Chicago U. Physicist Says Big-Time College Football Is on Way Out
That was the headline in a short article in the Morning Call, Dec. 28, 1939, p. 16.
The prediction was made by physicist Arthur H. Compton, a one-time football player at Wooster (Ohio) U.
He stated “I think college football has been over-professionalized for the last 10 years. Moreover, when people in Chicago want to see good football now, they go to a professional game.”
He said he appreciated the value of training, of sportsmanship, and loyalty the sport taught, but “At the same time, the way football works in large universities, little of that touches the average student. The number of men on the football squad is a small fraction of the whole student body.”
Compton was right about the values, but oh so wrong in his prediction, made before television and national rankings. Plus, the NFL teams now use college teams as farm clubs. And ask yourself this. What departments at the University of Alabama or Clemson University are known for their academic excellence?
He is definitely wrong in his prediction. The Bears do have large viewership but college games aren't too far behind.
ReplyDeleteThe University of Illinois in Champaign only has mediocre attendance for their games but they are in the middle of nowhere. For the most part only students go to the games. In fairness to U of I, it is a great school for getting great education. Our son graduated from there and he is doing great in his career.
I think many of the best universities have mediocre teams, and some of the worst universities are football powerhouses. Then there are a few that are great universities that usually field great teams. Stanford comes to mind.
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