The Washington times., 1934-12-27

Kings English. $ An ~
One of t 4 e NY :S
things the men .,,-,.,, o,,y.m
will discuss in
corners and in the sanctuary Of
their private abodes is the matter
of attracting suitable scholars to
schools.
It has been going on for years
and everyone acknowledged the
facts, at least tacitly. Then came
a bomb shell in the form of the
Carnegie Report in which every.
thing but the laundry bills of the
athletes was printed, and some Of
the schools decided to deempha-
size football.
One school went so far as to
pick fight with a coach hired
expressly to put its football on the
big wheel. The coach was fired
and things haven't been the same
at that school since.
Handled in the right way schoI-
arships are fine thing for many
a boy who has athletic ability,
ambition and a desire for an edu-
cation, but no money. Notre Dame
handled the question OF scholar
ships sanely. A mans athletic
ability never was held against him
at South Bend, but he had to han
die his scholarship.
Jobs Provided.
Jobs were provided for boys
whether they could pass or punt,
or whether they knew all the
Greek roots. If they wanted to
work and wanted to Study-fine-
they had their shot at it.
1t was not so long ago that a
big kid came to the writer and
said he wanted to go to college,
but, the lad explained, times being
what they were he would need
help. A telephone call put the
lad in touch with prominent +
coach and the boy went to col
lege, waiting on table and shovel
ing coal to work his way through.
He is a good football player, but
he has stuck to waiting and shov-
cling.
What is true of him is true of
hundreds of boys throughout the
country. This writer, for one,
can see nothing reprehensible in
any school or any alumni group
making it easy for a boy to get
an education, even if he is a
good football player.
Campus Buns
Harboring a pack of campus
bums-and there are many of the
breed-is a different proposition.
There are mighty few parents
who would want to send boys out
to one school that scheduled
games with another which was
known to be nothing more than
a haven of football itinerants.
What could be done, of course.
would be to have the simon pures
schedule games among them
selves and let those who are on
the open market play each other.
Let scholarship and an honest
adherence to the three-year rule
decide the eligibles.
Speaking of scholarship and foot
ball. A few years ago the writer
visited West Point to watch the
Army team practice. There was
big cadet on the sidelines fairly
devouring every move of the play.
ers and every word of the coaches.
He was wrapped up heart and
soul in the team, and he was cast
in the mold of football player.
"Why isn't he playing?" the
writer asked.
"He lacks point or two in
scholarship" came the answer
in the crisp Army style. Fright
now he is fighting tooth and
nail to stay in the academy.
His ambition is to be an Army
officer. But trig has him grOggy.
He passed his entrance, but he's
reeling now"
Army is not blind to athletic
ability, but Army insists upon
scholarship.
Not Seen Any More
The service academies are no
places for campus buns. They
don't last any longer than the
first weeks report. They're on
probation for a while, and then
they're not seen any more.
Rules will be discussed at this
conclave of coaches, and it Is
the hope of this writer that the
doctors leave the game alone.
There has been talk of widening
the goal posts and lowering the
bar. That is taking some Of the
skill out of the game. The great
kickers of football, our own Harry
Costello among them, never asked
favors in distance between the
posts, height Of the bar, or dis
tance in the field. He shot with
a Sharpshooter's toe and turned
in his full quota Of points from
the air.