New Britain herald., 1930-12-29
COLLEGE SPORTS
 HAD B|G SEASON
Results of Athletics Very Graft.
 flying During 1880
By JOHN L. GRIFFITH Commissioner of Athletics for Western Conferencel


 Chicago, Dec. 2s R-The past year viewed from the angle of ath. letics in the schools md colleges las been highly gratifying one. The building programs in most of the educational institutions have gone on uninterruptedly in spite Of | business conditions.
 The tendency today is along the 1 lines of mass competition. In most of our universities students who arg sub-normal physically are cared for in the orthopedic departments. The recreative needs of the student body are conserved by the intramural de- partments and the superior athletes are served through the medium of the intercollegiate athletic depart ments. Only in the institution. where physical education and ath- letics arc compulsory are all of the students enrolled in courses of this sort. In the others, however, an at- tempt is being made constantly to arouse the interest of those who are not athletically inclined. It is easier | today to persuade the average stu dent that he should engage in ath- letic recreation activities of one sort or another than was formerly the case, because now the equipment provided him is more adequate than formerly.
 The attendance at the football games throughout the United States possibly fell of 10 per cent. The re- ceipts, however, for 1880 are in ex- cess of the receipts of 1928. The falling off in attendance has for the most part been in the general pub lie sections. The students and faculty have attended the games this year | in about the same proportion as formerly.
 The general pessimism which is result of dissatisfaction with the present financial and political con- ditions in the United States has to q certain extent pervaded the col | leges. The cynical writers for d num- Der of years have insisted that our college sports have been unduly commercialized, The politicians and others have been attracted by the general popularity of college foot ball and consequently have at tempted to muscle in" on the con- trol of the spectacle and the ath. letic institution.
 The Carnegie Foundation which has upheld the British conception of sport has generally found fault with our American athletic institu- tions because the latter are dissimi- lar to the former. Groups Of alumni who have wanted 10 dictate athletic policies have annoyed college presi dents and because of this and other factors there is a growing spirit Of dissatisfaction with the whole thing
 The American people, however will not condemn ;ny institution because of its absorbing interest. If college athletics disturbed the scholastic work of the colleges, and it has never been shown that they do, and if it is necessary to abolish or curtail intercollegiate athletics n order to conserve the health anj recreation interests of the general student body and in the writer's judgment it is not necessary 10 do this, then intercollegiate athletics should be abolished, curtailed or de- vitalized.
 In conclusion, the writer views the future with spirit of optimism. He believes that 1881 will see sports activities of all sorts fostered as be- fore by educational institutions and he rejoices in the fact that our sports ideals are being and will con- tinue to be shaped by amfteur or ganizations that for the most part are responsible for our play activi- ties.