The Washington times., 1931-12-11
GAME.
IS COMPLEX
IN PHASES
BY HARRY COSTELLO
Georgetown Backfield Star
191O.13.)

Logical to be illogical; illogical
to be logical.
That, perhaps. describes the q.
S. Governments position in the
matter of the Army-Navy foot
ball tangle.
The playing of the 1881 grid
game between West Point and
Annapolis tomorrow in Yankee
Stadium, New York, does not
necessarily mean that other foot
ball contests between the two
service schools will follow in the
immediate years.
There is much more to the
Army.Navy gridiron tangle than
appears to the casual observer.
Eligibility codes play no particu.,
larly important part in the dis
agreement between the two, con.
trary to what one gains from
the sport pages Of the country.
Issue Is Ramified
Many are under the impression
that it is just a matter of ath.
letics. However, it is far more
than that. This thing goes into
100000 investments, age
limits, flag officers for the Navy,
years of service. age of retire
ment and the economical ques-
ton Of lard dollars we'll or badly
spent by the U. s. Government.
West Point, as probably every
one knows, was established and
is maintained to train young
men in the art of killing the
enemies Of the United States in
time of war.
Annapolis likewise.
On the plains, overlooking the
Hudson, the cadet corps goes
daily on its way mastering the
art.
On the banks Of the Severn,
the regiment of midshipmen does
likewise.
Football Educational
AS a means to an end, both
academies utilize the game Of
football. The game is instructive
in many ways. Its value as an
educational asset is not queS-
toned by public or the Govern
ment.
It is admitted by Army and
Navy authorities that cadets and
middies alike may gain pointers
in strategy from football. Also.
the grid game develops and brings
out qualities of courage. quick
thinking, physical as we'll as men,
tai agility, reSourcefulnesS initia-
tive, GOODNESS under fire, judg-
ment. 1t teaches quite effica.
ciouSly the lessons of self-control,
self-Sacrifice, unity of thought,
of action and of purpose, CO.
ordination, cooperation, tenacity
Of purpose, inspiration, loyalty
and devotion, Sportsmanship. It
develops character and breeds
the spirit of the regiment.
Expressive of America
In American educational circles
football is accepted as the game
most truly American and as the
medium for best expressing the
verve and vigor of the American
people.
Several years back the two
academies agreed to disagree in
the matter of football relations
between West Point and An
napolis. ...3-
The West Pointers had gone
into the aScendancy in matters
football.
The general public, even the
sporting public, could not under
stand why The athletic world
did. So did athletic authorities
at the Naval Academy. 49,
The gridiron compel tion
between West Point and An.
napolis was not properly balanced.
It was uneven then. and it is
now. Army had then. and has
now. a decided edge in its favor.
Navy, naturally. was, and is, at
decided disadvantage in any
football competition with West
Point.
Two Major Points
The main point involved is
divided into two parts:
/. The Government permits
young men up TO the age of %
years to enter the Military Acad-
emy.
2. The Government prohibits
young men who have passed their i.
twentieth birthday to enter the
Naval Academy. -"
The appointments to West
Point went. and now go, to de-
serving young men, a compare.
lively small percentage of them
also excellent football players.
The appointments to Annapolis
went and now go to deserving
young men, an infiniteSSimal per.
centage of them good football
players.
The obvious resulted: Army
was placed, and remains, in q
position of advantage over Navy:
Navy was placed, and remains, in
a diSadvantageouS position in
relation to Army.
Thus it can be seen that age
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