The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-27
COLUMBIA May USE
FRESHMEN ON TEAMS
Varsity Squads Need Material
and Separate First Year
Teams Have Failed.
BASEBALL MEN CALLED

Columbia may return to its old custom
Of allowing freshmen to compete OH var
sity teams. II was learned yesterday. A
year ago the committee on athletics.
which is composed Of three members OF
the faculty and an equal repres, ntation
Of alumni and students. changed radi-
cally its eligibility code in order to con-
form with the new rules Of the 1ntercol-
ieglate Basketball League. as we'll as
the restrictions laid Town by the faculty
Of Columbia College when football was
restored to good standing.
Columbia always has held out for
freshmen being considered eligible to
represent the university in varsity sports
provided they were good enough TO make
the teams. even tn the face Of 4 strong
tendency toward barring tncm In other
universities. or the freshman teams car
riel on tile sport calcndar-baseball.
ba shetball. track. tennis. hockey and last
fall football-few have been able 10
make fair records for themselves. The
football, team was az much OF "A failure
as the varsity eleven was "A success. The
lIftllIltll thH'bhh hta' ''' - 's
son. The cubs were disba nded In hockey.
while in ba sketbail they have yet 10 play
a gan,e.
II tie first wear men are permitted TO
play again on varsity teams II looks AS
II the freshman baseball and basketball
teams will 20 10y the board for a season
at least. Just how Columbia manages to
turn out such formidable Narsit, teams
Oh poor freshman material has puzzled
many. In the past tn, varsity teams
HAY. been strengthened greatly by a sup
j,lN ~ seasoned atltic;'s-adoptcd sons
from other colleges who have gone 10
Moruingsii" u. lights to pursue their
studies IA professional schools-but be-
ginning ncN, fail this will no longer be
possible. The university committee on
athletics has passed . bylaw barring
these adopted sons from representing CO.
lumbia in intercollegiate competitions. so
this source Of supply has been gu; of.
II was the id.a Of the authorities To
hu.ld up a powerful system through the
agency Of strong freshman teams. So
far the idea has not been successful, The
change to the old system will b" n step
away from the movement To- get a UNI
form eligibility cpie for all colleges. For
this reason every phas. Of the situation
will be studied before the change ~
made. Most OF tn. members. however,
favor masking freshmen eligible for var
sity teams aud abolishing for "A season AT
least III, freshman baseball and basket
bah teams. The football team ~ the
yearlings will continue, ~ II Is part OF
the agreement under winch football was
restored FOR til. five year trial period
Baseball starts IN earnest at Column
hia tomorrow. when Coach Coakley
makes his call for iniield and outfield
candidates. The battery candidates
have been working for a week and are
IN fair enough condition to try OUT the
batting eyes OF the rest Of the squad.
with a month still left before the OPEN
i,g game Coach Coakle, has hopes OF
finding enough good material with
vnich 10 build a fairly strong team.
only Two positions seem assured.
capt. Watt will play second base, and
Judging from last season. when he bat
ted .3S5 and iielded 1000. he Is en-
pcotcd to prove a real sensation this sea-
son. lie is the only regular LEFT from
last Years .uficid. Re. nolds BENSON.
wiu play ed first base a while. may come
out for tina, position Ham. Buncke
iud Neilc al first sack"rs of ine
ability. nave been lost. Eddie Shea,
who played tuird base = part o. last
soasou. may Divide his time between
mat pos; AND tf' pitching OoI. although
he is u ist,or pitcher than an .uii"ldef.
Liz" ~ the Uul,ll, Coach coahley
NH have one star IN tho Quilted around
Whtch to builu. lJch Laird. IN" former
Princeton star. Wi, he eligible 10 play.
N'nough barred from representing CO..
luWh.a N basketball h the league. A.
'rr,liug t. Columbia code r" VIII be
permitted 10 pla! baseball, there being
uo leagu" with which 10 conni,,. Laird
IS a demon on the bases. a beautiful
fielder and a fairly hard hitter
,S'Nman. a substitute las. ear, ana
l;etls Beck, the southpaw ~ the pitch
ny s'af. are the unlN ul'il left from
last year who VIII he available for the
uurpos. OF acting "a l.aird's supporting
cast