Lehigh University - Epitome Yearbook (Bethlehem, PA)

Page 16 text:

A remarkable parallel to present day criticism of college professionalism arose shortly after 1910 wnen coacnes and alumni aliKe were aware of the downward trend of college athletics, lead- ing away from the wholesome amateur type. In IQ12 one Lehigh football coach made the fol- lowing comments which might well have been uttered in 1Q52: I favor keeping our teams clean .... We have a handicap which we can never overcome and don t want to overcome -and that is the fact that our standards of scholarship are high. We are proud of that fact .... But that we can have the best teams composed of high grade (schol- astically) men is proven by the past. Closely associated with the athletic problems of Lehigh were the difficulties that arose in iron- ing out her own physical education problems. Until 1883 the students were without a gym- nasium and did not hesitate to bemoan the fact in the editorials of Lehigh magazines during the time. One student, obviously an engineer, wrote in 1874: Our heads are lull, our brains fatigued With cycloid and trapezium - So now, to get our muscle up. Pray give us a gymnasium. In 1882 a fine, well-appointed building was begun and in March 1885 the Gymnasium, later renamed Coppee Hall, was finished at a cost of approximately $40,000. An indication of the rising status of physical education at Lehigh may be gained by looking at the titles assigned to the head of the programs-Gymnasium Director, Director of Physical Culture, and finally Pro- fessor of Physical Education. Charles 1 aylor donated funds to his alma mater to build a gym- nasium and field house. Just recently Taylor Gym has been greatly expanded by the addition of a fine swimming pool and general gymnasium facilities have been increased to the point where all physically capable students can be accom- modated for an average of over two scheduled periods per week. In addition an excellent intra- mural program has been established enabling living groups to compete for prizes awarded in each sport. EVGENE GIFFORD GRACE HALL

Page 15 text:

LehigK. the first intercollegiate game being played in 1885. Total scores [or the first years of LehigK football stacked up something like this: 1884, Lehigh 16— Opponents 181: 1885, Lehigh 28— Opponents 1-44: 1886. Lehigh 90— Opponents 42. The early days of football as described by Richard Harding Davis (again) are er dif- ferent from the smoothly run and scientifically played games of today. He writes in the April 1891 issue of the Quarterly: Jake Robeson Ithe inventor of the flying wedge], (who) is the father of football at Le- high induced the Sophomores of the Lni- versitii ' of Pennsylvania to send their eleven up .... on Dec. 8, 1883 .... Though it was rain- ing at the time and the grounds were covered with eight inches of mud. over three hundred spectators came out .... (to see) a victory for the visitors by a score of 16-10. There was no grass on the athletic field then, nothing but rocks, tin cans and a soft quicksand of mud. . . . . in ' 87. ' 88. ' 89 football became the game of all others at Lehigh and her eleven ranked with the first four teams in the country .... She has now accomplished the unprece- dented record of winning four games in four days. Despite the fabulous Lehigh elevens of the past, it took the 1950 version of a Lehigh team to turn in the first undefeated and untied record in 67 years of Brown and White football. And wrestling .... perhaps THE big sport at Lehigh, if such a label can be attached to one of our intercollegiate sports. Begun in 1910 and under the direction of Billy Sheridan for almost fifty years, wrestling has grown and grown until now Lehigh is known as the eastern capi- tal of the sport and until Billy Sheridan is often called the Knute Rockne of wrestling . Although the Lehigh Athletic Association, composed entirely of students, was formed in 1874 to further athletics, it was approximately ten years later that sports really began to spring up at Lehigh. In addition to baseball, lacrosse. football and wrestling, such intercollegiate and intramural athletics as rugby, tug-of-war, track, bicycling and even walking were in evidence. In 1885 the students, realizing the ineffectiveness of their Athletic Association, elected four men among the faculty and alumni to aid them in de- veloping sports in general. A financial crisis re- sulted in 1894 and the AA was faced with ex- tinction. Through the cooperation of everyone concerned enough money was raised to keep Lehigh s athletic head above water. This inci- dent, however, showed the need for a better or- ganization of the L niversitN ' s athletic program and the Board of Trustees look the matter in hand. An Athletic Committee was established consisting of alumni, undergraduates and faculty to oversee the administration and finances of in- tercollegiate athletics in particular. ECKLEY B. COXE MiM C LABORATORY 13

Page 17 text:

E 1TRANCE TO SAY RE PARK Xo attempt to portray tne early history of stu- dent activities would be complete without infor- mation regarding musical organizations. Under- graduates or 1952 feel this facet of Lenign s per- sonant - through such media as the Spring Mu- sic Festival, the Glee Glut), the Band, and many other University musical activities. When good fellows got together and a few glasses of beer undoubtedly were in evidence, it must have been quite natural for the old residents of Ghristmas and Packer Halls to break into song. In line with the desire to sing it was inevitable that musical organization.s should s[)ring up. One or tfie first of these was the choir whose personnel appears initially in the 1875 Epitome. The Glee Club began its rise in 1890 when Dr. J. F. Wolle took over its direction and in 1894 the men of the club were giving concerts in many eastern cities. Also travelling with them were the Banjo and Mandolin Clubs. In 1900 the Lehigh Uni- versity Musical Association was formed by the combination of these three groups. Lehigh, loo. had its share of quartettes and sextettes: most of the classes graduating during the 1800 s had their own small vocal organizations. One Epitome lists a unique orchestra, evidently formed by students majoring in chemistry, com- posed of such rare instruments and personnel as the Fish-horn Soloist, E ' ' Retort, Soloist on the Beer Mug, and Organ (ic) Manipulator, Among other musical events worthy of note during the early years of Lehigh are the compo- sition of the Alma Mater by John J. Gibson 95 who wrote the words to the tune of Annie Lyle, and the first Packer Chapel [icrformance of the Bach Festival in the school year 191 1-12. Our fasl-stc|)f ing Brown and While Band made its afif)earance in 190-1 iind r the name of the Lehigh Orchestra. Around 1908 the Band was formed as such but it was not until the middle twenties, when the Bethlehem Steel Com- pany donated instruments and other equipment 13