Howard Ui.ivcniLy,
The University journal
V
ol
. i.
WASHINGTON, D. C., DECEMBER 15, 1903.
No. 3.
Foot-Ball inNeoroCollcoes.
__ O
O
UV DWIGHT O. W. HOI.MIiS, ’OI.
The beginning of the twentieth century witnesses a
decided triumph for the athlete in the field of education.
It is now generally agreed that the Greek theory of edu
cation was correct in at least one point, namely, that a
harmonious development of body and mind is desir
able in order that the finished product may be of the
greatest set vice to the world. Indeed there are to-day
but few thinking people who can conceive of a progres
sive college without its athletic department.
Just as athletics in general have gained a permanent
place in the scheme of college education, so has foot-ball
gained popular recognition as the feature
par excellence
of college athletics
Despite the adverse criticisms of
the game which have frequently been heard in
recent years, it has won its way into the hearts of the
American people and has become permanently enthroned,
liy persistent efforts on the part of the promoters of the
game the objectionable features have gradually been
eliminated, so that there are left but few grounds for
complaint even from the most bitter antagonists of the
game. In short the arguments in its favor so overwhelm
those against it 'that the old cry of "Foot-ball should
be abolished” is now never heard except from the lips
of some extreme sentimentalist.
Since, then, foot-ball has been permanently installed
as a necessary adjunct to American college life, what is
more natural than it should be gaining favor among the
Negro colleges? for the race has always proven itself not
only willing but eager to fall into line with any advance
in this progressive civilization. It naturallv follows that
whatever has been proven beneficial to students in white
colleges is considered worthy of at least a fair trial by
Negro college men. Acting upon this principle the stu
dents in the various institutions ol learning for Negroes
have tried foot ball and have found it worthy of all atten
tion,encouragement and praise which have been bestowed
upon it. And now the game is as popular among the
Negro colleges as elsewhere and is pursued just as en
thusiastically in spite o>' the tinny disadvantages against
which its promoters must work.
And right here we must say a word in explanation
of the disadvantages just mentioned, hoping that it may
be seriously considered by those who chance to read this
— and may it be as seed sown in good ground.
Generally speaking, Negro students possess in a
marked degree all necessary requisites for the making of
good athletes. Brains, pluck, endurance, enthusiam, etc.,
can be found in abundance; but one great element so es
sential to the accomplishment of most things earthly, and
yet in this case so scarce, is finance. To the lack of this
all-important factor nearly all our athletic troubles can be
traced.
In the first place many students who would gladly
give their physical support to athletics are compelled to
use their spare time in supporting themselves in college.
This of course, curtails the resources of the team to
a very great extent. There is no immediate remedy for
this and it will disappear only when the financial condi
lion is improved. It is mentioned in this connection how
ever, because it affects the teams in Negro colleges more
seriously than those elsewhere and without this considera
tion no just comparison can be made.
Nor ' is this condition of distress confined to
the individual students. If it were, we should have
little ground for complaint.
But it is shared by our col-
legea thlctic associations and extends even to the institu
tions themselves. The results of this are deplorable in
deed and a brief mention of them may go far to account
for many of our shortcomings in our athletic endeavors.
At present but few of the Negro colleges can boast
of a properly equipped gymnasium, the lack of which is
a serious handicap to athletic progress. Without such
facilities, adequate physical training, so necessary to pro
ficiency and safety in out-of-door sports is well nigh im
possible, while lighter indoor work is entirely out of the
question. Then too a properly conducted training table
supported from alliletic funds is something which is prac
tically unknown among us; as a result the members of
the teams indulge in injudicious diet at will, thus losing
one of the most important and most desirable features of
the whole scheme. A salaried trainer to look out for the
physical welfare of the men is an untried luxury and
a paid coach an impossibility.
It must also be said in this connection that this
scarcity of funds is the main reason why no intercollegi
ate association exists among the Negro schools and still
further why the number of games between them is so
small. The travelling expenses for a foot ball team of
twenty men for distances over a hundred miles are usu
ally greater than the receipts from the games ; conse
quently there must be a loss on all games played with
teams coming from that distance. The location of our