Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-20
The Army-Navy Foot Ball Break

No break in athletic relationships
between two educational institutions
has so struck the chord of public com.
ment as that now threatened between
the Navy and Army. The annual
foot ball game between the two acad-
enies holds an unusual distinction
in the public mind, and a break IN
the series is the last action that might
bound by ties OF such common inter-
est.
Games between Army and Navy
mean something to more people in
different walks of life than any other
contest, no matter how important
others may seem. They represent
mecca to which all, or nearly all, foot
ball coaches, newspaper sports
writer's, players and every man inter.
ested in the technical or professional
side OF foot ball, who can by any
means obtain tickets, journey, coming
as it does each year after the close
of nearly all schedules. From the
chief of staff in the War Department
to the humblest soldier sweltering in
jungle garrison in the Philippines,
from the Secretary Of Navy to the
grimiest coal passer on the smallest
Navy tug, the Army-Navy foot ball
game Is just about what the Olym-
pads were to the ancient Greeks.
No official break in the relationship
between the schools has yet taken
place, but the situation undoubtedly
is acute. Each institution apparently
is In a position from which it cannot
recede entirely without what 1t feels
would be loss TO its prestige and sacri'
fee of principle. All the more difficult
then is it to find common ground on
which differences can be reconciled.
Briefly, the Navy has adopted eligi.
bility rules for participation OF its
students in intercollegiate sports that.
according to accepted standards in the
universities and colleges, are more
strict and of a higher standard than
those governing participation Of stu.
dents at West Point, and has de.
manded that the Army meet the same
standards on penalty Of disseminating
relationships in athletics.
Financially. each school is indie.
pendent of the other. Each has other
games from which it derives revenue
for the maintenance of its many and
varied branches Of sport. Navy may
count on it's games with Pennsylvania,
Michigan, Notre Dame and others to
keep its treasury in healthy condition
and Army obtains from its contests
with Yale and Notre Dame far more
money than 1t ever gets from a game
with Navy. Ten years ago the finan-
cial consideration involved in the con-
test would have made it almost i'm.
possible for Army and Navy not to
play.
Because Of the widespread public
interest, it is to be regretted that this
situation has arisen, but in the final
analysis Of the fundamental purposes
Of the two schools the foot ball game
between them means little. Navy de.
sires to carry on its athletics more as
a college, under regulations govern
ing athletics in the best colleges. Army
is DESTROYS Of holding itself entirely
as a service institution and frankly
maintains that its aim Is so different
from the aim of the universities and
colleges that 1t is justified in using
any of its students that all may be
given equal opportunity for the train
ing that comes from such participa
ton.
Navy and Army are sincere in their
positions, are trying their best to &C.
complish that for which they were
created, to develop an efficient officer
personnel, and II for the moment they
determine to travel by different roads
those that have the game, and all
that 1t represents, at heart should
patiently accept the edicts Of those
charged with the responsibility OF
management of the two institutions
It is to be hoped that some solution
will be reached, but confidence is felt
that whatever may be the final move
that move will be for the best inter
ests of the two academies.