THE KENTUCKY ALUMNUS I3
The Editor rejoices therefore for he knows he has made some sort of im-
pression on "breastworks" that heretofore seem to have been impregnable.
He desires to acknowledge his appreciation of the kindly consideration
of his efforts in trying to make The Alumnus interesting and effective
and a worthwhile publication. He further desires it to be thoroughly
understood that he wishes to hear from you with whatever you have to
oEer—whether it be a word of encouragement or a brick-bat. Like all
human beings and especially the ladyfolks, he would rather be abused
than ignored. Now this is not fishing for compliments, for they don’t
butter the bread, but it is a request for suggestions for the good of the
order. In the vernacular of the newspaper man, "we want all the news
that is nt to print."
EARLY HISTORY OF ATHLETICS AT STATE UNIVERSITY
BY Prior. A. M. MILLER, A. M..
Dean of the College of Arts and Science and Professor of Geology.
` (Editor’s N0te.——Prof. Miller has had to depend upon his memory, the tiles of
the local papers and a few other records for data for this history. The records
are often found incorrect and no doubt inaccuracies have crept in. In order to
make the history as correct and complete as possible, Prof. Miller and the Editor 5
of The Alumnus woud appreciate any corrections that can be made by those into
whose hands this may come).
Organized athletics had its beginning in the old A. & M. College
of Kentucky during the fall of 1892.
Previous to this year occasional games of base ball had been played ,
between teams of the various colleges in the State, but there was no In- }
tercollegiate Association and no rules governing eligibility, etc. ¤
No games of college foot-ball had been played in the State previous
to the Fall of ’9l. In that year Centre College employed a gymnasium
and athletic director—one W. Durant Berry—whose previous training f
had been in Y. M. C. A. gymnasium work. He was in fact one of *
_ “Stagg’s Christian Workers" squad. U
He taught Centre College students to play the modern game of _
modified Rugby foot—ball. Toward the latter part of the season, after ,—
he had licked a team into shape, a challenge was sent to the A. & M. t
College (or the State College as it was beginning to be called) for a ’ 
game. ‘
This was accepted by the students even before any of them had any i
idea how the game was played. ·  
S. M. Pottinger, ’92, and I. P. Shelby, ’92, were elected managers and ·
J. I. Bryan, captain.
The game was played at the Old Base Ball Park out near the race .
track, and resulted in a score (if I have been informed correctly) of 10 `
to 0 in favor of Centre. The S. C. team had no suits, other than what