The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-05-28
U.S.M.A.TOLOSE
FAMOUS PLAYER
Elmer Oliphant, Star Ath-
lete to Graduate Soon and
Receive Commission.

New York, May 28.---1n the midst
of strenuous war activity the United
States Military Academy will graduate
one Of its greatest athletes into
broader sphere of battle when Elmer
@. Oliphant receives his diploma and
the title of lieutenant in the army
within the next few weeks. Although
a. we'll known athlete in the middle
west when he left Purdue University
in 1914 and entered the West Point
Academy, it was not until Oliphant
donned the cadet gray that he devel-
oped an athletic reputation which
made him famous throughout the
country.
The Army school has produced many
prominent athletes in the past, but
few, if any, ranked with Oliphant as
an all-round star with a record cpv-
ering almost every variety of compe
tition which the Military Academy
supports. In one respect his record is
unique for Oliphant is the only cadet
who has ever graduated from West
the Army "A' in four different
I'll SpOIls ne Sd1uO0 n11oLJ
at the Military Academy, is equiva-
lent to the varsity letter in football,
baseball, basketball and a fourth let
ter for establishing a track record in
competition. In addition he partici-
pated with success in several minor
sports, notably hockey.
1t was as a football player, however,
that Oliphant established his premier
IL, ,&1I
the possibility of his gaining the COW
eted honor of captain of an Army
eleven with victory over the Navy
to its credit, he was an important fac
tor in more than one such triumph
and in fact is one Of the few cadets
graduated from West Point who never
saw their eleven defeated or held to
tie by the Middies. During his four
years at the academy he scored 31S
points for the Cadet elevens. In 1916
he made both touchdowns and kicked
the resultant goals which defeated
the Navy by a score Of IA to and
the following autumn he made one
| touchdown and kicked one goal from
placement, thus totaIling nine of the
| Is points by which the Soldiers. de-
feated the Middies Is to 7. In 1916 he
| was S6COHu SGOIST dIuOI1G oLl0 EdoIOI Ii
college players and last fall held third
place at the close of the season.
In many respects he was a replica
of Charley DAILY, who entered West
Point from Harvard and continued tc
improve upon a football playing rep
utation already established before he
Joined the cadet ranks. Oliphant was
a terror when carrying the ball, being
exceedingly hard to tackle, due to his
elusive~ lodging and footwork, and
still harder to stop once he was In
the clutches of the tackler. He was
equally good in rounding the end with
or without interference and could pick
a hole in the line and smash or sEr
through with almost uncanny ability
Once loose in a broken field he was
one of the hardest players of the mod
ern game to stop, as scores of oppo-
nents have testified.
Ohphant was captain of the 1911
Academy football tam and also the
leader of this seasons baseball team
although he did not take part in many
games owing to the intensive training
and scholastic work made necessary
by the fact that the class is to be
graduated almost two months ahead
of the regular schedule. When Oil.
plant enters the army he will be the
wearer of the ''Edgerton Sabre,
awarded each year to the outgoing
football captain. This is one of the
most valued trophies awarded a
West Point and it is the opinion
among Oliphant's classmates that nc
cadet was ever worthier of the honor