Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-22

IN for 1929 might be merely q re-
"a cital of facts as they developed
4 4 during the year, but it seems
e." that the real value of any year
activities lies more in the influence OF
those activities on the future. ConSe-
quently, it follows that the most i'm
portant factors in any review should be
recital of whatever happenings dur
ing the period to be reviewed were most
valuable in building for coming years.
Things that have the largest and best
effect ought to occupy the most impor-
tant places.
Probably most far-reaching of ell
happenings during 1929 in local COL
lege athletics were the beginning OF
plans at George Washington Un1ver-
Sity and University OF Maryland to
completely reorganize their entire phys
ical education and athletic systems so
that not only would broader scope
for intercollegiate activities be developed
but also for intramural sports, that
form of competition by which it is
aimed to get all, or nearly all, students
in some form of competition; and the
announcement of plans at Georgetown
for the construction Of new athletic
field and the ALLEGATION of larger areas
for general use by teams and for stu
dents not members Of teams.
G. w. U. Makes Start.
George Washington is the first to
make q real start toward the reorganl-
zation Of its personnel. The Bun and
Blue brought here from Westminster
College j. r. Pixlee. who brought with
him several assistants, and turned over
to him the Job of developing system
Of sports through the department OF
physical education for all students and
of reorganizing the intercollegiate ath-
letics so that it might be put on g sue
-R,,l he ha fret f{V1aA IN
many years that the Buff and Blue
school has made a real attempt on q
fairly big scale to build up that part OF
its work. Pixlee took up his burden
Just this last Fall, and found the whole
university behind him Fundamentally.
He is hard at his task and Is making
appreciable headway; although the 1oo
is big one and no big job is easy.
Maryland has announced a plan to
throw all its work in physical educa-
ton, and possibly athletics as WELL
into one big department to be known as
the department Of health. The un1ver-
sity now is looking for man to head
this department and under him Will
be men who will teach the professional
side of physical education and ath-
letics to future high school teachers;
others who will direct gymnasium work
and intramural sports, and others VINO
will tie in all this work with the mill
tary and intercollegiate phases Of ath-
letics. Under the department also will
fall the university inflrmary and the
general health Of the student body
from a standpoint of medical attention.
Stadium for Hilltop.
Georgetown has not announced any
plan for reorganizing its general ath-
letics. both intramural and intercol-
legiate, but 1t is likely that some re-
organization may take place, following
the resignation of Lou Little as director
of athletics and head coach Of foot ball.
However, what Georgetown has done
is to say that 1t is making plans to build
a stadium on the Hilltop, one that 1t
win be able to call its own and which
will give greater distinction to its teams
and also to construct new practice neldS
for varsity teams and playing fields for
others that desire to enter into mira
mural games.
George washington has not yet been
able to obtain land where 1t might
construct an athletic field Of its own,
but is looking around and confidently
feels it will not be long before stadium
will be erected. Maryland began a
program of building last year, and this
program is being carried out. During
the past year a new running track, q
new base ball field, two new foot ball
fields and 10 tennis courts have been
built, and the old varsity field regarded
Another happening Of the past year
worthy of more than passing comment
was the resumption Of relationships be-
tween Catholic University and Mary
land. Not enough genes are being
played between local institutions, and
when two align themselves to meet In
several sports the action cannot DO
other than exert a beneficial effect on
the students of both and probably on
the students of others as well. Any
thing that tends to promote good
workmanship between universities and
to bring the students Of one university
into the right kind of contact with the
students of another helps in way to
build the future OF both.
It Is extremely encouraging to that
group of educators who have felt that
intercollegiate athletics Is running away
with q play program to note the ten
dency among local schools to formulate
plans to enlarge their intramural ac-
Invites and give great numbers OF
students opportunities for competition,
and probably is just as encouraging to
the other group Of educators who have
felt that the development OF intercol-
legiate activities must come f1rst ana
out of thu. the building Of stronger
intramural systems.
Foot Ball Is Chief Sport.
As far as intercollegiate athletics is
concerned, nothing has yet been found
nor devised to take the place OF foot
ball. notwithstanding the Investigations
and criticisms to which the game Is from
time to time subjected. Foot ball Is foot
ball, and its remarkable growth seems 10
be all the argument that Is needed 10
show that it has in it at least some
potential virtue and worth. Interest
here in that sport is not as great COM
paratively as in other places, neither
from a standpoint of public interest
nor the amount of attention and time
given it by the colleges. 1t Is a iact
that washington does not turn out as
good crowds for foot ball games as
Richmond. Norfolk, Roanoke. Atlanta,
or even Athens. Ga, which has only
thirty thousand population.
But be that as II is. 1t is fact that
local schools turn out good teams IN
all branches of sport and even In loot
ball are able to hold up their heads
without shame and at times with a
good deal of pride. Georgetown, gen.
orally speaking, has stood the test OF
the eridiron better than the other local
schools and it holds a higher place in
the foot ball world, although me others
have at times achieved notable things.
Consistently, year in and year out,
Georgetown teams are stronger, and the
past year has not peen an exception.
There were times last Fall when Mary
land might have won from Georgetown
had they met on ths gridiron, but from
the beginning of the season until the
end Georgetown consistently was
stronger,
Georgetown started its season with
what il considered to be brilliant pros
poets. but in its second game fell before
Western Maryland by one touchdown.
The Blue and Gray felt that was an
indication Of weakness, but 1t was later
An,,rad that antIIallu IL Nuas he strencth