Evening star., 1928-10-30


Harry Watson Crum will not tutor tht
George Washington University squad
and that American University'S team
will not be under the guidance of Baillie
Springston after the present grldlron
campaign.
In Crum's case, there is likelihood
that his contract as director or the de-
partment of physical education for men
at the downtown institution will not oe
renewed after it expires next Septem'
ber In SpringstonS case, reslgna-
ton seems likely as the coach of team
at the Wesley Heights school has salo
he is considering giving up the post tha'
he may devote his full time to his law
practice.
w. c. Van Week, dean of the law
school and chairman of the committee
on mems athletics at George Washlng-
ton University, said this morning tna'
his committee had not considered any
change in its foot ball policy or admin
istration But it is no secret that the
ColonialS' unsuccessful campaign on
the gridiron this Fall has created as
satisfaction in certain quarters close tc
the university administration and tnat
Crum's scalp is sought.
Poor Support Hurts at G. w.
Although the athletic committee, the
faculty in general and the players them
selves have supported Crum in his
efforts to give George Washington a
good foot ball team during the flye
years he has been connected with the
institution, there never has been any
great amount of interest displayed by
the student body. The student body
has supported the foot ball team, It's
true, but virtually only through the
athletic fees it pays annually.
The situation at American University
Is different. The spirit Of the student
body there is good, but material for a
foot ball team is scant. However, the
MethodiStS slowly but surely are devel-
oping a sound athletic system and with
In a few years should be turning out
capable teams in its class. Springston
though, feels that he cannot take time
from his law practice to further this
development. Several possible success
sors to Springston have been mentioned
most prominent among them being
Bruce KesSler, who has played with the
Methodists and now is student at the
university.
There's nothing cheerful in the foot
ball situation at Washington's largest
educational institution. Outside of
those actually participating in the game
at George Washington, no one seems
to manifest any interest in it. The
players realize they haven't the sup
port of the student body, but they aren't
quitting. Rather they are resigned to
accept the lickings they feel are in store
for them-if only they can redeem
themselves on Thanksgiving day.
Crum Sees AK Falling.
That seems to be the way Coach
Henry Watson Crum regards the situ--
alton, too. Crum In discussing the diff
f1culties encountered in keeping George
washington in foot ball this Fall knows
what probably is in store for him. Its
the ak for me-" he declares, after the
poor showing my team has made. Only
a most remarkable form reversal can
make the season anything like a sue
cess. and with the little material we
have at hand I can't see any such form
reversal occurring. I know what usual
ly happens to a coach whose team has
been beaten numerically throughout a
season. It's the ak for him as a rule"
That George Washington has been
able to hold its opponents as we'll as it
has this year is rather remarkable when
the many blows the foot ball squad mas
sustained are recalled. To begin with,
the Colonial squad included very few
veteran players. It had a capable
looking backf1eld, but green line drawn
from a squad that at its maximum
strength included but % players. There
were but six backfield players at hand
and the flrSt two games of the season
put three of them out of commission.
one for the remainder of the year.
Chalky Lopeman, captain of the team.
who directed play and worked in the
fullback position on defense, tore knee
loose in the first five minutes of the
Fordham game. the campaign opener.
The Lafayette game, the second on the
Colonials' schedule, laid low Shorty
Sanders and Babe Clapper Sanders, a
little fellow, but wise in foot ball, was
being groomed to relieve Lopeman as
quarterback, thus permitting the cap
tain to function more as ball carrier
and defensive player He suffered a
compound fracture Of the leg. Clap
per, hurt in the Fordham game, came
back against Lafayette, only to have a
knee so severely hurt that he will be
virtually useless for two more weeks.
Backfield Shot to Pieces.
With his backfield so shot to pieces
Coach Crum was forced to experiment
with green line material shifted to po-
stions behind a still weaker forward
wall than the one the Colonials had
at the outset of the season. And what
might have been expected to happen
under these circumstances has hap
pened. One can't get something from
nothing
Right now Crum is endeavoring to
give George Washington a foot bal
team from a squad containing but 81
players. With such small squad there
can be no practice scrimmages. Not
even as large a squad as the average
country high school would turn out
better training facilities for foot bal
teams than has George Washington
The Colonials have no field. They must
do their drilling on an open lot neal
the Tidal Basin and they get less thar
two hours drilling daily.
The squad leaves the university gym
nasum in busses at 2:30 o'clock, drills
from 2:45 to AIS or 4:30, then hustle:
back to the gymnasium to dress. Aftel
drills most of the PLAYERS have to at
tend classes. After all, George Wash
ington still is largely night cours'
college, for numbers of its students ane
the majority of the foot ball Squat
attend night courses.
Student Body No Help.
Any way one views it, the making
of foot ball team at George Wash
ington University is no easy task. Ma
terial is scant, facilities for training
are poor, and, above all, there's a de-
plorable lack of college spirit. The few
players work faithfully enough, but tn,
student body in general, when it doe
consider its college team, considers
only as a mark for jibes and jeers.
After all, George Washington, per
haps, has just the kind of foot ball team
it deserves.
ALL ARMY-NOTRE DAME
CAME TIrKETc APE COME