The Washington times., 1917-10-26
LITTLE FELLOWS IN FOOTBALL HAVE
SHOWN WAY TO THEIR BIGGER RIVALS
By LOUIS A. BOUCHER

That the so-calied "Big Three
Yale, Harvard, and Princeton-are
inclined to grieve over their prompt
decision to cancel all intercollegiate
competition for the duration Of, the
war is becomir. palmer with the
days. The smaller colleges all over
the country are slowing up their
bigger brothers in no unmistakable
manner.
Harvard was the first to take up
informal football" The Canta-
brigians expected little to come Of
it, but have been surprised by the
caliber of the eleven now in train
ing at the stadium. Although prac-
tically every one of last years var
sity squad has been lost, Harvard is
now represented by team capable
of upholding the past glories Of the
Crimson hosts.
As II peeved at the success OF their
ancient rival, the Ellis are now stir
ring themselves to put an "informal"
eleven upon the field and play at least
two or three games before the cam
paign reaches an end.
Coach Arthur Brides. successor to
Tad Jones, who has been called to
war service; Prof. Robert N. Corwin,
athletic adviser, and some thirty or
forty prospective candidates held q
conference with the result that IL was
officially announced that yale be-
lieved it Yale necessity to form an
eleven to meet teams from other uni
versities and training camps"
Princeton Is weakening.
The last member of the Big
Three'-Princeton- been loudly
proclaiming no football. not even Gin
formal" football, but at the last min
ute it is noted that the authorities
have given permission for a Prince
ton team to meet the all-star eleven
from Camp Dix. The soldiers are all
officers who have made regulations
on college gridirons, including such
men as West and Huntington, OF Col
gate. both on Walter Camps all
American eleven.
As a matter OF fact. Harvard, Yale,
and Princeton have been 50 roundly
abused for their hasty action in call
ing off all intercollegiate competition
for the duration OF the war that they
have had to find a defense. II they
imagined they would find II in a de-
crease in interest. they have failed.
II they imagined that their example
would be followed far and wide. they
have failed again. The little fellows
have come to the front and have
SHOWN up the big Three" in 4 sorry
light.
Baker Hit n Blew.
Secretary OF War Baker hit the
big Three" a heavy blow at the
summer meeting in Washington
when he urged all colleges and unI-
versities to continue to train healthy
minds in sound bodies. saying that
Uncle Sam would need in the future
Just such combinations, and that
football, track and baseball were ad-
mirable in such training. The Big
Three" made no reply. They had de-
livered their ultimatum.
Harvard claimed to have lost "all
the best players OF the football
squad. Yale claimed its students
could not serve two masters. Prince
ton said at would not be right to
drill football players so near to the
aviation schools OF the Government >
1t made no difference with the
rest of the country, however, and now
the big Three" is slowly reaching
the same conclusion. One OF the re-
suits may be that. following the war,
the big Three" will have an uphill
fight to regain its lost prestige in col
lege athletics.
They Deserve Credit,
The smaller colleges deserve con-
siderable credit for following the
suggestions OF the United States Gov.
ernment. The University OF Virginia,
which seems to have taken unto itself