The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-08-30
\, Y, US GREAT AMBITION To
BEAT WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON

Four weeks from Saturday and the
football season. not only in West Viz
ginia. but all over the United States.
vii be in full swing. and, indeed. In
Just a week from the coming Monday
the West Virginia University gridron
aspirants will be m training camp. lin-
bering up their muscles. lcarnenG the
now wrinkles that "Tubby" Mclnttre
and ElgIe Tobin have worked up during
the winter and screnally getting FIT
for the strenuous season that faces the
team.
1t seems certain that after three or
four years during which the annual con-
tests between Wesleyan and West Fir-
ginia have held the center of the stage
in Mountain State gridiron affairs that
the interest of West Eirginians In the
fall sport will be more or less divided.
The occasion for :his Is TO be found In
the fact that both University. of Fits
burgh and Washington & Jefferson col
lege, which teams hive not beer mot
By w. V. U. stree l015, will be back
on the Mountatncers schedule and
large element OF that old rivalry, csI'"'
cially that between W. & J. and West
Virginia which has existed for more
than u score of years will be revived in
all it's intensity.
To Just what extent the revival Of m
tercst in the W. & j. W. Y. l. clashes
will displace the interest In the an
nual Wesleyan-Wtst Virginia champIcn-
ship clash can only be estimated q.
this time. OF course. IT, as is expected,
Wesleyan comes on the field with. Il
team that Is a real contender for thu
championship anu if in her earlier
games with Penn State. Washington &
jefferson and other strong opponents
she shows the strength that will crad.-
cate from the memories Of thousands ~
West Virginia fans who saw tho game
the 57-G score on last Thanksgiving
thon 1t Is certain that tho Mountain
States chief local contest will attract
fully as much # not more attention
than 1t has during the last few years.
But in the minds and hearts OF W"st
Virginia University Alumni includin"
especially all those who graduated prov
lous to 1912. when Wesleyan for Ih>
first tiine became q factor In state
championship matters. Washington "
Jefferson still remains as the ono logical
rival and tho ono team that 10 bout Is
to bring supreme happiness or course
Wesleyan being q stRte institution and
aspiring for students IN much the same
territory as Yves; Virginia. Is unqucs-
tionably tho natural rival for West Nir-
glnla University. but It Is doubtful If
Wesleyan can ever dlsplace W. & J. In
the estimation OF those Alumni who
graduated previous TO 1912. and which
body, by the way. Is the backbone o.!
the graduate organization ut Morgan
town.
Wesleyan undoubtedly was on tho de,
cline during tho last two years while
West Virginia way on tho upward trend.
II Wesleyan shows marked signs or n
permanent "comc back this fall. It will
do much to 'crysi al!ze the advantage
that sho gained during those fat years
OF 1912. 1913 and 1914 whom West Viz
ginla WAS trampled undnrfoot on prac-
tically every occasion. But If Wesleyan
Is again weak this year, after last year q
disastrous defnnt. 1t will mean Il moro
or loss permanent Impairment of her
prestige.
Up in tho northern panhandle Beth
any college Ia creating considerable stir
that may forecast really strong eleven
there. Boyd Chambers who resigned at
Marshall college TO accept the position
at Bethany Is working hard To bring
results In his first year. He II widely
known and favorably knoTu md If ~.
ports are true much g.<d material 's
headed toward the buffalo Creek iusli-
tuition. It may be, then. that West
Virginia football fans will hay" to
watch o three-cornered championship
struggle this Year though at this time
West Virginia IS apparently safe.