The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-04-27
COLLEGE CREWS
 TO HAVE INNING
BY MANHATTAN.

New York, April 25.-The college rowing season was fairly inaugurated this week by the race on the Severn between the Harvard and Navy eights It is not possible to get very accu- rate line on an eight this early in the season. The men have not got down to their true form and team work has not been developed. It was shown by this race, however that both Harva I'd and Annapolis have material for good crews and may be expected to give good account of themselves later at New London and at Poughkeepsie.
 Princeton has definitely decided % row only class races this year. Chal- lenges from Yale. Annapolis, George town and New York university have been refused by Coach Titus, for the reason that he does not know how good his men will be this year. To express his own words: q must have an opportunity of seeing what is what before I close contracts"
 It has been a backward season thus far for the Columbia crews. Heavy winds have stirred up the waters of the Harlem and Hudson rivers ever since the oarsmen began work, and rowing has been impossible for days at time. A good deal of the practice has been done in the rain, which has interfered with the coaching to some extent The men are consequently not as far advanced as is usual at this time of the year-a little more than two months before the regatta al Poughkeepsie. If Columbia meets An napolis on May g. and the prospects are that she will, the crew will not be in as good shape as it was when it met and defeated Harvard last year, according to those who have been fol- lowing the work of the local oarsmen this season. The varsity eight is ad- mitted to be a storng combination, but what 1t can do in the fast two-mle sprint, with only three weeks left for preparation. is not easy to say at the present time. The men are far from being in first-class racing trim, and Rice does not seem anxious to hurry them. Six well seasoned oarsmen arc seated in the first boat, the only two vacancies being filled by Dellenbaugh, at No. 4, and Keator, at No. [, both of last years freshmen eight. The new men pull strong oar, especially De,- lengaugh, and appear to have a good chance of holding their present posi- tions permanently. They will be hard pressed by Ryan and Heinrich, how ever, who are now rowing in the sec- ond varsity shell. The selection of [. crew for the four-oared boat is causing much speculation since none of last years varsity four is back in college. Rice has some promising material in the members of last years freshman eight all of whom are now on the squad. Murphy, who stroked the 1901 shell at Poughkeepsie Is considered strong candidate for stroke in this years varsity four, while Saunders, Manser, Steinschneider, Renshaw and Hamman are likely to figure largely in the competition.
 The members of the second Cornell varsity eight have been added to the training table list bringing the total number now seated at the table up to 24 Coach Courtney thought it wire to take this step toward getting the men in condition. The work of the crews has been going on steadily nt the inlet all this week. and as yet 10 material changes have been made by Il.