A History of Kalamazoo College Athletics Dick Kishpaugh June 1987
A History of Kalamazoo College Athletics Dick Kishpaugh June 1987 J'~ / ~ .. _. --.•• •••':0" ••' _.'_.6.':".;' .,:.~ .lo'.' ,,,,, • .t.: .... .. Doc - HORNET - Page 1 .,,' FOUNDATIONS - PRIOR TO INTERCOLLEGIATE COMPETITION \ At the end of the first century of existence of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association, Kalamazoo College is among the leaders in MIAA championship's won. The Hornets, however, were not among the charter members of the MIAA, and, in fact, did not sponsor teams of any kind on a formal basis until 1892 - four years after the league was founded. As far back as the l860s, there were athletic events on the Kalamazoo campus; a gymnasium club existed and exhibitions were given in various athletic skills. By 1879, an Athletic Association was iri operation, and intramural games arranged in various sports. Track and baseball were among the sports represented, but as an indication of future interest, it was reported that the bruising exhibition football contests were the most popular with the spectators. In the spring of 1884, Kalamazoo was invited to compete in a field day with Olivet and Albion at Olivet, but invitation was declined on the basis that athletics at Kalamazoo were too disorganized. A prophetic statement was made in the Kalamazoo College Index at the time, to the effect that critics feared that athletics would become a business and scholastics a secondary matter.. The writer indicated that there was little danger of that happening at Kalamazoo, in view of the lack of athletic interest. Today, of course, that fear concerning athletic overemphasis has proven to be well-founded among major college and universities - but in view of philosophy of MIAA members, there still is little danger of that taking place at Kalamazoo! "._.
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