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

A NNAPOLIS, December IL
~ Understanding among Navy
"A people here is that the last
4 agreement between the off,
Gals of the Naval and Military
Academies, in connection with annual
foot bah games between the instltu-
tons, did not bind them to series OF
contests. whether or not an agreement
is reached as to the eligibility or
players.
1t is regarded as important that
there should be a general understand
Ing on this point, inasmuch as there
might be charges of bad faith If failure
TO agree in this matter should bring
the series to an end.
1t is stated on the best authority
that the last agreement, which covered
four annual games. the first being the
one recently played in New York, was
reached with full understanding that
the matter of eligibility was yet to be
considered and that an agreement was
the condition of future games.
In other words, the agreement, as
1t was generally understood, simply
covered details of the game, such as
dates, playing grounds, etc., If an
agreement was reached as to eligi-
bility of players.
Navy people, however, are entirely
hopeful that there will be no Interrupt
ton of series which has come to
mean more to them, and to the mem
bers of the other service, than any
other athletic event in which their
teams engage. However, the feeling
Of the majority of the naval officers
Is that the series should not continue
under present conditions.
West Point Stands Alone.
Navy people point out that the Mill
tary Academy is now the one impor-
tant collegiate institution where
student can engage in sports after
three years of participation in other
colleges, and that students in that
class can only continue to play foot
ball by entering professional ranks or
going to West Point.
The status of West Point in this
matter being as it is, the flow of
players who have attained distinc-
ton at other colleges to West Point,
increased rapidly during the last few
years until it's team of last season
presented an unprecedented aggrega-
ton of former college stars, each
member of its backfield being from a
different college, where he had played
foot ball.
The argument, emanating from
West Point, to the effect that the
ordinary eligibility rules would be an
undemocratic discrimination against
certain students, is not regarded here
as strong.
1t is pointed out that number of
years ago the Military Academy did
agree to rules, which have since
lapsed, which limited the playing
term of players, and that at present
il bars first-year students from var
sity sports. Thus. the Military Acad-
envy has already made certain dis
tinctions.
1t is not understood why the adop-
ton of certain rules, found necessary
at practically all other colleges, to
discourage the transfer of students
for athletic reasons and to prevent
the competition of certain players over
a long term of years. should be re-
garded as undemocratic.
In spite of limitations that the Mill
tary Academy does not approve of the
three-year rule, which now seems to
be the bone of contention, Navy peo-
ple are hopeful that the question will
be given fair consideration and that
it will be possible to continue the
games.
There are also hopes for a reason
able compromise of the matter by
which the three-year rule will be ulti-
mately adopted, though not neces-
sarily at once.