Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1908 [PAGE 102]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

74

UNIVEESITY OF ILLINOIS.

[Jan.

2B

Mr. J. M. Lindgren, coach of the football team. Mr. C. W. Vandagrift, captain of the baseball team. In relation the first inquiry, it was found that there is among the students an organization known as the Athletic Association of the University. Any teacher, student, graduate, or former member of a recognized athletic team of the University may become an active member; anyone may become an associate member. The fees are dues of $2 a year. The object of this association is to promote and direct athletics and conduct contest games with other institutions of learning. The officers are the usual officers which organizations have, and a board of control is charged with the active conduct of all details of the work of the association. Its membership is composed of three members of the faculty who are appointed by the president of the University, three alumni of the University who are not members of the corps of instruction, one of whom shall be a resident of Chicago, and one of either of the cities at the seat of the University and all shall be chosen by the association, the graduate manager of the athletic teams and four undergraduates, namely, the president of the association, the managers of the football team, baseball team and track team. In addition to these persons the following named persons are associate members of the board of control, but have no right to vote—the captains of the recognized athletic teams and the inter-scholastic manager. The board of control elects the graduate manager and treasurer. Coaches and team managers are chosen by the board. Captains are chosen by the teams under certain restrictions. Games are arranged with other institutions by the director of athletics. He decides upon the institutions, the dates of games and upon the division of the gate receipts. Instruction in the game devolves upon the coach of the team, the study qualifications and general conduct of the men upon the team manager, and the direction of the men during the game upon the captain. The sources of revenue are from dues, admissions to games, to special features and sometimes by subscriptions of individuals. All moneys go directly to the treasurer. Moneys are paid out only on appropriations by the board of control and all bills are itemized, approved by the director of athletics, and then paid by check drawn by one of the faculty members of the board to be designated by the board. Items of expense are salaries of coaches, trip expenses of teams, sweaters, blankets, etc., for team use and help at games. Money at times has been spent on improving the athletic field and building bleachers. No salaries are paid to others than coaches. No financial report is made further than a general one through the medium of the papers. Your committee did not learn of any loss of funds or of funds misused in any way and the financial management seems to be conducted in an honest and efficient manner. In relation to the second point of inquiry it was learned that roughness was charged principally to football of the regulation or Rugby style. What is known as "association football" was not objected to on the score of danger. The chief danger in football is in tackling, that is, where one man is running with the ball and another attempts to throw him down Mass plays look to a spectator very brutal, but they are not so unless it is intentional on the part of the players. Intentional injury to a player is called slugging and by the rules is barred from the field. Such outlawed work is more easily hidden in mass plays. The new rules of this year makes possession of the ball by one side less valuable to that side than the old rules did and will cause fewer mass plays and more open plays and kicking. To reduce the hazard in playing is to reduce the interest in the game, both to players and spectators. There were few or no suggestions by the persons examined that would make the game less dangerous and more attractive. It was thought by some that fewer contest games would relieve the players of the continued hard strain and exercise. The efforts of the players in a football game unfit them for study for the remainder of the day and evening. It was thought that the new rules and the reduction in the number of contest games would relieve to some extent the drain on the \itality of the team players.