The Washington times., 1921-02-02

The Naval Academy has OFFICIALLY
declared that it believes it proper
that such a step should be taken.
The Military Academy. through it's
superintendent, General Macarthur.
has announced ITS position to be that
the entrance requirements supply
sunI nIcient eIig ,bility test and that no
difference as to status In athletics
should be recognized among any OF
the students at the Institution who
have met the same requirements and
are doing their work in a satisfactory
way. sr
The difference is an important one
in view of the fact that both insti-
tutions meet at the other colleges OF
the East, and to some extent, the
middle West and South, in many
branches of short. and desire to en-
large their relations. Nearly every
sport in ordinary use among the col
leges is on a Arm basis at the Naval
Academy, and West Point has re-
Gently increased the scopo of its in
tercollegiate relations greatly.
SEEK A HIGH STANDARD.
These service schools are ambitious
to secure and maintain a high stand
ard among the colleges, and the very
hopes. The student bodies have re-
Gently been greatly enlarged. the
authorities are literally disposed to-
ward sports, and there are many spe-
cial advantages at both institution,
as well as some handicaps.
Upon the whole, there is no reason
that the teams of Annapolis and West
Point, with wise handling, should not
be among the very best The Naval
Academy has proved that they can be
by winning six championships in
sport last year, more than any other
college.
In the official statement issued by
the Naval Academy authorities some
time ago. attentfSn was called to the
fact that it's teams engage in COM
petitions with most of the athletic
colleges OF the section, and that 1t is
naturally expected of them that they
should do so on an equal basis.
1t Is felt that as the Naval Academy
improves its athletic standing, the
other institutions will be more and
more unwilling to meet 1t while 1t
does not conform to the same eligi-
bility rules. This Is particularly true,
as the Academy already has an ad-
vantage in playing most Of it's games
oh itS owu nOUlt uNtu vi SootNSs
In several lines OF sport, the mid
great difficulty in securing suitable
opponents, the most recent examples
being in connection with the basket
ball and wrestling teams.
@ DANGER LIES HERE.
The danger of a misunderstanding
With the Military, Academy lies in the
fact that it would be impracticable
cor the Naval Academy to conform to
eligibility rules when meeting other
teams, but to put Itself on an equal
footing by using first-year students
when 1t opposes the Army team.
Such first-year men would lose the
benefit OF games against the other
teams, and the general team play
would suffer by changes in makeup.
Clearly, II In necessary to use these
rules for all contests OF not to use
them at all.
should the Military Academy per
sist in Its opposition to adopting any
sort of eligibility rules, the situation
may arise in a few years where the
Naval Academy may have to choose
between keeping the Military Acad-
emy as its greatest athletic rival or
foregoing contests with most OF the
other institutions orAish standing.
The Military Academy, OF course.
would be In the same position. As in
teresting as are the contests between
the teams OF the service schools, they
hardly take the place Of all, or most.
OF the other contests.
First-year students at the service
schools would be able TO participate
just as actively in athletics II the
one-year residence rule was in effect.
a- they would take part in the first
year. or freshmen, athletes, to which
greater attention would be paid
Neither OF the teams would suffer
much, and IL would be In an equal
degree. ,..