Evening star., 1936-11-27

ANNAPOLIS. Md, November a.
The first Army-Navy foot ball game
was played In 1890 and the tussle
to be contested In Philadelphia's
Municipal Stadium tomorrow will be
the thirty-seventh clash In q series
which has increased in interest
through the years.
The first game contested at West
Point drew a handful of fans who
were admitted free. They got thrill,
however, as Navy won, "a to 0. To-
morrow 100000 fans will pay $40
apiece to see the tilt. In preparing
for the tussle the service teams bar
every one except players and coaches
from the practice fields. Even cap
tairs with an arm full of gold braid
cannot crash the gate. Many secret
has leaked out to the enemy through
idle chatter about what went on in
practice.
Since the World War the service
classics have attracted more than
100000 paid customers who have
paid in the neighborhood Of $4,000, 900
W oCO ltlC ~ 1oSCNo4leS. N11AS b"o
issues besides the World War have
interrupted the series, but in 1909
death on the West Point squad
caused cancellation of the game.
The first break came in 1893, when
President Grover Cleveland would not
permit either team to leave its home
field. The service game was taken so
rArin1lclry
and Navy officers fought duels. 1t
was not until 1899 that President
william Mckinley, as Commander in
Chief of the service, ironed out diff
ferences and allowed the two schools
to play.
Objected to Policy.
The next cessation Of foot ball hos
tinties came in 1928, when the schools
decided not to play after the Naval
Academy objected to West Point g
policy of playing grid stars with pre-
vious college foot ball experience.
Navy was adhering to the three-year
rule but hadn't won foot ball game
against Army since 1921. two ties
being the Middies' only satisfaction
for some time. No games were
played in 1928 or 1929 as President
Herbert Hoover refrained from tax
ing action although the question of
eligibility was argued by Senators and
Representatives.
In 1880 and 1891 the service teams
met in New York in the name OF
charity. In 1882, the teams decided
to meet again In all sports, although
Army refused to adopt the three-year
rule.
Most of the games in the series have
been terrific battles and no contest
was any harder fought than the 3-to-o
victory Navy gained in the mud of
Franklin Field two years ago. Army
leads in the long series 20 to IS, while
three games resulted in ties. The
Middies have held the Cadets scoreless
in II Of their 13 victories. On the
other hand, Army has shut the Navy
out only seven times in rolling up its
margin Of victories.
The 1886 tilt is being played on q
new field. although Philadelphia has
of late been the site of the service
clashes. The first four games were
contested there and at West Point.
Starting in 1899. the game was trans
ferred to hiladelphia and 1t re-
manned there until 1912. except for
the 1905 contest. which was played
at Princeton. Between 1912 and 1923
New York got all the games except
the 1914 and 1922 meetings. The
teams played in Baltimore in 1928,
New York in 1924. Chicago in 1926
and New York again in 1927. 1880 and
1881. The last four games have been
in Philadelphia, because of fine turn
outs there and because it is midway
between West Point and Annapolis.
Navy Prestige on Upturn.
Nays foot ball prestige has been on
the upgrade for several years, the
Arny's 28-to-6 win Of last year being
the worse beating the Middies have
taken In q long time. For years it was
customary for the Midshipmen and
Cadets to wager their bathrobes on the
outcome Of all athletic events. Navy