The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-07-16
SPOR T DOPE
BY JACK KEENE.

Il
The recent appointment of new
football advisory committee by the
board control at Princeton uni
versity would indicate that the big
colleges are preparing to make next
fall a banner season in the pigskin
game.
The college and university officials
are making the right move. When
war first broke out there was talk
of dropping the grid game, as well
as other major sports. Then Presi-
dent Wilson impressed upon the minds
of the college leaders as well as all
other athletic heads the need of con-
tinuirg athletic activities to promote
the health of the nation during war
time.
In the past it had been customary
to arrange the coming seasons sched-
ule early each spring. Failure of
many of the colleges to announce their
list of games this year for next fall
has led to the impression that they
have abandoned the sport. Accord
ing to reports this is not true. The
officials are poStponing the compile
ton of their schedules until the last
minute so that they can make any
changes and shifts necessary to give
all colleges a show and fill every date
in the season.
Many of tie regular games proba-
bly, will be staged as huge benefit con-
tests that will net more money for
war purposes. 1t will be to the adj
vantage of the officials to withhold
their schedules until they have ar
ranged these days to the best ad-
vantage, because big crowds will mean
more funds.
The valor and daring of many grid
stars now fighting for the United
States in France shows the value of
the sport as training for soldiers. and
it would have been folly to have dis
continued or reduced the sport in any
way.
It's good bet that the people will
patronize all the games next fall, be-
cause of their patriotism as well as
their love for the gridiron sport.
John P. Powers has Joined the list
of big men who will give the govern
ment and the Y. NJ. c. A. their serv-
ices abroad. The former organizer
and one-time president of the de-
funct Federal league, has entered a
four-weeks' course of training at Lake
Geneva, Ill, to prepare himself for
service with the Y. M. c. A. in France,
where he will teach baseball to French
soldiers in the trenches.
Powers ought to be a valuable man.
He is great leader and organizer. He
showed that when he built up base
ball organization that made organized
DdSeDdll eAlCItu Tie Ol1Nt DldHCll VI
peace, the white flag of truce and
several other symbols of we've got
enough" Powers has had military
experience. He was gunner aboard
the battleship' Indiana during the
Spanish-American war and took part
in the sinking of the Spanish fleet at
Santiago harbor.
Francis Ouimet, one-time national
amateur and open golf champion, has
been commissioned a second Heuten-
ant in the national army and has been
assigned to the quartermaster's depart
ment in Boston. Ouimet shows the same
enthusiasm and desire to get some
where in the army that he did in golf.
And the best part of it is that he hasn't
a lot of small-minded folk to deal with
as he had in golf-the kind who
made him professional because
somebody named "a club after him, or
something like that. cs9r sc
Wee Willie Southworth, recalled
from the Birmingham club by Pitts
burgh, is being hailed as a real phe-
nom by the Pirate fans. Billy is a
flashy player and startled big league
scribes several years ago with his re-
markabIe fielding while with the
Indians. He's a fast bird on the
bases, too.
Babe Ruth has issued a statement
in which he says he didn't plan to
join a shipbuilding company when he
left the Red Sox recently. Babe says
Manager Barrow abused him and
fined him $500 and Babe decided he
just wouldn't play ball for the horrid
man. Now it is said that Owner
Frazee patched up the trouble. Any
how, Babes back.
Joe Riggs. the Giants clubhouse
boy at the Polo grounds, has enlisted
in the naval reserve corps and expects
to be called for duty soon. The lad
is setting a good example for a lot of
ball players.
Wa1lie Pipp has been batting like a
demon recently. The Yank slugger
was sailing along at a 300 gait with
the willow when he stepped to bat in
the opening game of series with the
Red Sox. In the next twelve games
he collected four doubles and fourteen
singles in forty-seven times up, an
average around 1888.
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