Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-15
VIRGINIA OPENING
ITS NEW STADIUM
Athletic Plant Marks New
Era for CavaIiers-Gift
of Frederic Scott.
BY II. C. BYRD.

~ Virginia Military Institute
were to meet here TODAY
as the feature of the dedication Of
Virginia's new foot ball stadium,
gift of Frederic Scott of Rich
mond.
The foot ball game, it is true,
features the days activities, but
the game itself apparently has lit
tie significance in the minds of
Virginia alumni, in comparison to
the stadium itself. This dedica-
ton seems to be arousing Virginia
alumni to bigger and greater
things in the way of intercol-
legiate. athletics.
The Stadium, as it testihes to a won
derful advance over the old Lambeth
Field, signifies to Virginia people
something of what they may hope for
in the future.
This stadium is something more
than q stadium, In that in Virginia
minds it marks the beginning Of a new
era in which the University will shake
of its last provincial garments and go
forth in a garb which should enable
it to take its rightful place among the
foremost universities of America. That
Is the Virginia thought and ideal, and
to hear enthusiastic confident predic-
lions as tn the future is about all that
one needs to catch the spirit Of local
optimism.
ENOUGH already has been written
- ABOUT the stadium itself. as far as
descriptions Of the structure Of con-
crete is concerned Too much could
not be written about the changed atti-
tude of the collective athletic mind
at this university. The outlook, the
sAsoning processes, the whole scheme
for the future, are as different from
two or three years ago as the outlook
Of America today Is different from the
outlook Of the America of Jefferson'S
time. AS far as athletics Is concerned.
the University of Virginia Is being re-
born Not that is Is dropping or losing
in any sense its high ideals of the past,
but rather that it is adding to this
foundation. already established, a
superstructure of success which should
fields and enable it to set for other
institutions a higher standard of at
tainment, a standard based on the best
intellectual and moral processes.
A whole day and night of activities
are scheduled. The frsternities are
holding house parties, old graduates are
getting together, and tonight there will
be a grand get-together at the country
club.
a far as the foot ball game Is con-
IA cerned, it really seems to be more
or less incidental to bigger thing.
But there Is interest in it just the same.
Virginia is taking pride in its stadium
and is looking on the dedication of that
as the big part Of the days program.
However, Virginia Military Institute is
not dedicating a stadium. but is play
ing foot ball game. and is looking on
that as its center of interest.
Most of the folks around here seem
to think that Virginia should win rather
easily, but there are others who expect
v. M. l. to put up great struggle. Us
ually the LexingtonianS make a great
game of their meeting with Virginia,
even II they seem to be on the short
end in the pre-game predictions. Last
year, with the weakest eleven 1t has had
in years, v. M. ]. played fine foot ball
against the Cavaliers and was beaten
only by the remarkable individual per-
formances Of Thomas, star Virginia
back
Today w. NJ l. may play the same
kind of a game. In fact. it viii be some
thing of a surprise if it does not
Actually, Bill Raftery, " M. I. coach
is one of the Shrewdest foot ball men
in the South, and when he has an OPP
portunity to point for any game he
usually makes good in that game, or
comes as near it as any coach with his
material could come. v. NJ. I. has no
back anywhere near. the equal of
Thomas, and it will be Raftery'S job to
build a defense to stop that player. On
how well he stops Thomas will depend
v. M. rs success.
coaches Of many foot ball teams
~ and q good many athletic direc-
tors are taking the opportunity to
watch a game in which they have little
direct interest. Most coaches like bet
ter than anything else to sit on the
sidelines and watch two teams in which
they have no coaching concern. OF
course, some coaches here today have
more than such ordinary interest in
Virginia Military Institute and Virginia,
as their teams in the near future play
one or the other Of them. Virginia
Polytechnic Institute, Washington and
Lee, North Carolina, all play Virginia
and they want to learn all they can
about Virginia's play. Others here meet
Virginia Military Institute and have
that same interest in the work Of that
eleven.
WHILE q good deal has been made
w Of q meeting at Atlanta early this
FAN in the sense Of predictions
t.