Evening star., 1933-11-19


engage in the gridiron game for fear
of broken bones, sprained hgamentS,
and the possibility of death.
There have seemingly been adequate grounds
for their fears. Seven college players died from
injuries received during the 1881 season and
four last Fall. In 1881 seven high school boys
succurnbed to foot ball injuries, while in 1882
the number had increased7to to IA. According to
reliable estimates, there were more than 6,Soo
injuries among college gridircn men in the Fall
of 1882.
Charges have been made of deliberate at
tempts to cripple players. There have been al
legations of slugging. kicking player in
convenient part of his anatomy and using MIN
as floor mat to wipe the feet on
Coaches have been accused OF sanctlonlng
dirty play Charges of laxness in enforcing the
rules have been hurled at officials.
In order to understand the reason for this
cailstic criticism of the game from the danger
standpoint let us review recent history
TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND foot ball fans
- sat in the Yale Bowl on october "a. 1881,
electrified with excitement. 1t was the fourth
period of the colorful Yale-Army battle, and
in the first two plays of that quarter the Cadets
had busted up scoreless tie by staging brief
march across the goal line.
On the subsequent kickoff Bud Parker of
the Yale eleven completed the third longest
similar run an Eli ball carrier had ever made
88 yards-behind impregnable interference to
knot the score, 6-6 The unexpected swiftneSs
with which the Blue tied the count threw its
supporters into pandemonium Of delight
But Just a couple of minutes later the entire
throng was hushed by the knowledge of
tragedy. Army again booted the pigskin to the
Bulldogs, and the receiver started his daSn
down the field Cadet Richard B. Sheridan OF
Augusta Ga 149-pound right end, attempted
to interrupt his progress. Parker had made his
touchdown on Sheridan's side of the field, and
the light Army end was out to~nan his man
in a whole-hearted way this time.
Sports writers give different versions of the
accident that followed. Mai. Philip B. Fleming,
graduate manager of athletics at the United
States Military Academy and Head Coach
Marvin A. Stevens of Yale, who investigated,
found that Sheridan had eluded the Yale mans
interference, and in tackling him hard, MS
head struck the ball carriers knee or upper
leg just as it was raised in swift runners
stride The Army star fell, unconscious
Forty-eight hours later Sheridan died OF
broken neck despite the best medical attention.
King Foot Ball had stepped in among one OF
the country's major educational institutions to
exact toll
Walter K Wilson. acting superintendent OF
the United States Military Academy, told the
Army Corps and the press:
'~The accident of Cadet Sheridan was un-
avoidable, and not the slightest blame in con-
nection Herewith attaches to any member of
the opposing team"
The Sheridan fatality was purely an acci-
dent, the same as practically every serious in
jury sustained on the college gridiron today.
Yet the toll of lives and the number of hurts
suffered throughout the season have made
people wonder as to their cause, and have led
q few to charge poor sportsmanShip and dirty
playing.
When the fatality and injury roster had been
completed at the end of the 1881 season, it was
found that the number of deaths was variously
reported by newspapers at between AZ and so,
and seven of the men were on college teams.
Because Of the prominence Of the players and
the universities involved a of criticism
arose over the dangers of the game.
A A result of the unfavorable publicity that
the casualties give the game, and sincere
desire on the part Of all those teaching it to
decrease the number of fatalities and injuries,
the American Foot Ball Coaches Association at
the close Of the 1881 season appointed DR..
Marvin A. Stevens, Yales head coach as chair
OF committee to investigate foot ball in
rries and fatalities. This led 10 drastic
changes in the foot ball rules for the 1882