Central High School - Centralian Yearbook (Minneapolis, MN)

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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

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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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until he is very proficient and falling on the ball, or trying to fall on the ball, as it should be stated, is one more of the many trying lessons to go thru. If this preliminary work does not come natural it is very hard, and not only developes the muscles but the patience as well. As a rule, if the squad contains quitters, they generally drop out at this stage of the game with the time worn excuse that their parents object to their playing football. Thus in the first lineup we see a first and second team from whom the representative team must be picked. This squad is composed of hard, earnest working, capable students who are ready and willing to sacrifice everything in the pleasure line for the team, because they are the chosen ones whose qualities must be of such high caliber and of a standard to be recognized by the school or college, and be sure that of this team they will be justly proud and feel much honored by being so represented. With the first few scrimmages over, and the first game on, the team meets players much different from the ones they have been practicing against, and the self control is further developed, or a lack of it is shown; mistakes occur which will tax the patience to the uttermost or perhaps a sprain or bruise will make you think of some substitute who is so anxious to fill your position. One would naturally think football is not what it is cracked up to be, but it is a glorious game, and with that never-say-quit spirit will never be destined to have its noble escutcheon blotted. When this spirit is shown a team is never beaten, altho it may be outpointed. Whatever the team developes into, is a fair standard to judge the men by. ROBERT MARSHALL. C. H. S.. Class 02. % Page twenty-five