The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-09-23
AHMY SCHOOLS MAY
PLAY FOOTBALL BY
j, s. METHODS ONLY

New York, Sept. 22.-With the open
Ing Of the eastern college football sea-
son less than a week away, conditions
in the gridiron sport are in a chaotic
state Although the status of the
snort was adjusted to wartime rating
earlier in the year, the recent orders
pacing the entire student bodies OF
the various institutions under mill
tary control and training nave COM
plicated the situation. At the pres
ant time it would appear as though
the schedules and training arrange
ments would have to be completely
overhauled in order TO meet the new
reguirements.
According to the general understand
Ing of the Instructions issued by the
War Department, football parctice and
MAY must not be allowed TO interfere
with the military training of the stu
dents and the final word in such mat
tors will rest with the military officer
in charge of the training at the indi-
vidual colleges or universities. Such
being the case il can be readily seen
that the time allowed for practice and
the playing Of games is certain TO be
greatly curtailed as compared with
the periods devoted to the sport In
normal times.
Hour Day Practice.
II is probable that not much more
fhau one hour per day can be allotted
TO football practice. Normally this
would not be sufficient to pound The
PLAYERS into condition for stiff COM
petition but it is expected that the adj
1ition of military training. with its
-igOrous physical conditioning. viii
greatly improve the bodily develop
ment of all candidates for the team
Il this should prove to be correct
hose in charge of the coaching will
ne able to devote virtually all of the
practice periods To instruction in the
finer points of individual and team
nlav and on this basis should be able
place fairly efficient elevens upon
he field
All institutions will be upon an
equal footing, so far as practice time
IS concerned which will greatly sim
nIify matters. Somewhat similar con-
litions have prevailed at the United
States Naval and Military AcaucmIcs
for some years and no follower of the
game will deny that the Army and
Navy have been represented by nigh
class football eicvcns both from Il ply
steal and technical standpoints.
The time allotted to the actual
competition each week is, however. a
more serious matter. The Army and
Navy teams never leave the academy
grounds except for the annual meet
ing on a neutral field All opponents
journey TO Annapolis or West Point
FOR play and this also holds true in
tho case of nearly all of the canton
ment elevens. Such a condition is en-
ireiv out of the question at the vari-
Gus colleges. If all were obliged to
Play home games entirely the scned-
nes would go to pieces overnight.
Leave Frowned Upon.
In many cases in past Years tho
squads have been permitted leaves of
absence from the campus of several
HAYS in order to make trips to distant
STidjrons. This was particularly true
Of All intersectional games which in
VOWED railroad journeys OF uany
hundred miles. \ number of these are
to be found upon the present seasons
schedules and they appear certain TO
hr cancelled. In 4 majority Of games
he visiting teams can probably make
he round trip in u hours bnt longer
periods of absence arc likely to be few
and far between.
Allowing teams a leave of 81 hours
rom actual scholastic or military
5uties at the weekend would permit
The playing Of most of Tho games al
ready scheduled by the majority Of
tho eastern college eIevens. Games
hat require longer period away
from the Institution viii probably
have to be abandoned. Owing to the
many eleventh hour changes in tho
football plans and schedules if viii not
he Us difficult to fiji in such open
dates as would at first appcar. Tn
t' the military officers football man
ayers and coaches have time to dis
russ the situation, however. little. IL
any, progress in re-adjusting scbcd
ulps is RI no eynocta1