Evening star., 1942-02-18
Emphasize Athletics
AT Every College,
Pleads Hibbs
Jones' Predecessor
Amozed by Educator
Urging Opposite
By LAWRENCE PERRY.


NEW YORK, Feb 1s.-"Sports as
usual? More sports than usual is
the better way to put it."
So spoke Col Louis E. Hibbs as
sort of swan song in preparing
to depart from West Point for Texas
not Fort Knox, as was first
d stated-after a fortnight spent in
grooming Maj Biff Jones, his Sue
cessor as graduate manager of ath-
letics at the United States Military
Academy.
II utterly was astonished. I was
amazed the other day" Col. Hibbs
said, when a college president told
me he thought it would be wise
were his college specifically and in
general. all colleges, to drop inter-
collegiate sports and concentrate
upon scholastic education. I gave
him my views quite freely"
Col Hibbs' views? They all are
for competitive sport as the best
means he knows of training a boy
physical and mental ref1eXes. of
giving him the capacity for imme-
diate and decisive action in tight
corners. of hardening his body and
sharpening his mind. If tens of
thousands of spectators gather to
add their stimulus to an athletes
competitive spirit that is all right,
too.
FIouts Bomb Caution.
''If suicide bombers try to drop
bombs over a hundred thousand
people at an Army-Navy game the
number would be no greater than if
bombs we're dropped over Wall
Street and in either case the Army
and Navy are on hand to show the
invaders could be dealt with. There
will be plenty of competitive sport at
West Point and at Annapolis, too"
Asked if probability existed that
the military academy would follow
the lead of many civilian institutions
in reducing the course to three
years Col. Hibbs said he had heard
no talk to this effect. Nor had he
heard any discussion of using plebes
on varsity teams. Nothing. he said,
had come from the Naval Academy
concerning the playing of flrSt-year
students.
But this problem. if it arises, and
ell other problems" the colonel said,
'I am leaving in Biff Jones capable
hands. He will have plenty to do,
so much to do that even If he
wanted to do some football coaching
and Earl Blaik needed another hand
on his coaching staff, he would not
have the time.
Biff Won't Interfere.
II know there are lot Of coaches
Of Biffs standing and ability who
might be tempted after some game
to take the head coach by the arm
and say. look here. old man. I've
got a helpful idea about the wrong
way the team is playing that deep
reverse But YOU won't see Bin
doing that, eh Biff?"
LAS to that" laughed Biff, II am
nothing but losing coach. Lost
five games last year-in a row"
anyway smiled Col. Hibbs. 'he
no doubt has a clear memory of Huey
Long"
The Colonel'S reference 10 the time
when the late Huey wanted to pep
up the Louisiana State eleven and
Blf wouldn't let him, needed no
further elaboration.
But 1t has been great, enlivening
and valuable experience to have
been here at West Point. the colonel
said. I have made friends that will
be hard to leave But I'll remember
them always and I hope they will
me"
They will" came fervent reply,
"and. Louis, they all will pray you
won't add any more wound stripes
to the two you now are wearing
Amen" said Col. Hibbs.