The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-12-29
RENEWAL OF
RIVALRY IS
STILL SEEN
Middies Say Figures Show
Some Cadets Have Played
SIS Years
NAVY MAKES NEW RULE
Notre Dame Asked Navy But
Not Army For Three.
year Rule
NAVY MAKES NEW RULE
BY ALAN J. GOULD
(AssQeiated Press Sports EditOr)


New York, Dec. 29.-(AP)-West
Point isn't anxious to cut adrift from
the Naval Academy gridiron but
Army supporters here are making 1t
clear they prefer to see the annual
service football battle scrapped
rather than discard its whole athletic
system, of which the present cligi-
bility code is fundamental part.
In nutshell that is considered
the Army point Of view in connec-
ton with the present break in rela-
lions and the prospect that there
will be no Army-Navy game next
season or for some time to come, I'M
less there Is an abOut-face at either
West Point or Annapolis.
Just now no compromise seems
likely. despite the fact that there
also is an under.current Of feeling
that the door has not altogether been
barred to a gct-together. This I'M
der-current has gained impetus from
the presence here this week of Army
as we'll as Navy football coaches
and officials gathering with gridiron
men from all parts of the country for
annual pow-wows over the game and
rules.
But il there is any immediate basis
on which the two academies can get
together again it hasn't bobbed to
the surface.
Ways Of Figuring Differ
Army men feel they have some re-
buttal coming in view Of the publica-
ton, from official Annapolis sources,
Of detailed statistical records of
Army's football squad.
These military men, 1t seems, do
not like the mathematics employed
by the Naval branch of the service.
Instead Of subscribing to the Nays
claim that the better share of the
1927 Army gridiron squad average
5.6 years in competitive college ex-
perience, they produce figures to
show that the average was only SO
years, including the full varsity ca
reer at West Point. In other words,
the average previous experience per
man was only six-tenths Of q year
instead Of % years, if the Army
calculation is accepted.
The Navy quoted figures on II
men with an aggregate of 81 years.
experience, but by some process
strange to the Army followers, di-
vided this by IL to arrive at an aver
age Of SIS years. The Army, for
good measure, adds two more ex-
perienced names to the list, making
10, with total experience of GO years
to produce an average of SO.
Why Bring That Up?
WHAT" these Army men are ask
ing, twas the Nays idea in forcing
the three.year issue now, in view of
the existence of four-year contract
with three years more to run, and
the known stand of West Point on
the eligibility question:"
The Navy points to the paragraph
in . recently published news pamph-
let, issued at Annapolis:
In our athletic relations with the
college world, we have from time to
time been requested to conform to
college standards Of eligibility. The
freshman rule was first applied
partly 1t the insistence of Yale and
Princeton 1929. Now Notre Dame
asks for the three-ycar rule in foot.
ball."
But if Notrc Dame made such a
request to the Navy it neglected to
take up the same issue with West
Point, with whom the Hoosiers have
had gridiron relations since 1913.
Neither Notre Dame nor any other
institution, except the Navy, has
taken up the three-year rule with the
Army, It declared on authority.