The Washington times., 1907-02-23
NO ARMY AND NAVY
ELIGIBILITY RULES
Greater Number of Middies
Balances Greater EXper-
ienCe of Generals.
ACCOMPLISHED BUT LITTLE
Daily Voluntarily Retired and Graves
Kept Out, Only Effects of Code
Now Passed Away.

ANNAPOLIS, Feb. Z3.-The eligibility
rules which have governed contests dur
ing the past four years between the
United States Naval and Military
Academies have now expired by iimita-
lions. and there seems TO be no doubt
that the athletic authorities Of both in
stitutions are perfectly willing for them
TO drop
The annual meetings Of the athletic
associations representative OF both in
sututions have been held. and moth
me ,i.5, Mas cone by either looking to a
renewal OF the agreement The rules
nave had little or no actual effect and
the victory OF the Navy at the end oY
the season Just closed has given indica-
ton that hereafter the teams are 10
meet on 50 equal a basis that there viii
De no need OF eligibility rules
Made to Bar Daily.
The occasion. II not the cause. OF the
Nays fnsistence and final procuring OF
an agreement with the Army covering
the eligibility eE-players IN contests be-
tween the Institutions was the presence
OF Charlie DAILY, the old Harvard cap
tain on the Army team during the sea-
sons Of 1901 and 1902 Not only was
Days work OF such a high order that
the Navy team appeared hopeless of
victory, but II was feared that the
greater age Of admission for the West
Point cadets would be the means OF
bringing moro and more seasoned ath-
letes 10 the institution and make the
annual game settled victory for the
Army every season
After much debate. the Army agreed
20 the rules in a form slightly changed
from that proposed by the Navy Cn-
ueF the agreement players could pIay
nut four years, counting time while
2 ar fHrru On h. a
any OF forty representative college teams
which wer- named in an agreed list
Had Little Effect.
The effect or this agreement has been
slight DAILY voluntarily left the grid
iron field the following year. and Graves.
who captained the team during the
rest OF the season. watched from the
side lines his team overwhelm the mid
shipmen in the contest Of 1893. No other
players have been kept out of the game
on account Of the eligibility rules during
the seasons that followed.
The Nays captain Of next year.
Douglass, has played on the Navy team
Tor three seasons and also played on
the University OF. Tennessee fOr several
seasons before coming 10 ANNAPOLIS
however, that institution is rot In the
list or forty. the playing upOn which
NOullS 50 llGL douglass would have
another year 10 play even II the eliCfbiI-
lJy rules were renewed The Navy
would. however. lose PiersoI, the stall
wart tackle. should the agreement De
renewed uDon The old terms. He made
the team the first year he entered the
academy. and has played four seasons,
as ne spent two years In the lowest
class.
The theory OF the agreement was that
the Army boys were more mature and
that therefor the contest was not on
fair basis The age for entrance at
West Point is from seventeen 10 twenty
two ears, and az Annapolis from six
teen 20 nineteen years II IS. therefore.
clear that the Army had much the ld-
vantage in getting seasoned men and
stood a lar greater chance of getting
men who had already acquired skill in
football OF other sport at some other
institution. Ar the time. the number Of
students In the institutions was about
the same. but now as Annapolis has Just
about twice as many. the greater age
and experience OF the cadets is about
evened. II is Thought by the larger
choice possible at Annapolis. At any
rate, Anna polls does not ask for any
more eligibility rules. and they never
were popular at West Point.