The Detroit times., 1915-02-06
Dssroit Director Launches
scheme to Get More Students
Into Athletics
>INTER-CLASS CONTESTS
ESPECIALLY BOOSTED
Wonderful Development in Inter
scholastic Sports Marks
Davis Regime
By JAMES sCHERMERHoRN. JR.

nv JAMES sCHERMERH0RN. JR.
The board OF education, or whoever
/ was responsible, made master stroke
when they removed Darrell II. Davis
from his position as chemistry teach.
er and athletic director OF Central
High school, and put him In charge
/ OF the athletic conditions OF every
high school In the city, giving him fuil
authority to manage matters as ne
raw at. He became Supervisor oil
Athletics Davis and well might he be
called promoter of athletics in add
tlon to that.
When he undertook to run athletics
here, Davis was confronted with very
serious problems. There was but one
real football team In the city. Central
high. and IL was losing its football
|. field when the ID. A. G. lot was sold.
There were two basketball teams. Cen.
trial and Eastern, and the same num-
her OF track teams, while Western
chimed In for q little recognition In
baseball, but was unplaced In the 9TH
or sports because OF inferior material
and coaching. -....
Practically Davis first act was to
organize the campaign for an athletic
field. and he secured II. Then, while
the field was being fixed up or rather
was being held up until the money
could be passed for the fixing OF It,
hs made excellent arrangements for
the use OF d. A. G. and he so arrang-
ed the schedules OF the high schools
that all teams could play their big
games there, while Central played all
games there.
Davis was not satisfied with base
ball conditions despite the fact that all
three OF the bigger schools were well
represented, 20 he agitated baseball
ut Cass. and at the same time took up
the schedules OF several OF the high
schools Of the smaller cities and
towns around Detroit and made them
out In connection with the Detroit
high school schedules, and thus or
Eanised q fine baseball league, that
had it, first test. and q successful one,
last year. The plan will be repeated
this year.
Then Northwestern high demanded
recognition, and under SUFFICIENT agita-
ton o football team was organized
there, and some real material was un-
covered that should aid the new school
10 q great extent In q few years. They
Oreanixed q baseball team at North
western last year. and despite q poor
season came back this year and de-
feated Central. Cass has also gotten
under way with baseball and basket
BAH. and Davis hopes for track there
soon
DAVIS HAS NEW PLANS
TO oPRiNo.
But the biggest things are yet to
come. Davis thinks that there is no
reason In the world why every high
school boy should not participate In
eome form OF athletics, and HIS chief
object In life n now to sec to Il that
80 many 40 possible can and will par
ficipate. He has organised class ath.
1et1cs at Central With Representative
basketball beseball, soccer and indoor
track teams. already competing. He
hao the plans already under way for
outdoor tracks. rugby football, water
polo ard tennis 10 .,e tahsn up this
yoaS. Central 80 the best organised
nigh school In this respect, because
Davis started there and interest was
higher. bet the other high schools are
not 70 be cutdone IN this matter, and
the tnte-ost 70 running high in the
other schools.
This tennis Is new idea OF mine"
oayB Davis. hut have already In
Guced four high schools 10 play to-
esther in tournaments, and I have
hopes OF adding another before the
season opens. Western, Northwest
.ern, Cass and Central have declared
their willingness and eagerness TO
participate. while Eastern M almost1
sure Of coming In. The championship
winners OF each school will play the
winners OF the other schools for the
championship OF the city. The win.
norp In each school In doubles and in
singles VIII be given letters. There
VIII be no chance to secure outside
games, because have made INQUIRIES
before and there 10 not q single school
Within striking distance that has a
representative tennis team.
But the necessity for playing Who'll.
~ within the city Is only following the
whole trend OF the athletics I am
agitating. The basketball conditions
- Detroit are better than ever before,
Nearly every team Is still in the run.
ming, and no one team IL az far ahead
- Central used to be years ago. West.
orn. Northwestern and Eastern. I
nope. VIII be In Centraps class in foot
Dali soon. while they always have
been In baseball. and will soon be in
rack. That IL surely some change
Tor few years.
oMALL SCHOOLS
IMPROVE.
There win be new high school
~ North woodward soon. Northwest.
ern high VIII improve. Highland Park
hieh Will grow bigger and better and
VII increase In athletic ability. Cass
- coming right along. and SO Is West