Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-09-13
PENN MAY CANCEL
FOOTBALL DATES
Games May. However. Be
Reserved for Students
Training Corps
TO POSTPONE OPENING

toothalI aud other forms Of attn.
'etic competition between the >rud.lue
army training corps Of the lntver-
Sity OF Pennsylvania and similar units
Of other universities viii depend en-
trely upon the time left for such ar-
'ivitisS by the course Of intensive train-
in- which begins a. the University on
. October I when the military program
prescribed for the Intercollegiate world
hy the War department gets under
way. No word has been recei' ed by the
I University authorities from Washing
ton suggesting mat the game J." discon-
unued
Al meeting OF the University counci!
on athletics l2st erday afternoon. the
chairman. Dean William McCIe!lan; "f
the Wharton school. was authorized 10
offer to the COmmandant. Major Charles
T. G;rillith the services Of the council
for whatever assistance he might desire.
tiriffith presented 4 communication in
witch he explained that he desired 20
encourage athletic competition so long
AS it did not Interfere with the intensive
training schedule. outlined for members
If the :. y r. c.
In view # the fact that athletics. as
we'll a. other :. \. r. g activities, now
come under the jurisdiction Of the com
mandanl. the University council realized
that it, jurisdiction, in fact. over foot
ball or other intercollegiate schedules
had passed. Consequently. the graduate
manager, Edward T. Bushnell. was in-
Structed to exercise the optional war
clause. included i'll all contracts for foot
ball games with other universities. and
10 give formaI notice Of their suspension
aS University games. but TO suggest to
the institutions in quest ion that they re-
serve the dates pending an effort 10 ar
lang, similar contests between the :.
A. 7. {. units Of the institutions. The
extent to which this can be done will de.
h. n ff.Hff nt 10
military program laid down h% the War
Department. and the military value put
upon such contests.
In the case of Pennsylvania this
means that preliminary football practice
scheduled to start on Franklin Field
September g will be postponed pending
a determination Of the final policy.
the complete suspension Of football in
all important colleges and universities
'. the country a. q war measure loomed
MP strongly today as result Of the
War Department request that no iall
2ridirun Srrimnage> he arranged by
educational institutions having student
army training corps. There ar" 400 uni
NerSities and colleges scattered through
the country with student corps,
All Of the Dig universities in the Mid
dc Wet had already made plans for
carrying out the 1918 schedules and the
request for the abandonment Of the
Intercollegiate sport came rs distinct
Surnrise Practice was to have started
in the Big Ten" conference next Mon
day. and similar plans for the practice
season were under way in the Missouri
Valley conference. tAtenslN" schedules
, mad been arranged by every important
institution, many Of the games being
scheduled with service elevens.
A. A. Stagg' the veteran coach at the
university. was surprised at the request
as he understood that the military pro-
gram would not interfere with the game
He pointed to the fact thai III the devel'
opment of football AT West Point the
piayers devoted less than an hour a day
to practice aud that h- would attempt
TO build a team under the same circum'
stances.