W rom a distance they could be seen making their daily pilgrimage to the small stone and wooden shrine to receive the daily oracle. The mysteries which held no favors towards the greatest or smallest dealt out happiness to some and sadness to others. Though the regular visits to the intramural athletics bulletin board echoed the thousands upon thousands of journeys the ancient Greeks made to Apollo's shrine at Delphi, Harding students were not about to offer animal sacrifices for victories over their opponents. However, the men's intramural program at Harding was enjoyed with a somewhat religious zeal. The major impetus behind the success of Harding's intramural program was the dedication of its directors, assistants, and officials. The men's intramural branch, under the directorship of Cecil Beck, operated out of the Old Gym. Mr. Beck along with his assistants and officials , made sure gametimes were posted, fields were kept in condition, and rules and regulations were fol - lowed. Though Mr. ijeck was not always in the limelight , efforts made the men's intramural program at Harding one of the most highly participated intramural programs in the nation , according to Dr. Harry Olree, athletic director. One specific reason for the outstanding success of the program was the fact that the intramural program offered such a wide range of sports. The men's intramural program offered both fall and spring softball , flag football, basketball, spring swimming, racquetball, volleyball, and sport skills events such as a softball base run, football distance kick, and three-man basketball, to name a few. With the majority of the students living on campus, the possibilities of students missing games was decreased , and this was seen as one explanation of the high participation percentage. Another reason , expressed Mark Moore, assistant to Mr. Beck, was that , "the intramural program at Harding is a chance to get away from the competitiveness of club sports, and a chance for students not in clubs to participate in a sport program." Probably the main reason why the intramural program was so successful and important , explained Cecil Beck, was that "the intramural program helps students to develop leadership and sportsmanship skills, and to meet new Shoot the hoop. Men's intramural basketball games were an everyday sight in Rhodes Memorial Field House. A large percentage of Harding men participated in at least one intramural sport. - photo by Bill Tripp. 160 Athletics Men 's lntramura1s Men's Intramurals students." Harding's men's intramural program did help develop leadership and sportsmanship skills, but it also stressed two main ideals: to make a student at Harding a better Christian, and to uphold the program's guiding theme, ''A Sport for Every Man and a Man in Every Sport." The intramural program was dedicated to the ideal that the student who participated should be a better Christian for having done so. Fair play in athletic competition was seen as essential to the Christian ideal of treating others as one would like to be treated. The intramural programs hoped to teach people to follow the rules of fair play that should not only be displayed in athletic competition, but in other areas of life as well . - Paul Orlando Beck and call. With an office in the old gym, Cecil Beck was available for questions from players, coaches, and referees. - photo by Bill Tripp.
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