Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-12-17
ARMY AND NAVY
ANNUAL GRID
GAME IS ENDED

WEST POINT. N. Y. Dec. 16 tR-
The annual football classic OF the
army and navy, most colorful OF
the seasonal pigskin dramas over a
period OF % years, apparently came
to an end today
The definite break in athletic reia-
tions, considered inevitable now by
army men, appeared in publication
OF correspondence between Admiral
Louis M. Mutton, superintendent OF
the naval academy at Annapolis and
Major General Edwin B. Winans,
head OF the military institute, con-
cerning the three year eligibility rule,
adopted by the middies but scorned at
| West Point
! Although a four year contract for
annual football clashes entered into
in October, 1926 still has three years
to run, Admiral Mutton requested
on December 3 that army add to
the individual contract for 1923
clause stipulating that mo contest
ant shall take part in this game
on either team who has had three
years experience in intercollegiate
football" Refusal to accede to this
:, request would be considered "re-
! lection of the contract and the naval
academy will consider itself free to
schedule another game on November
"a, 1922 4
! In his reply, published today, Major
General Winans refused the eligibility
clause "for reasons fully covered in
previous correspondence between the
authorities OF the two academies" and
returned the contract unsigned He
added that it was the army con-
tention that authorities of the
United States Naval academy wish
to be released from the (four YEAR,
contract entered into in 1926"
IT wish to assure you," he added,
'that under the circumstances, the
authorities of the military academy
will not oppose your wishes in this
respect"
Army objections to the three year
eligibility rule, accepted by the navy,
were voiced by General Winans yes.
terday in a statement which approved
recommendations of the West Point
advisory council that rules governing
! eligibility would not be subject to
| further changes.
General Winans explained then the
necessity for all students at the
military academy competing in sports
on a basis of equality, declared that
the eligibility standard already in
effect had brought objection from no
other colleges, and pointed out that
while army navy contests tradition
| Toll q Mt o1.t of
/ West Point schedules, the main pur-
pose is development of sports
throughout the army"
/ The rule allowing only three years
of varsity play whether at college
before entering the academies or in
! the service institutions themselves,
! from West Point games. Captain
Harry Wilson, shining light in arnlys
/! IA to 9 victory this fall played
several years of varsity football at
Penn State and his mates in the
backfield, Murrell, Nave and Keener
eagle, all had college experience be-
fore entering West Point.
| Under the ruling adopted volun-
tarily, navy lost such stars as Tod
Sloane, end, who caught Whitley
LIoyd's spectacular pass for a touch
down last November. "Bud" Sprague,
American tackle and captain-elect
of the army, played college football
! in Texas before coming to West
Point.
In their long series of combats,
army has won Is of the annual foot
ball clashes, losing H. with three
games tied. During that time the
cadets pushed 325 points over the
middle goal while navy scored 213.