The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-12-24
Talking
IT OVER
; BY JOE WILLIAMS

NEW YORK, Dec. 24.-The sug-
~ gestion by DR.. Nicholas Muir
ray Butler Of Columbia that the
alumni take over and support foot
ball has failed so far to produce any
original or aggressive academic re-
actions. The comment of other edu-
Gators Is of the stenciled variety.
Most of them agree that It is a
thought worthy of sympathetic
consideration" A few insist it is
impractical.
From the point Of view Of finances, It
would seem that what the educators think
If the plan Is unimportant.. What about
The alumni II is from them that the
money urst come.
As yet none Of these enthusiastic, old
Grads has rushed TO the front with
70 be let in Immediately on the ground
floor, II may be. of course. that they
haven't had time to get around to it.
The impression has prevailed for long
time that the old grads dominated college
football anyway. Possibly it was this i'm
preston which moved DR.. Butler to suggest
there has been cIamor to give the game
back to the boys. Now the idea seems to
he 10 force II into the hands or at least
The wallets Of the old boys.
such procedure might lead to in
tcresting Developments. Naturally If the
old boys took over the game and absorbed
matured sense Of values would insist on
an active participation in the conduct of
me team once hsrg wss sGade EN- sd
eges could consistently deny them this
privilege.
MYTH endowed football there
w would be no gate admis-
sions. Let us suppose that Harvard
accepted the Butler plan, and that
J. p Morgan, distinguished alum
nus, possessing plenty of those po-
tatoes, elected to finance the var
sity for the season Of 1881.
II being Mr.. morran's team, presumably
he would be permitted to do with II as
he pleased. Perhaps Mr.. Morgan has al
ways wanted to have a Harvard-Yale game
PLAYED In private for his own personal en-
tertsinment. This would be a novel ex-
'nerience even for a multi millionaire.
You are told Mr.. Morgan prefers Sc
r1inRling with the throngs at the big
games Sitting alone IN The vast II, Harvard rlt
would be able to throw of all restraint
without fear of being conspicuous.
or Il might be that he would want to
bring along his board of directors and
devote the time between halves TO dis
ousslon Of investments and securities.
n
And ~ Harvard won. as per custom, it
4 he had a few carefully chosen asso-
ciates to march out on the field with him
after the game and execute a snake dance
There Is also the possibility Of a Har-
ward defeat. and in that event. Mr.. Nor
he. might need the assistance of his asso-
ciates in guarding the goal posts.
I EFT us suppose further that
l. Brown accepted the Butler
plan and that Mr.. John D.
Rockefeller Jr., a celebrated son of
that institution, moved in to take
command OF the football team.
Not since the days of the famous
team of iron men has Brown occu-
pied a high position in eastern
football With Mr. Rockefeller IN
charge and operating in the grand
manner, there would be every ex-
pectation of brighter and better
prospects. On such a team fell
low like Rockne would be lucky
to get a job as rubber
u
IS philanthropist and humanitarian
Mr. Rockefeller might bs tempted to
charge admissions to his games and turn
the money over charitable institutions.
This. Of course. would be against all pre-
cedent and at sharp variance with the
lofty academic viewpoint. but long
Mr. Rockefeller continued to underwrIte
the team very little could be done about
il by tho faculty heads.