The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-02-08
PONDER FUTURE
OF SPORTSFOR
NAVY ACADEMY
Decreased Enrolment Because Of
Armament Reduction To Have
! It's Effect.
BY LAWRENCE PERRY.

Copyright, 1922, by The Argus)
One phase of the naval reduction
agreement which has been inter
esting service men of late but has
not been publicly discussed, was
brought to the attention of the writ
er today by an officer of high rank.
1t relates to the effects of the new
naval policy upon athletics at the
naval academy, assuming, of
course, that congress decides that
personnel as well as hulls shall be
scrapped. AS the case stands now
it seems that there are enough va
cancieS in the commissioned ranks
of the navy for the present gradu-
ating class at Annapolis. But will
there be in the future? Undoubt-
edly not if the academy enrolment
is maintained at its present figure
some 2,40O students.
When it is grasped that the to-
tai number of midshipmen are
available for varsity teams, there
being no one year rule, there will
be less wonder than now exists in
various quarters as to the reasons
for the navy's success in all inter
collegiate sports Now assume that
congress, keeping pace with our
progress of reduced naval building,
decides to treat personnel in sim
liar manner. 1t would not be a
radical statement to say that the
toal roster at the naval academy
would be cut down to a thousand,
if not less. The effect this would
have upon the navy's athletic pres
tige may be left to the follower of
intercollegiate sports to decide
That it would be appreciable is not
to be doubted.
On the other hand congress may
follow the example of England and
Japan in retaining personnel even
though ships will not exist to float
it all. While military and economic
reasons will govern such action as
may be taken at Washington, ma
val officers who are proud of the
present prestige of their alma ma
ter hope that in the end it will be
found that personnel will be re-
tanned and that nothing has been
done to deprive the navy of ath-
letic laurels now in her grasp.
Illinois university resents seeing
illinois and professionalism"
coupled in newspaper headlines.
Certain athletes" writes an Illi-
nois man, broke rules relating to
amateur standing and were pun
ished. The university couldn't help
it,
That is perfectly true. All that
an institution can do to save itself
from a situation of this sort is to
make certain that, in addition to
qualities as proficient instructors in
games of various sorts, coaches
shall be equally successful in i'm
lnder their charge. No faculty mem
Der is so close to a student as a
,oach is to the athlete and no one
therefore, has greater opportuni- /
les for good or for evil. Coaches. /
Who are chosen without this
bought in mind, are liable to be
This must not be taken
o indicate that coaches at Illinois,
II at Notre Dame, failed in or
neglected their duties, as exemplars
nd teachers of athletic, or morals. /,
The perfect will stray from even
he best
A Williams man said today at an /
p-town club here that not long
go he and certain members of the
Williams eleven received an offer
D play football on the eleven rep
esenting city in New York state.
he offer was declined by all. il
But, said this man, the idea was
empting inasmuch as it offered op-s,
ortunity for some good sport. At
he same time some of us who were ,
'orking our way through college
ad almost vital need of more
money than we were making" He ,
ided that the temptation was the