Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-12-28
PORTS FORUM
. ~ By Bishop Clements

pose of the lntcrscholsstc league
footbalD that a closing date on pro-
tests be established in the season.
n has been said that the fans are
sick and tired Of having protests
filed al the last minute against val
liable players nftcr the team has
started q successful march toward
the championship.
"a closing date on protestsi n
that time ever m We surrender
70 the idea that the sole purpose ~
high school football il e. determine
4 state championship and thereby
provide a huge spectacle for the de-
location Of the populsce with .
string Of minor sPectacles leading up
70 the major one. A date early IN
the season 20 meet and clear up eli
gibility questions? Yes, but a clos-
ing date never.
"To read some Of the proposals.
one would get the idea that the pur-
pose of high school football in
Texas IS 20 protect some towns and
cities from disappointment and to
insure tho smooth running OF the
championship machinery. From the
standpoint of simple administration
u would be a fine thing 10 have a
closing date. But simple admins
tration' and smooth running ma
chinery' are not the ends 20 be at
tanned. II the school men Of Texas
had the same conception Of the pur-
pose or football az a few az tho
sports editors and some OF the
practical business men and fans, a
closing date would have been writ
ten into the rules long ago. As a
matter Of feet, the idea has been
proposed and turned down year
after year.
Football has no place IN tho high
school and should not ~ tolerated
by the educator unless u il made
TO contribute something worthwhile
IN the cause of education. The
Championship IL not conducted for
the sake of the championship, but
for the sake or educational ends
that may Ne secured through the Oh
So FANtN u ellElnllliE rules.
An iueligibility rule stands be-
tween educational ends and those
would exploit our high school
sports for commercial or other non
educational purpose. IL this hc
true. and the school men of Texas
know that IL II true. the very foun-
Of the entire championship
structure is the enforcement OF eli
gibility rules, therefore. everything
must give way to eligibility enforce
ment. " the door Is closed on pro
II is opened 70 inclirihlcy. What
wo need Il not A closing date on pro
tests but an open-ninded attitude
" ere face 10 face with one.
"lf educational ends are 70 be at
tanned, eligibility rules must be en-
forced. This point is Fundamental
and y universally accepted by cdu-
and others who know anv-
thing about the aims If inter-s-hool
athletic contests. Granting this
then, what is the main objective of
high school football? Is IL the state
championship? Is Il the simple run
ming If the championship machin-
cry y u 70 provide = big specta-
Gle for the 'fsns'7 n II 10 ksep The
busy business man from getting
sick ard tired'7 r II 70 protect
towns and cities from d~issproint-
III 50. then lets have a clos
ing date on protests. IT the main
purpose of high school football is
fer the benefit cf the school and for
the work Of the school. then Iet \
schoal Re ~renalized whenever = vio-
lstion n eligibility rules II disrav-
cred. whether IL u near the begin
ming or at the very end OF the sea
son"