El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-05-19
PICKING GOOD MEN FOR ROWING CREW
REO(IREsCLOSE STUDY Of APPLICANTS

great race Sinking in an eight-oared
boat is easy. the temptation is often
great, and it is sometimes hard even
Tor the trained eye to readily single
out just the man who is not honestly
doing his share
Candidates for the crews are put to
work on the rowing machines in the
gymnasiums soon after the Christmas
vacation. and there for about ten min
utes each day, are instructed in the ru-
diments OF the stroke / am not be-
lever in hard winter training. While
on the machines, the candidates ara
watched carefully and the task Of
grading them into combinat tons be-
gins. By the time we can get out on
the water, there are left not more than
nine or ten Fights, including the fresh
men. the remainder having either been
cut or having resolved to pursue some
less arduous form of student activity.
Once on the water, the time for row.
ing is increased to 20 or 80 minutes
a day, and later it is heightened to
an hour. usually from 10 D. m
Soon after the actual rowing begins
several of the most promising candi-
dates are taken 70 the training table
and are expected 70 observe regular
training rules from that time This
merely means that they are TO live
naturally. observing the ordinary well
known rules for the correct life They
get well-cooked, plain food, and plenty
OF IT. Cake and pie are about the only
articles tabooed, and even these are
not harmful If the fellows would be
satisfied with one portion Up to a
few years ago there were always cake
and pie on the table, but my attention
was at length called to the amount
consumed by some OF the men.
watched one Fellow IN particular
There were two kinds OF pie, apple
and Pumpkin. He ate piece Of each.
Next day there were apple, pumpkin
and lemon. and he had all three kinds.
The variety increased until one day I
saw him eat five large pieces of pie
at one meal There has never been
bit of pastry on the crew table since
At no time in training are the men
given or allowed to use stimulating
liquors or drugs. I did not use them
myself IN my own training and I be-
lieve they have no place in the deyel-
opment Of an athlete
Training Necessary.
The amount Of training necessary IN
order to get a crew on racing edge is
in direct proportion to the length OF
the race That is to say. only about
one half of the work necessary IN
preparation for a four-mfle race VIII be
required in training for a two-mile
race. Although do not believe in the
four-niIe race for college crews, I am
not in sympathy with writer's who ex-
pOstulate about the deadly fourth
mile" Any oarsman can be trained
into condition to row four miles with
out injury to his health. but with an
undergraduate oarsman. either his
university work or his training must
suffer. A student cannot attend 10
both properly. and rs we cannot afford
to have the four-mile event result dis
astrously to the crew or TO the oars
man himself, his university work must
be the department to be sighted.
I have never seen a four-nile race
where the outcome would have been
different had the race been for three
miles. Long distance rowing races are
not often won or lost in the last mile
It would take % percent less Of the
students time to prepare for three
mile event. Therefore I consider the
three-mile race preferable for college
oarsmen. After all. the boys come to
college primarily TO get an education
and rowing is not an essential part OF
that education-it should always be
a secondary consideration.
DIXON AND RIVERS To FIG HIT
AT VERNON ARENA JUNE 10