Omaha daily bee., 1917-01-28
JOY REIGNS AMONG
STATE STUDENTS
Missouri Valley Governing
Board Permits Freshmen to
Compete in Athletics.
BUT RULE is RESTRICTED
By JAMES E. LAWRENCE.

ny JhMEo =. La NGNSE.
Lincoln, Neb., Jan. 27.-(Special.)
Nebraska athletic authorities are
,overjoycd as a result Of the action OF
the Missouri Valley conference gov
crning board. composed of the chan
ccllors and regents OF the Missouri
valley schools. in voting to permit
freshmen competition in athletics,
limited as follows:
Two loot ball games a season.
Two track meets a season.
Five basket ball games.
Five base ball games.
The rule does not mean that fresh
men will be permitted to play on
the varsity teams, but authorizes the
scheduling of games between Mis-
souri, Valley conference schools for
first-ycar men only. Acting under the
rule, the Nebraska athletic board will
start at once an attempt to arrange
foot ball games with the University
OF Kansas and the Ames Agricul-
tural school between the freshmen
elevens OF each university. Two track
meets with the freshmen squads Of
other universities, five basket ball
games and five base ball games will
also be arranged The Kansas fresh
men foot ball game will no doubt be .
played on the same day as the big
battle between the varsity elevens of
the two schools, while the Amcs game
will be earlier in the season.
New Era Dawns.
The adoption Of the rule by the
conference heads virtually marks a
new era in University OF Nebraska
athletics and will lend decided i'm
petus TO freshmen athletics at the
state university. Competition for
frst-year men with outside schools
has been sore point at Nebraska for
years. Under the old system all OF
the larger institutions in the confer
ence, particularly Nebraska. Kansas.
Ames and Missouri, suffered the loss
of many promising freshmen athletes
because first-ycar competition was de-
nied Only last year three Beatrice
High school foot ball stars went to
Grinnell because that school is not
bound by conference rules and fresh
men could compste for their numcr-
ais the first year.
Although the Nebraska athletic
board has not taken final action in
arranging for the freshmen competi-
ton. undoubtedly a special first year
letter will be adopted. subject to
award on the same basis that the
varsity letter is now given. With the
elimination Of the only talking point
winch has been used to lure NEBRASKA
hlgh schooi stars 70 other states, tne
atnleuc authofities mere are mucn en-
couraged.
Runners Defy Cold.
Nebraska's 1917 track squad has
we'll earned the title OF snowbirds and
have been training faithfully outdoors
in scanty track suits for the last two
weeks IN spite OF the wintry blasts.
I Coach Reed said his track squad is
one Of The strongest he has had.
When the weather was severe. the
track men donned heavy sweaters. and
wooden trousers, with foot ball shoes.
ThereI is again a notable absence OF
veteran material--with only iuniors
and sopbomorcs available. No seniors
! have reported.
Captain Oyerman has ali Of the ear
marks OF a wonderful miller. He took
! third place in the Missouri Valley con-
ference meet last year-his first col
lcgiate experience. Grad, d star high
school long distance man, looms up