Hutchins' Doctrine For Football

Plans of the nation's major college football independents to form a jet-age conference of their own—fit to challenge the increasingly popular pros for the public's support and attention—also bravely challenge the advice of that longtime critic of college football, former President Robert Hutchins of the University of Chicago. Excerpts from the Hutchins doctrine and prophecy, as written for SPORTS ILLUSTRATED more than four years ago (SI, Oct. 18, '54):

"The real hope lies in the slow but steady progress of professional football.... Not enough people will pay enough money to support big-time intercollegiate football in the style to which it has become accustomed when for the same price they can see real professionals, their minds unconfused by thoughts of education, play the game with true professional polish.

"When professional football has reached this point, we shall be able to disentangle sport and higher education. Students can play (or not play) as they wish: their friends may attend and applaud if they like....

"Students will come to college to study. Alumni will believe that this is something a normal, red-blooded young American can properly do.... This happened at Chicago."