Central High School - Centralian Yearbook (Minneapolis, MN)

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f h 0 and always be a help as a second team man until perhaps, not a few times either, he makes the first team as a good all-round conscientious player, one, who. from his constant and loyal work as a scrub, can be relied upon to play for the whole team’s good and not for his own individual glory. The actual bravery that such a battle means is far more to be valued than all the mightiest efforts and results of brilliancy, easily achieved. Playing the game the student takes upon himself the additional labors necessitated by the game without any credit to his school course and most times to his hardship because of the fact of the attention drawn to him individually in the school. Although additional time is required, he is usually found proficient in school work, for the ability shown in making his team proves him to be as able in school work as he is otherwise. Besides bringing himself open to more attention to teachers, his work as a player becomes a subject of public criticism, which, in many cases, is adverse to him should he be unfortunate in his efforts with his team mates. This he must learn to understand and withstand, working the harder as a result and continually at it, laying the foundation of a character able to face and master situations he will meet later on in life. What finer thing could we find than the spirit of a team fighting an up hill game? Many a time in contests you have noticed after struggling back and forth, one side scores. The faint heart proclaims ALL IS LOST . But seldom in a well trained team will you find the all lost spirit; the fighting qualities of each individual will come forth and even if physically exhausted, the men will take on new courage undaunted by the opponents having a temporary advantage, and will get together as eleven new men and start over again, backed up, if fortunate, by a student body in which the same spirit prevails. This spirit is made possibly only by the interest displayed for a great manly game which makes all feel players and enthusiasts, that they have a common cause the upholding of their school colors - a cause in which all classes intermingle on one basis. The great benefit one obtains from military training generally is said to be that the men are disciplined and are taught to receive commands and obey them implicitly. These same points are highly developed in a good football team. To have a first-class team? Candidates must be of a caliber to receive instructions and criticism with good grace. They must also be able to follow these instructions as every player must be in a certain position at a certain instant, and when he is there opportunities are presented of which he must take advantage. This requires keen observation and an ability to think quickly. P»gr twenty-two

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A Defense of Football FI ER playing the game of football for a period in excess of ten years, starting on unpaved streets, then on corner lots, under the color and name of a Grammar School, and finishing with years of High School and University playing, I feel justified in stating a few thoughts regarding football playing and a player’s attitude towards it. The struggle of midgets in some of my first experiences would be more than amusing to relate were it not that we can see these contests on almost every open piece of ground. But in those days chances for development were slower as the game was not as popular as it now is and was played by fewer enthusiasts. But it may be noted that the fences were then made of wood and the foundations did not extend a great depth so that all instructions offered were more accessable than nowadays, with stone walls surrounding the Gridirons. I feel pleased that our youthful efforts were of value to us and our further team connections, inasmuch as many of us remained together in the game for many years. In this tribe were Bobbie Marshall, Roy McCarthy, Roger Gray, Jack Bidlake and Billy Norten, all Central Alumni, and all now lying in the cabinet of the Has Beens . The enthusiasm and pleasure started in this way which will carry interest and continuation of desire for further connection with the sport for such an extended period, speaks for itself. Now, what are the elements of a good football team a High School team, a College team? Are they eleven men possessing mere physical ability, coached to play together? The selection of the eleven men of certain physical capabilities is in fact the basis, but the men must be more than physically able; they must be mentally and morally so. The germs of a staunch character must be there, though the character itself be undeveloped or undisplayed. The game as it draws out the individual, makes him display self sacrifice, diligence, (constant attention at practice), and an ability to stand tedious, oftimes gruelsome work, and that at times without much hope of accomplishing the end in view making the team. Then another quality comes prominently and imperatively to the front, and that is sticktuitiveness . Will the man hold on and play without those brilliant chances of making the team that others may display? Will he stick to it and learn a little more Page twenty one

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LIBRARY CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL Numerous are the other qualities brought out through football played with the true spirit by educational institutions where nothing but proper rivalry exists. But where are the players attractions and his gains? Of course, no doubt, the enthusiasm that the game institutes in the large proportion of the general public and especially the interested student body, gives a great impetus to his ambition toward entering the game, but the natural attraction is the fact of the general superior article of real sport coming there from. It is a fact that in a certain percentage of cases young fellows are persuaded to come out and play and are afterwards made to enjoy the game, although it is most general that he has some physical ambition for no lazy person is of any value to a squad of players. Among the results attendant on playing the game, might be mentioned the gain in freedom and strength of body and limb in an open air game, the ambition, the desire instilled in one to accomplish something; the working in unison with others to bring about certain ends, the immense possibilities of putting forth new ideas, the gain in good fellowship and the general good time to be had personally. And right here let me remark that in all the criticism made against football because of the desire to win, I consider it the best thing of the game and not to be belittled nor to be used as an argument against it. This spirit is right; don’t enter into the game unless you intend to win and are willing to put forth your best efforts on and off the field to do so. In any turn of every day doings, and especially in business, dead timber is not being sought but it is the winners that are wanted, or those who are going to win. Those who are satisfied to let the other fellow get ahead are not in demand; if you don’t go into play with the intention of winning all the time, 1 emphasize again, don’t play at all. Of course you will get your bumps and lose, but you know you started out to win; let the other fellow win if he can ? but by all fair means see that he can’t. The desire to outbest one’s opponents, to appear well in the eyes of one’s fellow students, these things attract and not without good reason, the youth whose desire for recreation is not bound by a fear for the result that may mean some harm to his feelings or his body. The fear of bodily injury is not thought of among the youths of today but the fear is that of the parents. If the child is given the feedom and out door association and companionship that should be his, the body will be ready for anything in the way of football knocks. In conclusion let me say that while I have praised the game of football very highly and have stated some of its beneficial Paifr twmty-threr