The Washington herald., 1920-12-13
GRID CONFERENCE
MAY LIMIT PLAY
TO THREE YEARS
Maryland Coach Says
Plan Has Many Strong
Supporters. -.
BY JACK NYE.

BY JACK NfE.
The South is no longer asking
odds when 1t comes to a test Of
Drawn and skill in intersectional
gridiron battles.
Time was when teams developed
below the Mason and Dixon line
were convinced that a one-year
| eligibility rule and three-year play
| ing limit would make II impossible
for them to hold ther own In alien
territory.
The wonderful gridiron develop
kInent of recent years has altered
mat viewpoint and the tentative
Formation last week at a conference
|of all State institutions In the
South, with opinion unanimous for
a one-year eligibility rule, marks
new era in Southern football.
Another meetiag will be held In
Atlanta in February to perfect
permanent organization, and At
that time there will also probably
be a determined effort to commit
Southern football to a three-year
playing limit, such as is in effect In
most of the large Eastern and
Western colleges
Many Want Three-fear Limit.
This Is the news brought back by
Curly Byrd, coach of the Maryland
University team, who was one OF
the prime movers in organizing the
conference. There is certain to be
some opposition to the adoption OF
a three-year limit for players, he
declared, but a number of the MEM
bers of the proposed conference are
ready to make a fight for Its adop-
ton
Coach Byrd believes the confer
ence/ will do much to raise the
standard of football in the Suth.
'One of the chief things in favor
of the one-year residence rure, ne
declared, will be the difncuities IL
offers to proselyting, which has be-
come common of late. Unless
player Is prompted by other motives
than football, he will not transfer
from one college to another wnere
he must remain idle a year oeiore
no can play football"
Though the conference mas oeeh
orsanized by the State institutions
alone. 1t will probably open It's doors
to some of the bigger Southern
colleges. such as Vanderbilt and V.
p II. Byrd declared. II Is being
freely predicted that practically all
Of the larger institutions will enter
the fold.
New Rule VIII Help.
Instead of working a hardship on
the teams, the one-year rule shoulu
really increase their effectiveness
n Is seldom that any man. no mat
ter how bright a prep school star ne
NAV have been, is able 10 sosoIo
enough of the more Intricate col
Iepe coaching system to become OF
much value in his first year. Under
the new rule the freshmen Will oe
given all the benefits of college
coaching on the first-year teams
and should be ready to qualiy as
experienced men in their seconu
year.
The chief advantages Of the pro,
nosed conference are that II VIII
hiring about standard ehgiplllty
rules and prevent proselytlns as lar
as possible.
tern teams, which are beginaing TO
find the Southerners tough propo-
sition, be able to point to the tact
that they play freshmen as a rea-
SON ThekSouth would rather prove
that it is stronger because OF
natural DEVELOPMENT which will
continue to be in evidence even
though the playing of first-year men
is discontinued.
Danger in Professionalism.
Though the one-year rule is no
guarantee against professionalism,
an organization like the Southern
conference should be able to combat
this evil much better than 1t has
been done in the past There have
been growing indications OF profes-
sionalism throughout the country for
some time. The signs have been as
evident in the East and West as in
the South, There Is no cure for 1t
save eternal watchfulness on the
part of college authorities and strict
enforcement of scholastic require
ments- There is one thing that a
professional does not care to do He
Is no student.
II entrance requirements are
maintained and satisfactory class
work is insisted upon, the profess
sionals will dodge reputable colleges
as they would the plague.
Both Georgia Tech and Alabama
OneTeo pAshSCo
on their schedule while Coach Byrd
was in Gainesville last week, but the
College Park schedule had already
been completed for next season. 1t
is probable that the schedule for
1922, however, will contain the
names of a number of Southern Con-
ference colleges.
There must have been wailing
and gnashing of teeth in Atlanta
after glimpsing Walter Camps ALL
American eleven. Bill Fincher was
the only Georgia Tech man men
toned. Several other experts also
honored Buck Flowers, but all of
tham have overlooked Red Barron.
who Atlantans will swear on a stack
o1Bibles, is far ahead of Flowers as
a backfield artist.
Most teams would be satisfied
with one man on Camps first eleven.
but those Technites are an am
bilious crew.