Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-23
BY GILMOUR DOBIE,
In Collaboration With Harold E.
Jansen.

INCREASING prominence Of intersec-
tional foot ball games has given rise
to gossip debates and friendly con-
troversieS to add to the other SURFING
questions of All-American players,
proselyting, craftsmanship, and alumni siusn
funds.
The question wakes hotter every year among
followers of foot ball as TO whether the south
has as good teams as the North, whether the
Eastern teams are as formidable as the MEM
bers of the Big Ten, and If the Southern Con-
ference teams are as high caliber as those IN
the Pacific Coast Conference.
But the greatest controversy evolves on
whether the East turns out stronger elevens
than the West For foot ball has become largely
intersectional since the World War. And coll
lege athletic associations have found that the
public parts with its hard-earned dollars for
admissions to intersectional games in a way
that is unequaled by others, except in cases Of
traditional rivals
!. Even the more conservative universities are
now allowing their teams to 60 on long trips.
It has been argued that extended journeys
make foot ball and sport in general take on an
aspect of being more prominent in q players
life than his education; that he misses impor-
tant classes and it is difhcult for him to catch
up in his studies. It is also claimed that long
train rides, and often q considerable change in
climatic conditions, are distinct disadvantage
30 the visiting team Nevertheless, colleges go
on arranging intersecsl0nal gridiron struggles in
Increasing numbers. apd as long as the public
demands them, 1t is likely they will.
Many schools, however, are declining post
season games. Maj. Gen. w. r. Smith, super
intendent Of the United States Military Academy
aS West Point, announced after the disastrous
. trip Of Army to Stanford last season that It
would not participate in any more post-season
games because they interfere with academic
work.
while this has been the attitude of other
colleges, very few of them turn down an OPP
portunity to participate in the Tournament
Of Roses, other East West extra schedule
struggle, because the players-and the univer-
eity band, too-are usually partial to such Q
trip and the good times and change in atmos-
phere connected with it. And the athletic as
sociations are not shying away from their share
Of the gate receipts.
ON the face of the results Of East-West coll
legiate foot ball contests over a period of
years, it appears that the West-particularly
the three larger universities In California-has
o much stronger aggregation Of athletes than
the East. Never was this supremacy more
marked than last year. Throughout the season
Notre Dame and Georgia Tech have the dis
einction of being the only elevens east of the
Mississippi River to beat q California team, and
thus be able to lay claim to a national cham
pionship.
Many times these questions have been asked
me: Are Western teams stronger than those of
the East? If so, why? Do they have better
material? Better coaches? Is the climate more
conducive to turning out bigger, better and
more experienced men?
MY opinion is that the West has placed
stronger teams on the gridiron in the last 10
years than the East. The latter has just as
good men-big, brainy and experienced
enter college with enviable high school and
prep school records as the West.
A city lad has just as good an opportunity
and probably better, to make q foot ball team
than youth who has been brought up on a
farm or ranch, one who has come from q
small town. For, whereas the farmer lad or the
overly large youth may have weight, Drawn
and stamina, he may not have the foot ball
playing experience with its essential require
ments of speed. agility and mental alertness.
that his city friend has acquired under the
tutelage of a coach who is probably more capa-
BILE and who has arranged games with stronger
teams.
If the Eastern colleges have just as good ma
terial, why don't they win fair percentage
Of the games? is the logical question. Undoubt-
edly they do, If one considers the Mississippi
River the dividing line between the East and
the West. But II you consider the Pacific
Coast against the States along the North At
lantic seaboard, the story Is entirely different.
WESTERN institutions Of learning are largely
w State universities, and q large percentage
Of the students Of the State enroll in them be-
cause, for one reason, they can obtain free
tuition California the second largest State
In the country, has three prominent universities
that have won their spurs and renown for
turning out great foot bali teams. Stanford Is
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