Most of the first publication on athletics argued for a better athletic program at Friends. They provided some pretty convincing arguments for strongly encouraging exercise within the student body.
“It is a pity that any bright, intelligent student must need to succumb to so called overstudy. A foolish pity! but what a blessing to find one full of life and vigor, who, during study hours, directs all his mental powers to the task, but who can forget it all long enough to have two or three hours of good, solid recreation each day.”
“If we would live for the future while we are in college, instead of for the present, general athletics would not have to be made compulsory as it is in some of our schools.”
“Students entering the colleges from the country schools, High Schools or Academies generally come with a good constitution. They may not see the necessity of physical training, but they should keep the strength they possess and develop symmetrically while pursuing the college life course.”
“College sports may be varied to suit the needs of every student, from those sound and robust, who must have the most severe muscular exercise, down to the frail, colorless student, who seems not to have his just share of vitality.”
“It is a recognized fact that our scholars’ strongest in mind and body, come from our larger institutions and that a fewer number drop out from illness and overwork, than do from our smaller colleges. Now the reason is obvious. In our leading universities and colleges, physical culture is a requirement and no excuse is accepted.”
“In Colleges of three years preparatory and four years college course, three years out of the seven should be devoted to required physical training and, though it may become as monotonous as Latin, Physics, or Algebra, benefit is being derived, which, though it may not be seen by the student, will make his life longer and a power in the later years.”
(FU pg. 15)