EDUCATION v. FOOTBALL

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2010, 20 February 1907, Page 3

EDUCATION v. FOOTBALL

Hr. H. P. Richmond, who lias recently been in America, has contributed to the Post some interesting matter regarding American university colleges. Contacts with men of various universities gave Mr. Richmond ail impression that the average American graduate was not so widely read as the New Zealander. The American’s knowledge ivas not so wide; he had less interest in other parts of the world. The Americans specialise in a subject or two, and the result is a citizen not so stable or broad-minded as a New Zealander or Briton. Tlieir education tends to make them good at a subject, and is arranged to produce an immediate definite dollar result. In-the Western universities Mr. Richmond was struck by the strong democratic spirit that prevailed. For instance the head of one of the Chapter Houses paid bis way through college by selling chewing gum wholesale. There were moneyed men in the House, but they did not question the supremacy of the gum merchant. Even in sport the American seems to regard “smartness” with a heavy accent on t'he “smart” as a virtue. The American methods of play appear odd to the Britisher, who has a rigid' code of honor in his games. The Americans carry on their pastimes rather like a war in which, according to the adage, ‘all is fair, For example, American football is full of things called jilays, special tricks, and one university endeavors to steal the “dodges” of another. As a result, for several days preceding a battle a university team shuns daylight for practice. It is feared that there may be spies even in the home camp, and therefore the men .wait for darkness and practice with a “ghost ball,” a luminous apparition. It is considered “smart” for a university to steal the “wrinkles ot a “Barracking” at American football matches is sometimes more than a fine art. An enthusiast is not suffered to yell out “Go it, Bill ; IvicK it in, Yale;” or any other of such solitary cries as rend the air on New Zealand fields. The “barracker is called a “rooter,” and the rooters are organised, trained lor their work. The rival factions take their places in “Bleaches,” grand-stands, on opposite sides of. the ground, and give concerted music. ~ Mr. Richmond had an opportunity of seeing a wonderful exhibition ol “rooting” at tho first Rugby match played by universities in America. Representatives of California and Stanford Universities met at bail Francisco, and each team had a army of 700 “rooters” each equipped with a megaphone. California’s ‘rooters” were ranged in long lines so disposed as to effectively display the university colors of gold and blue, and these hues also graced t’he megaphones. Tho Stanford “rooters wore cardinal caps, and had crimson megaphones. At a given signal some of the “rooters” at regular intervals removed their red headgear in favor of white cooks’ caps, and whirled white Cloths over their shoulders t'o produce a succession of great S’s. These terrible armies had leaders who gave the time for the “roots,” and there was some memorable uproar. Stanford also had a brass band to assist the human noisemakers. Before the match commenced the rival factions had mortars with which they shot up objects that unfurled into figures of women and other designs flourishing the party’s colors. After the battle, which Stanford won by two penalty goals to a try, the “rooters” were not content with seeing the enemy vanquished; they took the field and did a serpentine dance over the field in. accordance with tho right g of “rooters,” and the whole 700 filed before tho Californian goal. As each man passed the posts he hurled his crimson cap over the bar as an indication of the process bv which California had been defeated, The Californian “rooters” watched the procession and yelled “Get an axe, get an axe.” This “rooting,” which must strike a New Zealander as a hysterical obnoxious adjunct to football, is regarded as a very important feature of American matches, Mr. Richmond mentioned that there is as much excitement over the invention of a new ‘ ‘stunt” (war cry) for “rooting” as over the introduction of a clever “play.” It is a matter which the newspapers consider momentous enough' to 'chronicle.