The Washington herald., 1911-11-05
Arnold

from that at any other American Institution OF
learning in three important characteristics
namely the preparation Of the teams, the spirit
that backs the teams and the showing made by
the West Point teams. West Point in these respects
differs even from Annapolis and must be in a class
apart from Annapolis for the latter outnumbers West
Point by almost FIVE hundred men.
1t customary in the larger colleges to have spring
and summer football practice and besides the foot
ball men always report for practice before the fall
session begins There is such condition Of affairs
at West Point As matter of fact the cadets do not
start active football practice until about the tenth day
Of September. None of them gets football suit until
about three weeks or less before their first game
In view of these facts one may readily ask the
questions How is it that West Point always turns out
- good team? How is it that she retains her rank
among the Big Six? How in so short time can she
develop team which is always ready when the first
game starts?
1t may seem curious, but all who are interested IN
West Point teams have always found that when the
time came the army team was ready and delivered
the goods.
At West Point on or about September 10 each year
there is always a call to the corps for men TO come
out for the team. And always there Is the same
hearty response. None is too small to try The re-
suit that each year about onefourth OF the corps
numbering four hundred-turns out for football NO
rule exists at the academy that the first year man
tons on football. These that all the men must
be proficient in their academic duties and in their
conduct The plebe-as the first year man IS called
has as much for the team any Of the upper
class men.
The teams are coached by army officers who were
former players on the academy teams The coaches
have their hands full for in less than three weeks
they must get tine best team out of the numerous
candidates The task of wedding out the good mate
Lo,-5 Iol %0r& &ha nhn
OF course the material from the three upper classes
Is usually known from the preceding year, but the
problem of getting the good from the plebes is
difficult undertaking. However, with the aid Of the
veteran players, several good men are always de-
Veloped from the pebes. The wedding OUT
tnues until just before the first game, when the squad
is divided into two squads, the first squad and the
second, "CuIlom Hall squad. About thirty
are kept the first squad and they compose the
varsity, scrub and sub-scrub teams.
Games with Military Academies.
The first squad receives the attention of all of the
coaches except two. These two coach the Cullom
Hall team, composed Of from the second squad.
The Cullom Hall team derives its from the field
on which it practses The field is located front Of
the Cuom Memorial Hail. This team plays several
games each season with the various military academies
along the Hudson The coaches also very much
hampered by drills and the duties of the cadets Dur
ing the first months of practice there less than
hours available each day for football practice
With drills parades and guard mountings in addition
to their academic duties, readily figure how
little time is left.
The football men usually go on the field about FIVE
O'Clock the afternoon and they have supper half
past six. During this hour and half the cadets have
duties This short time for practice continues until
November 1. After this date parades and drills are
discontinued and consequently there is about an hour
for practice during the month Of November The
following schedule shows how the cadets time is taken
up by his various duties.
Reveille. 900 A. NJ.
eaktast $50 A. NJ.
Study hour ................... 100 A M.-7:55 A. NJ
Academic duties .............. 500 A. M-12:O0 NJ.
Dinner. .12:15 p MI :00 P. NJ.
Academic duties .............. 1:3O P M.-3:30 P. NJ
Drills. Observation-Disclosures $40 P M.-4:4OP NJ.
Parade. t4;5OP p M.-5:20P Pm.
Guard mounting (once week.. 52OP. M.550P. NJ.
Supper. $50 2. NJ.
Supper at P. NJ. after November 1.
Taps ............... ..................1OOo P M.
Until November 1.
tUntil October 1.
There are no elaborate training tables at West ,
Point such the other colleges have. No corps Of
trained rubbers and maSseurs No fancy dishes pre-
pared by cooks hired especially for the purpose The
only thing in the way of training tables, at the ,
academy the toast tables" The football
are seated at and their only departure from the
regular fare lies in the toast which is bountifuIy
supplied. There is usually trainer for the football
team who looks after the mems general physical
dition. He, assisted by several enlisted men from
the Hospital Corps of the Army, attend to all Of the
bruises and sprains Of the players. His chief
pedent is bottle of ice water. This year ', Point
has obtained new trainer OF course, It may require
less time for the cadets to become proficient foot
ball by Of their accustomed good physical
diton Even this condition is not such that would
enable the cadet to stand the grind Of two thirtve
minute halves Surely there is something else which
must help these men put out the teams they do. :
Cadets are almost all good hard bone and muscle;
ran they may seem when viewed parade, thin o.
wasted and brittle. The armys teams have always
been light usually averaging between 165 and 10
pounds.