This statement is from the the 1906 Debris pg. 215:
Note: At the time football was known for extreme brutality, with player deaths. Google the flying wedge formation.
The great game has been attacked, criticised, and slandered, those who indulge in it have been called ruffians, brutes and names which reflect only on the character of those who uttered them. Men high in university affairs have allowed their prejudice against high salaried coaches to taint their thoughts and conceptions of the game. They have acted in some cases with a criminal lack of forethought and sooner or later the reaction of student will and rights, and the unbiased opinion of the thinking public will frame them what they deserve. There are those who would kill the fame but they are men who have never played, never witnessed a contest with the love of Alma Mater at heart, their intellectually prejudiced emotions have never been touched by the never-say-die spirit of true loyalty. They know nothing of the game they seek to restrict, aye suppress, but the superficial smattering that comes to those who would criticize.
You critics and enemies stop and consider that a game which thousands upon thousands of educated, broad minded people turn their interest every year, a game so strong, so forceful, that it touches the emotion of strong, warm-blooded men, a game that means so much to the character and make-up of the college man, is surely one that must and will survive that tacks of those who would us Authority as an Unfair Weapon.
Let the men who go out into the world and establish the name and standing of Alma Mater have a voice in the fate of the game they know its true value, and appreciate the manly lessons it teaches. The game is here to stay;
Purdue men feel that it must and will—
Because it is the only game which pictures in colors of action, courage and loyalty, typical American college spirit.
Because it creates in the heat of the undergraduate, college spirit, that feeling of love and loyalty for Alma Mater which in after years blossoms and blooms forth as unselfish love of country.
Because it unites and binds together in bonds of unbreakable friendship the sons of Old Purdue.
Note: At the time football was known for extreme brutality, with player deaths. Google the flying wedge formation.
The great game has been attacked, criticised, and slandered, those who indulge in it have been called ruffians, brutes and names which reflect only on the character of those who uttered them. Men high in university affairs have allowed their prejudice against high salaried coaches to taint their thoughts and conceptions of the game. They have acted in some cases with a criminal lack of forethought and sooner or later the reaction of student will and rights, and the unbiased opinion of the thinking public will frame them what they deserve. There are those who would kill the fame but they are men who have never played, never witnessed a contest with the love of Alma Mater at heart, their intellectually prejudiced emotions have never been touched by the never-say-die spirit of true loyalty. They know nothing of the game they seek to restrict, aye suppress, but the superficial smattering that comes to those who would criticize.
You critics and enemies stop and consider that a game which thousands upon thousands of educated, broad minded people turn their interest every year, a game so strong, so forceful, that it touches the emotion of strong, warm-blooded men, a game that means so much to the character and make-up of the college man, is surely one that must and will survive that tacks of those who would us Authority as an Unfair Weapon.
Let the men who go out into the world and establish the name and standing of Alma Mater have a voice in the fate of the game they know its true value, and appreciate the manly lessons it teaches. The game is here to stay;
Purdue men feel that it must and will—
Because it is the only game which pictures in colors of action, courage and loyalty, typical American college spirit.
Because it creates in the heat of the undergraduate, college spirit, that feeling of love and loyalty for Alma Mater which in after years blossoms and blooms forth as unselfish love of country.
Because it unites and binds together in bonds of unbreakable friendship the sons of Old Purdue.
