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Show Keieused by Wetern Newspaper Union. THE Big Minds of college football have plenty to worry about as the 1942 season reaches the half-way point. Transportation problems have plagued more than one college. Schedule changes have caused quite a few disappointments and decreased attendance figures are responsible for considerable grief. The latter problem looms exceedingly exceed-ingly large at the moment. Not that the others aren't Important, but gate receipts or lack of them cause no more concern to the average college than would an onslaught of the black plague. A comparatively "early analysis of college football attendance revealed some discouraging information. In the first 127 games played by 44 major colleges this year, attendance was about 25 per cent lower than In 1941. The decrease was general. In the Big Nine, only Purdue showed an increase in its first three games. Attendance At-tendance throughout the conference was off almost 50 per cent. The Big Drop In their first 127 games, the 44 colleges col-leges played before a total of 2,296,-797 2,296,-797 spectators. A year ago the same number of home games for the same teams brought a turnout of 3,028,955. While these early-season figures are subject to decided change, it must be taken for granted that they indicate a trend. Football has proved more exciting than ever this year. Upsets are more numerous. Nevertheless, attendance slumps are the rule rather than the exception. excep-tion. The sharpest drop was reported report-ed by Cornell, where attendance was slashed from 49,070 for last year's first three games to 19,587 this year. Cornell places much of the blame on inaccessibility, the rest on poor performance. Ohio State dropped from 246,831 to 173,161. Buckeye officials figure that it will take all 10 games on this year's schedule to equal the right-game 1941 total of 486,468. They're not too sure the extra two games will make up the difference. Last year scores of school busses from all sections of the state brought students to take advantage of reduced re-duced admissions. Today such use of busses is forbidden. Major Problem While the importance of paying customers cannot be overemphasized, overempha-sized, colleges are faced with a still bigger problem the future of football. foot-ball. It's none too rosy. In fact, you may be looking at your last college col-lege games for some time. James B. Conant, president of Harvard, recently told the incoming freshman class they had but a "relatively few months of college life" ahead of them. "I say 'few months,' " Dr. Conant said, "for I believe the draft age soon will be lowered and I feel sure none of you wish to be left behind in college as your contemporaries march off to war." Subsequent draft legislation regarding 18 and 19-year-olds proved the truth of the educator's remarks. His statements left little doubt about the future of football at Harvard Har-vard if the war continues. And the factors influencing Harvard will have as profound a bearing upon all other colleges of the nation. Effect of War It is obvious, of course, that war already is having its effect on football. foot-ball. Freshmen and sophomores are seeing more action all the time. Most of the conferences allowing freshmen to play are doing so for the first time. The many startling upsets of the present season are due in part to the more widespread use of youngsters. They are not as consistent as the juniors and seniors, and are more likely to turn in an excellent performance one game, a ragged showing the next. In almost every college, football practically supports the entire athletic ath-letic program. The present lack of cash customers is likely to result in a curtailment of minor sports especially those which are consistent drains on the athletic department treasury. Some schools have attempted at-tempted to overcome the transportation transpor-tation problem by shifting their games to centers where the transportation trans-portation problem is less of a hazard. haz-ard. But a large proportion of schools find this solution geographical!'' geograph-ical!'' impractical. When a Washington sports writer asked Stephen Early, secretary to the President, what the chances were for the continuance of sports, he said: "I frankly don't know whether sports will be able to continue or not but I certainly hope they do." He voiced the hope of millions. SPORT SHORTS C. Al Ettore, retired heavyweight, and Young Terry, middleweight, are new members of the marine corps. C. A Memphis golfer made an even-par even-par score for nine holes without parring a single hole. He made three birdies, one eagle and five bogies. !. The usual tenure for head coaches of the Detroit Lions is one year. C. The football used in the Michigan-Northwestern Michigan-Northwestern game went to a spectator spec-tator who bid $15,000 in war bonds for it. |