Evening star., 1941-12-15
Sports Prove Helpful
To Public Morale,
n. {. A. A. Feels
Draft May Force Some
Schools to Modify
Their Programs
BY LAWRENCE PERRY,

NEW YORK, Dec. 15.-Rather
than curtailing competitive ath-
letics in this year of national emer-
gency, the National Collegiate Ath-
letic Association will try to in
tensify and amplify them.
Such policy, says Prof. Philip o.
Badger of New York University
and president of the N. c. A. A,
was involved in instructions to
members of this body formulated
at the annual convention, Decem-
Der 10 last year. in line with gen.
eral preparations for national de-
fense
1--WE not only urged intenSiflca-
ton and expansion upon our mem
bers," said Prof. Badger, "but we
asked them so to widen athletic
and recreation activities as to pro-
vide facilities for public indulgence
in them.
"Also we were very definite about
urging the cooperation of colleges
with the armed services of the Gov
ernment in the conduct of service
sports. We suggested that college
coaches lend their aid to Army and
Navy teams in preparing them for
contest and this was done.
Harvard co-operated splendidly
with Camp Devens and Princeton
with Fort Dix. Besides, many col
leges arranged contests in various
sports with camp, fort and base
outfits. Not much could be done
about football, but, as to that, many
"B" teams and freshman elevens
played games against service teams y
Help to Public Morale.
Prof. Badger said that both the
Army and the Navy had the high
est appreciation of the effects of
competitive sport and general phys
ical exercise, not only in their ef-
fects upon participants, but upon
public morale in time of mental
stress.
But" he said, "it must be def
nitely understood that the problem
of conducting intercollegiate sports
differs at various major institu-
tions, and minor ones, too, for that
matter. Here, at New York Uni
versity, our 1941 football prospects
we're wrecked by the withdrawal OF
key players under the selective
service. A small minority have
been plastering the coach'with criti-
cism, man who did the best he
could with what the Government
left him.
We'll" Prof. Badger went on to
say, that is one of the problems
our colleges will have to meet in
carving on athletics, as of course
thev will do. This is to say they will
proceed as at present until arising
conditions necessitate changes.
obviously. in any conference,
certain colleges will suffer from
players inducted into service more
than rival colleges. There can. of
course, be no even balance in this
respect.
May Have to Retrench.
"Then. too, the draft is not at
all unlikely to have an adverse
effect upon student enrolment at
our educational institutions, and
coupled to this the interest OF boys
in well-paid defense Jobs, rather
than in pursuing higher education,
Is going to cause serious admin
istrative problem related only in
part to athletics"
Prof. Badger foresees an adverse
effect upon intercollegiate athletics
In losses colleges and universities
will incur from reduced income
from tuition charges.
"RetrenchmentS may be neces-
sary," he said, land such policy VIII
apply to athletics, as we'll as to other
institutional branches. 1t probably
will be no surprise to those who
follow college sports closely that
income from intercollegiate sport,
including football, is by no means
an asset in many colleges and uni
versities throughout the country.
with a comparatively few eX-
ceptions throughout the country
sports are maintained at loss or
at best with budgets just balanced
and no more. Losses from tuition
fees, reduced gate receipts because
of teams lacking drawing power,
may we'll cause radical changes in
athletic policy in the future among
many seats of learning throughout
the country"