San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-02
University Athletic Award
Made Too Literally,
Some Contend.
MEANING IS CHANGING
Significance Now Just as
Different From Old Days
as Nature.
By WALTER CAMP.

New York, March THE university
letter again is coming in for as much
discussion and argument as it did in
that memorable year when members
of the Harvard football team were re-
ported to have been refused their let
tiers because they failed to defeat Yale.
DR.. John Wilce of Ohio State Uni
versity is involved in a controversy
because he approved the bestowins of
the varsity letter upon Ohio States
girl swimmers. He is quite convinced
that it is the proper thing to do.
The Harvard Athletic Association
recently awarded the III" to Bobby
Jones, despite the fact that the ma
tional champion golfer has never
played on a Harvard team.
Perhaps one may gather some idea
of the impressiveness of the honor by
turning the leaves of history as it af-
fects the university letter. The first
article of the college athletes apparel
which had the peculiar significance
now attached to the letter was the cap
of his athletic uniform. A man treas
ured his cap and regarded it as a sym.
Dol. Later he wore it on the campus
rs a distinction. In the very early
DAYS, as DR.. Chamberlain, graduate
of the seventies, recalled at recent
Rutgers dinner, football captains ex-
changed caps after a match. DR..
Chamberlain exhibited a half dozen
caps which he had received in such ex-
changes.
Then Came the Sweater.
After a time, the cap was embel-
lished with the initial of the univer-
sity. And, by this time, the campus
recognized the varsity player out OF
uniform by his cap. From that the
transition to the sweater was speedy
and varsity men soon were given
sweaters with the letter at the end of
the season. Thus came about the ma
terial side of the reward for playing
on a'varsity football or baseball team
in the big matches, or for rowing in
the varsity boat.
In those days, men were proud OF
the distinction, and not averse to wear
ing cap or sweater. And bear 1t IN
mind that for all this long period.
the letter had one meaning, and one
I only:
the varsity in the big event OF the
season."
II was statement of fact and could
not be given or taken away. II
man had so played, he. was letter
man and you could not help it. If he
had not SO played, he was not letter
man, and no subsequent action could
make him one.
Then came time when minor ath-
letics began TO flourish, and the mem
hers of minor teams commenced to
wear letters as nearly like those of the
major teams as they dared. Almost at
at once. the varsity men abandoned
the wearing of any insignia except
when actually engaged in athletics.
As one man expressed it for all, he
was afraid he might be taken for the
champion tiddledywinks player"
Never Restored Prestige.
This brought about the forbidding
of minor organizations wearing in
sigma similar TO those of the major
teams. But even that restriction and
All the laws passed since have never
quite restored to its old prestige the
wearing of letters. Freshman turn
their prep school sweaters inside out.
with the letter concealed, when using
them in play at college. Varsity play
ers no longer care about wearing their
lettered sweaters on the campus.
But with the great value attached
to making" varsity team, and be-
ing an actor in the big events, there
have come to be very strict and spe-
cific rules as to the letter. 1t is now
awarded" 1t is no longer an abso-
Lutte statement of fact. 1t can be
given by the proper authority to a
man-as in Bobby Jones case-wao
never played in the big games. Substi-
tutes. are still rushed in during the
last few minutes of play to get their
letters" But in this case there is still
recognition of the verities of the case,
for these men do actually play, even
if only for a few seconds. In otner
words, the college belief is still quite
insistent upon the old statement OF
fact"
But such pressure has grown up in
the last decade for turning the letter
Into an award of merit that many a
petition for its granting to some I'M
fortunate who just missed out IS
granted. The case of Bobby Jones IS
a shining example. Only the outside
athletic laws prevented him from rep
resenting Harvard on the golf team
and undoubtedly successfully. So
they gave him his letter anyhow.
The really new angle of the situa-
ton is typified by DR.. Wilce's contro-
versy over the swimming girls letters.
With more and more women going IN
for sports at co-educational schools. We
shall soon see a widespread demand
among them for equal rights" in the
natter of the varsity letter.
Shoot For Cup Sunday.
The Liberty Pistol and Rifle club
eill shoot for the Specia Glass a
tfle cup at the municipal range in
Breckenridge Park Sunday morning.
This trophy, given by the Specia
company, was first shot for in 1922.