Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-16
WHY CORNELL BROKE
WITH PRINCETON
Latter Objected to Playing
Foot Ball Game in Ithaca.
Wanted Gotham Named.
Bv Edward r. Bucknell.

An entirely new idea was involved in the
severance Of foot ball relations between
Princeton and Cornell the news of which
came SO unexpectedly within the last Few
days. It was whether college teams should
play their championship games exclusively
on college grounds, or whether they
should permit financial considerations to
remove them to professional ball grounds
in other cities. where the gate receipts
would be larger. When negotiations were
opened for another agreement between
Princeton and Cornell the Ithacans want
ed home and home series. but were will
ing to consider the old agreement OF ono
game in Princeton one in Ithaca, and the
third in New York. Princeton baked at
going to Ithaca, but considered 1t as odd
that Cornell should regard the trip to
Princeton and New York as equally tedi-
Gus. The Tigers were firm in their de-
termi latIon not to pay In Ithaca, and al
though they based their refusal on the
difficulty Of reaching Ithaca, it Is pretty
generally understood that the smallness
reason. It was because New York could
turn out such an immense throng that
Princeton wanted the game played in the
metropolis.
shows that the Ithacans have conscien-
tious scruples against playing on other
than college grounds, and In this stand
they have the sympathy of the eastern
college world. In fact, Princeton Is the
only member of the Big Five which
does not play all it's games on college
gridirons. Yale, Pennsylvania. Harvard
and Cornell have all set their faces
against such a departure from what they
regard as sport for sports sake" But
it should be said in this connection that
Harvard, Pennsylvania and Yale, being
situated in large cities, are not subjected
to the temptation that confronts Prince
ton and Cornell. In this respect the situa-
ton of Ithaca, SO far from the center of
any large population. is extremely unfor-
tunate. For this reason Cornell is in
greater need of financial assistance for
her athletics than any other big univer-
sity in the east Consequently its stand
was all the more surprising and CON-
mendable.
Princeton's Inconsistency.
There seems to be a certain amount of
inconsistency in the attitude Princeton
took toward Cornell. Though it is true
that it is not pleasant or easy trip for
a big foot ball team to go from Prince
ton to Ithaca, tie trip is just as long and
just as hard from Ithaca to Princeton.
The Tigers also contend that the diff
Guilty of changing cars was largely influ-
entail in their decision not to play in Ith-
AGA, but every time the Orange and Black
goes to New Haven the team either stops
off in New York the night before or goes
to some resort a day or two in advance
Of the game, as it did last fall. When
all of these things are considered the ar
guments advanced by Princeton lose
much of their weight. If it were the Yale
team Princeton was Saked to play in Ith-
AGA, the whole situation would change.
The elimination Of the Princeton Cornell
game means that both universities must
scout around for another championship
contest If Princeton had got game with
Harvard the Tigers would have been well
fixed. But Princeton has dropped the In
dams and will play Dartmouth instead of
Cornell November 9 Determined to play
at least one big game in New York the
Tigers and Hanover collegians will meet
in Gotham. The break with Cornell will
certainly simplify Princetons schedule.
which, until the failure of negotiations
with Harvard and Cornell, made one fear
for the fate OF the Tigers.
Cornell is certain to be harder put to
for strong opponents than Princeton
Now the Ithacans have but one cham
pionship game. this being with kPennsyl-
vania Thanksgiving day. The decision of
Swarthmore not to play Cornell again
has removed another first-class game
from the Ithacans' schedule. Cornell
could get a good game with Syracuse. but
the feeling between Cornell and Syracuse
is probably too bitter to permit them to
get together. 1t now looks as though
Cornell would have to go through it's
schedule without meeting a team of her
own strength until it lines up against
Pennsylvania at the very end of the
schedule.
Army and Navy in Trouble.
West Point and Annapolis are once
more in trouble over their annual game.
and as a result the perennial talk about
taking the game away from Franklin
Field of the University o. Pennsylvania