Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-11

CaluoInl@ new year Gay al FaSaOeld,
was pronounced by some the national
champion, but Frank Dickinson's rating
system said Southern California was
entitled to the palm. Then there were
those who submitted that the University
OF Detroit and Boston College could
point to an unblemished record.
An Absurd Proposition.
It is absurd, in my opinion, to talk
about a national champion when there
are so many strong teams which never
meet each other Often it is impossible
to establish q clean-cut sectional SUI
premacy, let alone trying to take in the
breadth Of the land.
have never yet met coach who,
even II his team was groomed as a ma
tional possibility, could discuss the pre-
tension with a straight face.
Big Ten teams are seldom If ever
mentioned in any of these discussions
Of national champions. yet the Western
Conference is the largest organization
of big universities In the country. AS a
Big Ten coach 7 may be regarded as
somewhat biased, but circumstances will
getting o fair break in any Of these
rankings.
Play Among Selves.
This Is because the Western Confer
enee teams play most of their games
among themselves, and at best can list
no more than one important intersec-
tional game on account of their ohliga-
tons to their fellow members and the
greater interest their own traditional
Tivalries inspire.
But the greatest barrier to a consider
alton OF Big Ten teams is the rule of
the conference against post-season
games. The Big Ten regulations per-
init only eight games, and the season
must close the Saturday before Thanks
giving. Ohio State, In 1920, was per-
United to travel to the Pacific Coast.
but since then tentative invitations have
had to be declined. The coast was
eager to see our 1928 co-champions with
Red Grange in a post-season contest,
out there was no chance that permis-
sion could be obtained.
Playing these heavy schedules with
each other, 1t Is hard for Big Ten
teams to emerge undefeated. Often
they destroy each other, you might say.
Not Big Ten team was defeated last
season, yet 1t would be foolish to as
Sert that the best elevens were not the
equal OF those In other parts Of the
country.
In Class With Best.
Big Ten foot ball does not have to
take back seat for any other brand,
] say this after having seen important
games in various sections annually for
years. Last year saw Pennsylvania
Cornell and Stanford-Army Pop"
Warmers Stanford team undoubtedly
was fine machine, but I am sure
there were four or five Big Ten elevens
In the same class
They do not grow them bigger or
make them faster in one section than
in another. Some people think the Pay
cific Coast has better players, but
have been on its campuses and have
seen the personnels, and do not be-
heve this. The fact that they do not
have so many universities does possibly
In one institution.
My friend, John Heisman, advocates
0 division of the country into four Sec
tons, and from each choosing the best
team TO meet the representatives of the
other sections in elimination contests
that would end two Saturdays after
the close Of the season. A committee
Of sports editors In each section would
select the four teams.
Too Many Obstacles.
There might be something to such a
plan, but there are too many obstacles
In the path Of putting 1t into effect. and
It Is a waste of breath TO talk about 1t.
As there is more International ac-
tivity in the Western Conference this
year than ever before, perhaps those
who talk about national champions will
include Big Ten possibilities. Michigan
meets Harvard, Chicago plays Prince
ton, Ohio State meets Pittsburgh and
Illinois the Army.
II Illinois should have the fortune
to 90 through their schedule and some
one tries to pin another Of those ma
tional rosettes on us. trust somebody
will remind me of this article.
National champions? There amt no
SIGH animal
(Copyright, 1929