Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-13

n YEW 1Otth, december 10
That California Pennsylvania
game which will be played at
i Berkeley on December 81 has
more back of it than a mere
sporting contest. 1t has a distinct po-
litical angle.
For one thing it is a slap at the
annual Tournament of Roses foot
ball show at Pasadena. Why any one
should want to take a slap at a
function so beautiful and colorful as
the affair at Pasadena is likely to
puzzle the outsider.
But no one evidently is perplexed
in California. First of all, the Pasa-
dena affair is regarded, at least in
Northern California, as excellent pub
licity for the South, and it would be
surprising if the Southern promoters
and public generally did not see it in
this way, too.
Again, among members Of the
Pacific Coast Conference-north of
Los Angeles, that is to say--there
has been a growing opposition to the
contest at Pasadena on the ground
it involves the mixing up of univer-
sity sport with commercial enterprise.
Two years ago the colleges took steps
TO minimize the commercial aspect
and the Pasadena authorities cooper.
ated to the extent of placing the con.
duct of the game in the hands of the
conference.
Would Rival South.
But, evidently, there is the desire
that this New Year day struggle
at Pasadena have a Northern rival.
What California wants to do is to
make of this December 81 game an
annual event, and it is hoped that
eventually it will take on the i'm.
portance of a championship match,
as between different sections of the
country.
Teams will be invited to Berkeley
yearly, and while neither Penn nor
the Golden Bears have had better
than medium success this season. it
is felt that the contest will open the
way for an annual feature which as
a rule will have national Importance.
The game at the end Of this month
will be in the nature of memorial
to the late Andy Smith, coach of Cal
ifornia's wonder teams" Smith was
a star Pennsylvania back before COM
ing to Berkeley and the two elevens
will participate In the ceremony or
dedicating a granite memorial bench
on the side lines just before the game
begins. In the sod of the gridiron on
which the two teams will struggle for
supremacy lie the ashes of Andy
Smith, which at his request were scat
tered over the field from an airplane.
Want Longer Seasons.
Neither foot ball authorities nor
coaches nor the public likes to see
foot ball end the last Saturday in No
vember on the. West Coast. The
weather continues ideal for foot ball
throughout the Winter, and post season
intersectional contests, the Tourna-
ment of Roses game, professional
matches and minor college games
keep the gridiron spirit alive out on
the Golden Coast.
AS to the game between the Quak-
ers and the men Of Berkeley, the
chances are that the East will be at
least as we'll represented as the West
Coast. In fact, the writer, having
seen both elevens in action, is in
clined to think that Pennsylvania is
likely to prove the more formidable OF
the two. The Red and Blue was
handicapped by injuries following the
Penn State game, but with her full
strength on the field the team may
be appraised as a thoroughly repre-
sentative Eastern outfit.
On the other hand, California is be-
low the high standards set by some
of Andy Smiths elevens and II the
climate does not exert an injurious
effect upon the Pennsylvanians, they
stand out as likely winners. 1t Will
be Underestimate see how effectively
the California defense diagnoses and
then stops PENIS hidden-ball attack.
The Quakers work it very well indeed
and Californians who throng the
Berkeley stadium may expect lot of
thrills.
No one should get the idea that the
University of Michigan, which in
tends to put into effect the scheme
of organizing two foot ball teams in
1928-one for home games and one
for games away from home-will do
anything to hurt the strength OF the
varsity eleven.
When President Little Of Michigan
and President Hopkins of Dartmouth
apparently the development of two
elevens of approximately even
strength. This, of course, is not feas-
IDLE for any university which has
championship aspirations. AS rule
there are not enough highly qualified
PLAYERS to fill one eleven, let alone
two. And to divide such material as
falls to hand would be inconceivable
under conditions of intercollegiate
sport, outside Of 1unatic asylum.
What Michigan will undoubtedly do
will be what Wisconsin admittedly will
do, which is to organize a junior
varsity to play schedule with second
elevens of other colleges.
Just. how this arrangement will ac-
complish the designed purpose Of keep
ing students from migrating to games
played by the regular varsity and just
how emphasis on foot ball will be
minimized are difficult to determine.
One may wager that if Michigan's big
team is playing Illinois at Urbana and
the second team is entertaining some
rival university's minor team, the
trend to Urbana will not be diminished
by the opportunity of seeing two
lesser outfits play at home.
Northwestern is openly opposed TO
the plan, Illinois is skeptical and
Chicago, while not combating the prof.
ect, says that it would be impossible
to organize two teams for intercollegi-
ate play. In the East no interest at
all has been evinced in the idea, nor
in the South.
Copyright. 1929