may be said. how
ever, to the credit of the men who
formed the small squad, and par
ticularly to the credit Of Coach
Crum, that those who had any,
thing to do with this years team
entered into their work with full
spirit and gave every ounce or
energy towards their task.
Rather than waste time In look
ing back. attention should at once
be focused upon next year, and,
as a matter of fact, upon many
years in the future. One thing is
very apparent: George Washington
University is now at the point i
where football must either be drop
ped as a varsity sport or built up
To a par with the standard Of the
university and its activities.
"One very constructive sug-
gestion has already been made
and is now being acted upon.
This suggestion calls for a pro-
gram Of compulsory physical 81
education for under-classmen
with a view towards developing
football men able to enter into
intercollegiate competition.
"a system Of this kind might wen .
be used, and, without doubt. would
be found to be very successful i'm
the establishment and administra-
ton of inter-mural sports. but
whether any team of varsity
strength could be developed in this
manner is highly prublematiaal. Il
must be kept in mind that over
one-half of the students attend aft
ernoon classes, and because of this
fact would net fall under the above
regulation.
"A good solution to the whole pnOb-
lem might be found in the organiza-
tion of an alumni athletic, assOcia- ]
tion. An association of alumni could
take the whole burden of varsity
football off the hands of the unfver-
sity administration and leave 1T free
to direct its energy and money to-
wards things more closely related to
scholastic activity. Upon a survey
of the leading colleges and UNIVERSE
ties of the country 1t will be found
that their varsity teams have the
backing of large alumni organiza-
ton; the alumni in a large measure
control the personnel Of the squad
and promote the games.
''TO this someone might object
on the ground that such an ar
rangement would seem too pro-
fessiOnal. What of IL? III the
H1nSvnrUftVy Ia f<. Na0Vs1n inter.
collegiate competition it must
produce varsity teams with
enough strength to play the hest,
and If results can not be obtained
directly through the administra-
tiOn and the student body il
would certainly be wise to EN-
plOy some agency through which
results can be obtained.
IF the adoption of 'holier than
thou attitude is favored, why not
dispense with varsity sport and pro-
mote inter-mural sports in place, for,
certainly, student body can not be :
blamed il it does not get enthusiastic
over a team which is being slaugh-
tered week after week in martyrdom
to Simon-pure athletics.
"Candidly speaking, it would seem
as though a choice should be made
between an attempt at interesting
alumni in the organization of an ath-
letic association to run varsity sports
as they should be run or, on the other
hand, If the entire purpose lies only
in furnishing physical activity to
members of the student body, abol-
ish varsity sport and substitute in.
ter-mural competition"