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Show Review of AthleticsTHLETICS at the University date back to a few years after the founding of the institution. During this time they have passed through two ages. The first bears resemblance to the age in the history of the world that comes to us through strange signs and symbols found on the weather beaten rocks, and the latter, embracing the past four years* relatively speaking, might be called the age of civilization. The story of our predecessors and the pages of the dark days might better dwell in the temple of the forgotten. True enough, Utah had athletic teams then, but they merely served the name and not the purpose. The schedule included the leading educational institutions of the city, occasionally Weber County was invaded, and it is recorded in the traditions of the past that one or two aggregations became over-bold and went as far away from home as Logan. The season comprised a few games with secondary schools and a victory over Logan. Then the suits were tucked away, the ambitions of the athletes satisfied, and the year's work was considered done. The presence of some natural born athletes who could not help being stars was responsible for Utah's few successes, and the coach and college spirit, the two great factors of today's victories, were not matters of even passing consideration.In 1902 the school showed an inclination to pull out of the mire. Games were arranged with Colorado teams, the position of coach was established by the school authorities, and the general condition was threatened with recovery. This intermediate period, in which the idea was better but the scores worse, extended through the season of 1903, when a record of two victories, both over secondary teams, and five defeats, memorable because one of them was the single victory of the Agricultural College over Utah, fittingly closed the age of slumber, and made way for the great revival in University athletics which took place in the spring of 1904.Since that time Utah has experienced four successful seasons on the gridiron and track that would reflect a credit on any institution. The scores, indeed, mark the progress, but their importance sinks into insignificance when compared to the influence of this awakening had on college spirit and the reputation of the school. In athletic sports of all kinds we have met annually the best schools in the west, and by bettering our previous record each succeeding year, we find ourselves, after only four years of present-day athletics, undisputed in Utah and indeed champions of the Rocky Mountain region.Football is foremost at our school as in almost every other college where athletics mean more than a credit required for graduation, and in this particular sport our fame is greatest. Our achievements bear sufficient testimony, and no fair-minded critic will dispute our claim to a tie for the title of "Rocky Mountain champions."Our track record is on a par with football. In spring sports we have annually outclassed the talent of this state, and recently we demonstrated our su-(175) |