Amherst College has begun spring football practice. Other colleges and universities have started spring football practice. It seems to be quite "the thing to do." At Williams we are apparently characteristically attracted to "the thing to do," so we shall probably witness shortly the beginning of spring drill in football.

The advocates of this extension of the colossus of college sports into a season not its own, base their case on the arguments that spring football is harmless to the college at large, beneficial to those engaged, and a necessary measure to keep up with rival colleges. They naively point out that the members of the spring football squad obtain splendid exercise in the fresh air, and that they learn some of the fundamentals of the game, which make invaluable equipment for next fall. Great advantages are claimed for the keeping of men's minds on the all-important goal--a successful season, a winning team. And, of course, if Amherst does a thing, Williams must do it. That appears to be an incontrovertible argument: the alpha and omega of all reason; nothing more can be said.

Now we have no quarrel with football or with its supporters. We believe football to be a valuable game in its place. We do object to the grossly exaggerated aspect of its importance, for which our American newspapers are largely responsible. We do not think it healthy to idolize the college athlete as he has been idolized in the past ten or fifteen years. The larger part of the value of football is gained by the men who participate in the game. Therefore, football in general will be more valuable when more men play it. This will not happen until intercollegiate athletics and the winning of games are minimized.

Even admitting the football point of view, spring football does not materially contribute to a better Varsity team. The college is so small and unusual athletic ability so concentrated that many of the best football men are occupied with other interests in the spring. We prefer to rest our case, however, on the broader argument. Football is overemphasized; intercollegiate athletics are hypertrified; spring football is merely a minor symptom of the larger disease. It is one of those things without which we could so easily do.

Perhaps spring football is in itself actually harmless, but we should like to see Williams take a leading step in standing for progressive intracollegianism rather than intercollegianism in athletics. The Williams Record.