Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-22
BY BILL KING.
BY BILL KING.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass, January
22.-Although dozens of
cVNonfoJ9chc hax,a 80 sIR~c


22.-Although dozens of
~ specialists have re-diag-
nosed foot balls ailments
and again traced them back to the
epidemic Of over-emphasis, 1t has
remained for a player, Barry
Wood, Harvard captain-elect, to
attempt to isolate the germ of this
pernicious gridiron disease.
He believes that the stands of the
massive college stadia are the incuba-
tors Of this germ anN that the spec
tators are more susceptible to it than
the players or coaches.
Most Of Harvard's over-emphasis,
Wood said, can be found In the sta
dunn and not down on the playing
field. Graduates and other supporters
Of the Harvard team are even more
disturbed about the outcome of q game
than the players themselves, most of
whom play for the fun of the game"
Wood, a level-headed and clear
thinking youth who as forward passer
ranks with the famed Benny Friedman,
has no illusions about foot ball. Though
1t Is just q game, source OF pleasure
TO him, he has made an extensive study
Of it. AS a quarterback he knows the
COdCAlS Viewpoints 90 WCll - tAldk VI
the player. He Is convinced that nei-
ther is seriously affected by so-called
over-emphasis.
BIames Spectators.
Wood blames the spectators for most
Of the games irksome features, for the
looker-on, he charges, is responsible for
the unwholesome fact that college foot
ball players compete under q greater
mental strain than do members Of other
sport teams.
"The pressure on O player" he ax-
planned, "is greater in foot ball than In
any other sport because q grtdiron mis-
take is generally much more costly than
an error In base ball or 9 slip In hockey.
Too often the player who muffs for
ward or fumbles Is harshly judged by
the crowd and forced to bear q heavy
share of the blame for defeat"
Woods idea Of the foot ball mnlen-
mum Is q game that provides pleasure
for the victors and vanquished alike
and satisfies every spectator.
Besides being one Of the most versa
tile athletes Harvard has had N g gen
Grafton, Wood Is also Q Phi Beta Kappa.
He Is o deep student Of all sports.
Another source Of overemphasis, ne
believes, Is the colleges that disregard
the fact that foot ball belongs TO the
players. Wood cited the so-called pro-
gressive institutions that are always
eager to expand every new foot ball
large and unwilling majority to follow
their example. On this minority Wood
placed the blame for the great stress
that has been laid on Spring and pre-
season practice. He considers this
training unpleasant and unnecessary.
DisIikes Spring Drills.
The new Crimson foot ball leader Is
heartily in favor of abolishing Spring
practice at Harvard and his only sug-
gestion for q general Improvement Is
that all colleges agree on q uniform
date to start foot ball practice. He ex-
planned that the only time he had ever
found drudgery in the game was when
he competed against players who had
practiced longer and were better condi-
toned than he and his teammates
Two recent happenings In the inter-
collegiate competition came quickly to
Woods mind. He was discussing sports
manship on the field and fun in sport,
when he gave as an example the Army
game of last Fall
He said he had never seen q man get
any more fun out Of game than did
big Cadet tackle presumably John
Price, Army captain-electl. Time after
time this tackle would be In the Har-
ward backheld to ."get his man." and
sometimes he would be pinned TO the
ground by interferers: Always he had
the same remark, q broad grin on his
face, Come on, boys; this Is duck
SOUP"
Praises McGin Team.
As a team in general, Wood said that
he had never competed against finer
group of sportsmen than the McGill
University hockey team, which Harvard
met in Buffalo during the Christmas
holidays.
1t was hard game. The checking
was close and until the last few min
uteS the score was tied, 2 to 2. Every
McGill player, according to Wood,
played the game as If he liked it, and
their attitude enabled the Harvard team
in return to play easily throughout.
This type Of competition, Wood said,
removes and mental pressure and really
makes intercollegiate sport a pleasure.
After the game, which Harvard won,
to 2, the McGill players went into the
dressing room and mixed with the Har-
ward squad.
It was, to Woods mind, the ideal cir
cumstances that should surround inter-
collegiate play.