Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-12-31


TlHERE have been years of success,
i years Of failure and years that
have struck a medium between the ex-
tremities in collegiate athletics. Nine5
teen nineteen has been unique in that 1t
served both success and failure.
When the present dying twelve month
horned into our activities it brought
with it no more of prosperity among
the colleges than its deceased father,
1918. At the beginning of the year
competition still was at low-then it
frightened, to close in a blaze that
touched the heights.
During the years of the war and
few months following college sports were
at low ebb, but 1919 brought them back
more than few PAGES beyond normal.
At no period in the history of our edu-
cational institutions did athletics enjoy
more beneficial returns.
Penn Fared Well
Despite the disappointments that came
with the football season, Pennsylvania
did not fare poorly during the last year.
The Quakcrs landed the basketball
championship of the East and carted off
the title in the intercollegiate Soccer
League and besides ranked high in all
other lines of athletic endeavor.
But 1919 meant more to Pennsylvania
and other colleges throughout the coun-
try than mere victories. 1t meant big
financial gain, a gain that places sports
on a much firmer foundation.
The, football season, of course, was
the big money winner, and in many
cases 1t saved athletic associations from
bankruptcy. At Franklin Field alone
It is estimated that close to 175, 900
Huf ha
short season.
Penn State Champion
The gridiron season was one of con-
tinual upsets. Harvard was the only
big team in the East that did not meet
with reverse, but Penn State, on ac-
count of its more difficult schedule, gen
orally is conceded the championship.
Pennsylvania, with Douglas Stewart
directing, breezed through to another
( intercollegiate soccer title. The Red
and Blue was far superior to any other
team in the organization, winning every
match on tine league schedule.
The college baseball mines did not
reach the standard of other years, with
one exception. Holy Cross stood out
meters beyond the others and has been
awarded the championship on the basis
Of comparative scores.
The Naval Academy maintained its
high standard in rowing, and even went
a bit further. The Middies lifted the
collegiate title on the Schuylkill here.
Penn took second place and deserves
honorable mention.
Cornell held on to it's pinnacle in
track athletics. The Ithacans came
through unexpectedly in the champion
ships at Cambridge and romped off with
the team title in a handy fashion. Jack
Moakley has dominated track athletics
during the last several years and it
looks as If he were going to hold on
through the ages.
Princeton stepped through with a big
surprise in the cross country champion
ship. The Tigers brought out a we'll
balanced team that landed first place
with comfortable margin.
All minor sports felt the pinch of the
war, but last spring they flourished,
and now there is big campaign on to
boost them. Never before have minor
sports had so many rooters.
A. A. U. Well Directed
The A. A. U. enjoyed a prosperous
athletic year, but the financial returns
we're far below expectations. Samuel
i. Dallas, the Meadowbrook official
who Is president of the national body,
showed keeness and foresight in di-
recting the union and is boosted as one
of the best presidents in the history of
the association.
The track and field championships
were held at Franklin Field last June
and stars from all over the country
were gathered for the classic. The New
York A. o. proved its steel by captur-
ing both the junior and senior titles.
The work of the A. A. u. in the
coming Olympic games will be gigantic
and the success of the international
measure on the ability of the officials
IN this country.
Nineteen nineteen !. is on the right