The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-09-25
FOOTBALL BEGINS
At j. S. SCHOOLS;
INTEREST keen

NEW YORK. Sept. 25. - Notwith-
standing the uncertainty regarding the
ultimate status of football among the
eastern colleges, practice mas been
started at a number Of institutions and
present conditions would appear to
indicate a general carrying on of the
encouragement Is gained from the fact
that the leaders In the gridiron activ.
ity are the two government academies
at West Point and Annapolis. It Is
the general opinion among coaches
and others interested in football that
II the Cadets and Middies. with their
intensive duties and training. can find
time for the game the average student
enrolled in the various college S. A.
T. c., will have similar opportunities
for INDUCING in the sport.
Both the Navy and Army squads
have been practicing under competent
coaches for some time now, the num-
Der of candidates averaging well over
the hundred mark. No attempt has
been made to curtail the schedules
and all games will be played as
planned, except where colleges engag-
ed have dropped football. These open
dates will be filled II opponents can
be secured. This, however, is not a
particularly easy task as both the
Army and Navy have impressive
elevens, well under construction and
other institutions are loath to send
their teams against the Nliddies or
Cadets unless fortified with powerful
material.
At West Point virtually the entire
first string combination of last year
has reported for training Oliphant
and knight are the two missing vet
Grams and their places are being eager
ly sought by score of husky candi-
dates, some of whom have mad consid-
cradle football experience at proniin-
ent colleges. The Navy is equally
well provided with material Coach
Dobie has more than a hundred play
ers out every day, including many
prominent veterans, last seasons sub
stitutes and first year men for every
position. The squad also contains a
number Of fast and heavy players
and this weight will be welcome as
the Middies' eleven Of 1917 was un.
usually light, making up in speed what
it lacked in poundage.
Two other colleges, which were rep
resented by sterling teams twelve
months ago, are also back on the grid
Iron at Rutgers and West Virginia.
Rutgers Is In much the same position
as West Point as coach Foster San
ford has about ninety percent Of his
last season eleven upon which to
build for 1918. West Virginia is not
quite so fortunate as some Of the hest
players Of year ago have been lost
through graduation and entry into the
service. The new candidates, however,
are promising group and Indications
point to a team which will approach
the high standard of 1917.
Lehigh and Penn. State have com.
menced practice with fair prospects OF
winning teams. Nine veterans have
already reported at South bethlehem
while Penn. State began work with a
squad of more than thirty players
The freshmen rule, barring first year
men from the varsity team, is still in
force which would appear t. indicate
that material for the team is not lack
ing.
Wesleyan and Washington and JET
ferson candidates are drilling regular
ly and reports from the training quar-
ters are to the effect that both in mum.
bers and physical attributes the men
are fully up to the expectation of the
coaches Football work is scheduled
to commence at Cornell and Pennsyl
vania within a few days and II Prince.
ton, Harvard and Yale decide to re-
sumo play, even upon a limited scale
the outlook will be promising for a
season equal to that Of last year when
interesting gridiron contests were not
lacking.
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