Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-05
BY VICTOR O. JONES.


IN OSTON, December Snow
X that big Ben" Ticknor,
l. Harvard captain this sea-
son and all-America cen
ter, has been through the mill of
three years of foot ball, playing
the game up to the hilt, having
experienced most of the RESPONSE
bilities, emotions, joys and disap-
pointments which the game can
afford, what does he think of the
sport as at present played and
organized?
Remembering that George Owen
after finishing a brilliant foot ball
career ut Harvard, stated openly that he
never enjoyed college foot ball, that the
practice, at least, wasn't much fun, and
that he played the game partly because
he felt lnnpelled to by public opinion,
I asked Ben whether he had really en-
joyed himself and whether he was really
sorry that his playing days were over.
Ticknor WIN talk by the hour about
foot ball plays, its players and incidents
Of the game. But he is reserved and
reticent about himself and his thoughts
1T think" he said in answer to the
question, "that Owen only meant that
the daily practice sometimes was g
drudgery; I'm sure he enjoyed the
games. or he never could have played
the way he did.
Even Liked Practice.
Personally, never found much druid
gerry in foot ball, but of course. only
played varsity foot ball under Horween
and It is one of his cardinal principles
that foot ball must be fun. We only
practiced for two hours or less q day
and I really enjoyed it. What foot ball
might be like under other coaches.
don't know, because Horween and Eddie
Casey, and Charley Buell., the mer
under whom I played as q freshman
and in school, are all fellows who make
foot ball fun"
Ben warmed up bit to the subject.
"As a matter Of fact" he continued
"I think foot ball is a great game. Ont
of its troubles, as far as am concerned
Is that you can't play 1t when you gel
through school and college. OF course
during q hard season, the strain does
get q bit heavy at times, and right now
only q week or so after the end of the
season, must admit that I'm bit re.
lieved that it's all over. But within
another 10 days, know that I'll be
wishing could get back into the game
again."
improve the organization Of the game
to take some Of what you call the strain
out Of it?" asked Ticknor.
Mental Strain Not Great.
"T don't think It can be done. Some
people think that foot ball is too highly
organized. It Is, in q way, but I dont
see how anything can be done about 1t
II YOU had no coaches, some player
would have to sit on the bench and run
the team, and some one would have t.
be In charge of practice. You can't
play foot ball without good deal Of
expert direction. And as for the mental
strain, it's hardly any greater than II
the case Of base ball where, say, Har-
ward and Yale or Boston College and
Holy Cross are concerned.
"fIow about overemphasis2"
well, I can't see it. Some people
think that the tremendous publicity
which Is given to the individuals play
ing the game distorts their sense Of
values and spoils them by making the
young fellows swell-headed. But no.
body can 60 along very long with 9
swelled head without getting 1t knocked
out Of him. And as TO the foot bal
crowds and all that, II they enjoy
watching the games and reading about
them In the papers. guess 1t doesn't &C
any one any HARM
you said you couldn't play foot al
after coIlege," Ticking was reminded