The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-11-09

,1,.,I: stance. Several
Joe "ili'amS years ago the re-
port was widely circulated that
rather formidable football power
located within a good rifle shot of
Now York state had no fewer than
three players on its varsity who
doubled in brass by playing pro-
fessional football on Sunday. The
difference here was that they were
outright employees. They didn't have
to concern themselves with credits
of any kind. They could play foot
ball and apparently this was quite
enough for the university in point.
Without knowing great deal
about it, I'd say ohhand that no
player could possible succeed in
palming himself off to a university
as somebody else unless ne enjoyed
the assistance, or perhaps ConniV-
anCe is the word Of party or par
ties directly connected with the ath-
letic department. Such Machiavel-
liam cunning is rare in husky young
bruisers who make football life's
work.
II n
A ND yet if it is true that the
A universities are to be subjected
to such vile deceit to the detri-
mert of their fair name in the
higher academic spheres, it is plain
that vigorous steps must be taken to
protect them. All 1 know about the
case of the California full back is
what has been printed in the news
papers. The charge has been made
and not yet disproyed that Mr.
Key is not Mr.. Key, but in reality
is one of Mr.. Keys several BROTH
ers.
To repeat, the charge against Mr.
Key may be entirely without foun-
dalton, but the possibilities of such
a situation are both interesting and
alarming. Apparently, for one thing,
it is possible to have one brother do
the thinking and the other the foot
ball playing. In some circles this
might be looked upon as an equal
distribution of family talents. In
the end, it is assumed the scholarly
brother gets a degree and the man
Of brains makes the all-America
team.
1t is plain, of course that such
an arrangement could be very often
sive to the academic ideals of a
university. This would seem to ne
CCssitate certain safeguards against
duplicity. Perhaps finger printing
would solve the problem. 1t seems
to work out neatly in criminal cir
Giles where there is a question Of
identity. Indeed. results are guar
anteCd even where there are twins
or quintuplets
THE Bertillon system consisting
of measurements and photo
graphic images would heardly be-
reliable. A gent who makes bust
ness of playing football suffers as
many physical and facial alterna-
tons as a rough and tumble prize
fighter After two or three bruiSing
campaigns even his own mother
wouldn't know him.
The situation in which the trust
ing universities find themselves is
undoubtedly a desperate one. If
certain parties persist in going
around taking advantage of the
generosity of universities in Offering
free scholarships, weekly salaries
and such, there will have to be a
law. or at least a sharp readjust-
ment of the general attitude.
The king of deception that is sug
geSted in the Key case strikes at the
very foundation Of American edu-
cation and if permitted to run RAM
pant is liable to destroy the cher
ished illusions of every youngSter in
this country-and especially those
youngsters who do not have great
big brothers with al-America po-
tentialities.
CUTTING around home nursing a
~ cold, it is impossible to escape
the radio And virtually every time
YOU turn the radio on some master
mind of the coaching fraternity is
being interviewed. If YOU have never
listened to one Of these interviews
you have missed something. Just
what 7 don't know But something
Just the same. They are all keyed