The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-10-07
High School Football

There Is a hish-caliber quality about Bislnarc. youth.
Tic Foy Scouts court of honor. TUESDAY evening, reflected
that. The victories Of tho Bismarck high school football
team is a confederation.
In both instances tho value OF leadership was demon
stratcd. No department Of hoy welfare lacss that i'll Bis
marc.. The Scouts are led by a staff OF scll-sacrificing
sponsors from tnc district head down to the last Of tho
troop leaders. The high school football team is under
the capable direction OF Coach Mcleod. The result is
q lot Of eagle scouts in one case and a victorious foot
ball eleven in the other.
For the present. the football team is the big factor in
the activities OF Bismarcl,s youth. The season is on end
q relative championship is to be established By TIC record
the team will make. 50 fer this record is hopeful for Civ
ing the city the outstanding team Of the state. Last
year the eleven was one Of the leaders and. IN a way,
might have been considered a champion, only that de-
ClSion Is rot made in North Dakota.
The whole nation is interested in this autumnal game.
The results Of the big college arc followed with inordinatc
interest. Enthusiasm Is especially high In the Northwest.
1t would seem that in Bismarck this enthusiastic in
terest should be divided between the big teams and the
home high school eleven. Why give tic emphasis to the
college and university teams to the neglect Of the young
sters OF the high school2.
The college game, to be sure, is more spectacular. 1t
has the huge crowds, tic "color"-ulat ever would we do
without that wo.d?-thc fault!essly drilled teams, the un-
ending ballyloo. But the high school game has an APP
peal all its own. It reaches inside Of you and takes hold
Va yOul q dliu u IS d. H., AIlliON LA q way tAlAt III
legc football never does.
Just why it should be so different is hard to explain.
Perhaps 1t is because the high school youngsters, both i'll
the stands ard ono the field. represent youth at its very
best-unspoiled and unsopaisticated. They have not yet
reached tho point where they arc afraid that unfettered
enthusiasm may make them 4 bit ridiculous.
The game itself, Of course. is rot as entertaining, TECH
nically, as a college game. Tie players make more mis-
takes. The l5-ycar-oM euaytcrbacks do not always exer-
rise good judgment. The tackling Is apt to be a bit
ragged. The interference on end runs and off tackle
smashcs frequently goes astray.
But, after all, who cares? There is a do-or-dic spirit
that makes up for all errors. Players and spectators alike
arc on fire with energy. The atmosphere is electric.
There is one queer feature about watching a high
school game. though. Before the thing is over you arc
apt to find a mist coming into your eyes now and then,
. lump rising TO clog your throat.
For the high school kids have something that we older
ones have pretty we'll lost-somehing that they them
selves will lose in a few years. They have enthusiasm.
They arc able to make OF the crossing of a white washed
line an event as important rs the World war. They can
scream themselves into exhaustion simply because a lad
named spriggs or OHarc is able to run 10 to 40 yards
without being knocked down.
Now this youthful enthusiasm is going to be spoiled in
= few years. It can't last. But while it lasts its posi-
bilities are infinite. These youngsters, If they only knew
It. have the world in their hands. They could make it
over. They are so much better than We older ones: so
much more alive, SO much wiser.
Don't 60 to a high school football game with con-
descension In your heart. You aren't worth it. No adult
IS entitled to look down on any youth. Go. instead, ready
10 learn souething-ready to learn how fine and loyal
and ecstat.c our American youngsters are. They may
shame you. but they'll hearten you. too. II they could
only learn, as they grow older. not to listen to US, their
elders, they could transform the nation.