Evening star., 1941-08-05
Serious Problem Due
To Draft Foreseen
For Next Year
Few Schools Hard Hit
So Far; Mehre to Ask
For Change in Code
BY ROMNEY WHEELER,
Associated Press Sports Writer.

&'SoSAntcu Etceo CpOIlS WTlIeT.
ATLANTA, Aug. 5.-Youu see nc
freshman footballers cavorting ir
big-time games this fall, but paste
this in your hat-amendment of the
rules to make first-year men eligible
for varsity competition will be asked
when the Southeastern Conference
meets in Lexington, KY, next
December.
Few S. E. C. schools have lost
heavily-yet. But coaches, eying
accelerated draft action and in
creased attraction of jobs in defense
industries, think it likely that fresh
man talent will be needed in 1912
If football is played in the South
eastern Conference.
Harry Mehre of Mississippi, who
last spring predicted need of fresh
man eligibility, expects to get along
this fall on what varsity material
happens to be available. But he
also is expected to push vigorously
for modification of the rules at the
December meeting.
Bernie Moore of Louisiana State
University, whose material usually
runs to light squads, says he
wouldn't object to playing freshmen
this fall if other schools of the
conference took the lead.
Il think it might be a good safety
valve for the Southeastern squads"
he observes.
Problem Now Minor One.
Most schools, says Alb Kirwan of
Kentucky, are losing not more than
two or three varsity men, and the
problem will not become critical
until Is or 20 men are lost by the
schools. Kentucky has lost none so
far, may lose three. Mississippi and
L. S. U. each have yielded one var
slty man to the armed forces.
Red Sanders of Vanderbilt, who
lost two men-both Of them tail
backs-thinks thereu be no need
Of first-year talent this fall, but
probably different story next year.
Ditto Tom Lieb of Florida, except
that his losses run to quarterbacks.
Heaviest hit have been Alabama
and Georgia Tech. The Crimson
Tide saw Capt. -elect. John Hanson,
fullback, join the Air Corps; Joe
Domnanoyich, first-string center,
drafted; Bill Krautwald, freshman
tackle, volunteer; Swede Hansen,
tackle, and Elwood Gerber, guard,
flunked; Charley De Shane married,
and three men called by the Ma
tional Guard-End Tom Maxwell,
Center Fermon Elmore and End
James Grantham
Georgia Tech Losses Four.
Georgia Tech sent four of its en-
gineers into the Air Service-Half-
backs Dick Bates and Bobby Pair,
and Tackles Carlton Lee and Red
Muerth. Red Hood, a substitute
guard, was drafted.
Auburn has lost three men to the
Army - Quarterback Buddy Nc
Mahan, Halfback Paul Ellis and End
Theo Cremer.
Mississippi States Coach Allyn
MCheen IOSC neaYlly from his orange
Bowl champions at graduation, but
draft and defense jobs have taken
none.
McKeen says he would oppose
freshman eligibility at the present
time, since no team has lost enough
men to be crippled. But he adds.
This may not hold true in 1912.
1t is entirely possible that the draft
may take considerably larger num-
Der of boys than it has this year. In
that event, it would be advisable to
permit the freshmen to play, and
NJ furally would favor it."
Change of the freshman rule would
involve amendment of the South
eastern Conference bylaws. This
could be considered at the winter
meeting. Such a proposal must be
submitted to all members in writing
by the Conference secretary at least
three weeks in advance of the ses-
sion.