Central High School - Centralian Yearbook (Minneapolis, MN)

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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

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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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results, 1 do not wish to be understood as saying that all those participating in the game turn ©ut to be good moral nor even physical examples of what a young man should be. Football as with educational training with which it is usually allied, does not give you definite positive results for good in each case. Each individual is affected differently; but no matter how low morally or unable physically one who has played football may be, I cannot believe that football in itself can in any way be blamed for his condition for if he follows the examples set by the training of the game, I maintain that good results will follow. SIG. HARRIS. C. H. S., class 01. What Football D evelopes HE great game of football at its best is in every way the leading game of the schools and colleges. As an honest sport, with a capable coach to develope it, backed by the proper spirit, the game is a great one. From the beginning of school in the fall term after classes are arranged, etc., the eligible ones for the team are eagerly discussed by all and then approached by some of the more enthusiastic and each one is told how a winning team depends on his getting out and setting the proper example. The coach also tells you what a great athlete you are, what a benefit the training will be to yourself and how proud you will be to look back on the time when you won your letter on a team that has made a name for itself and the school. A great many students are thus drawn together with the team as the subject of their fraternal interest who probably would never have become acquainted otherwise. When the candidate finally arrives on the field he again meets the coach and in about one practice finds out that he is losing confidence in himself, especially regarding what the coach told him he could do. In fact, it is best to lose it and let the coach and others have the confidence in you and it will seldom be misplaced. If the candidate is slow in running, a quick start must be developed; if poor in tackling, a dummy made of sand is tackled Page twenty-four