Kansas University Weekly.
265
A Chapter on Foot-Ball.
During the foot-ball season just ended, and notably since its close, several newspaper articles have appeared reflecting unfavorably upon our Physical Director, and through him upon his friends and indirectly upon the student body of the University, from whom at first sight the articles in question might seem to proceed. The writer is especially interested and concerned because it was a personal letter from him to Rev. H. W. Cowan that led the latter to accept the invitation to become a member of our Faculty, on the plea that he could here exert a more extended influence than in any ordinary pulpit, and that he might still continue his ministerial work while supervising our athletic interests and eliminating therefrom as it was hoped a certain objectionable element. It was of course to be expected that some might object to the introduction of a moral standard in athletics, because of possible injury to athletics; others because of the danger of damage to the moral standard itself, or to the man supporting it. Criticism of methods and a certain amount of newspaper notoriety were also to be expected. But the hearty support and co-operation of all fully understanding the nature of Mr. Cowan's proposed work and his motive for undertaking it was also expected and fully assured; while to prove that his motive was not a financial one, he refused a better offer than ours, and agreed to serve for a year for less than it was proposed to pay a coach for three months.
In this assurance of the support of the University and its real friends, Professor Cowan has endured without a word much more than was to be expected; among other things attacks upon his personal Christian character, as well as upon the efficiency of his work as instructor. It is only when these lead to question of the attitude of the University itself toward him that they assume any importance to him, or to those concerned for him.
This is the question that I have endeavored to find an answer for. It has two aspects. First, from what source have the most recent attacks upon Professor Cowan proceeded?
Second, upon what basis do they rest? As to the first, it is at once evident that, unless indirectly, the source is not in the University; and the best proof is perhaps the editorials and resolutions that appear in this number of the Weekly. But indirectly, criticisms of his work may have been uttered in unfriendly ears, and exaggerated into what we have seen—charges of laziness, inefficiency, and general ignorance of foot-ball as it should be played. In search of such criticisms, I have gathered up the following, in every case spoken with kindly intent: Professor Cowan was slow in getting men at work in the beginning of the season; was not severe enough in requiring attendance and discipline on the part of his men; he has not secured as much help from others as he might have done, either before the season or during its continuance; and he has not handled certain men in certain positions in the best way. To emphasize certain of these points, I myself saw a newspaper posted in the hall of the Main Building containing an article on foot-ball with certain passages underlined intimating that not only a mighty hustling but also a certain amount of profanity should characterize first-class coaching.
But in the main, such criticism if true and spoken in a friendly spirit is legitimate, and Professor Cowan would be the last man to object to it. It however implies a lack of confidence in his methods that is in place after his methods have been fully tried, certainly not till then. On another side it wears a ludicrous aspect. He is certainly not the ideal coach according to the model just described. It is also amusing that a man whose word is law still on Princeton's field as it has been for eleven years, should, before he has had opportunity to perfect his system, be adjudged even partly inadequate to the requirements of the University of Kansas.
So far as Professor Cowan himself is concerned, it is sufficient to say that what he does will be done quietly, without attempt at display and without profanity. He may be lazy, but before deciding positively as to this, it is well to measure the results of his work. Not how but what is the test of fitness, and quietness is