Evening star., 1947-01-31
| Public Censure Feared
|As Davis, Blanchard
Eye Pro Football
BY Lewis F. Atchison

Soday pondered the football futures
If Glenn Davis, Felix Doc) Blanch-
ard and Barney Poole, criticism of
their request for leaves Of absence
from the Army to play for pro teams
seemed crystalizing In some quarters,
The West Point stars applica-
sions for leave after their June
graduation was disclosed yesterday
at the War Department. Their re-
quest was without precedent, ac-
cording to academy officials, and
the leaves, If granted, would be
from the Regular Army. But it was
plain that no decision will be made
Immediately and that the War. De-
partment apparently will be guided
by public sentiment.
President George Marshall Of the
Redskins laughed at reports that
Davis and Blanchard, Army's one
two scoring punch, were headed for
the Tribe.
"It's a good story and would be
a darned good deal for us" he said.
"But they put 1t on the wrong page
1t should have been printed on the
comic page"
Skins Want FoIdberg.
The Skins would like to have
Hank Foldberg, the end they drafted
at the last National League meeting,
Marshall said, but not on part
time basis.
Dick McCann (Redskin publicity
NAM pointed out that the Army
isn't part-time job, and while these
boys are fine football players they
also might make fine generals,
Marshall went on. 1--WE wouldn't
want any player on that basis. We
want our players to give all their
time to football"
The trio's action recalled the
resignation of Shorty" McWilliams
from West Point last summer, which
| was accepted only after a bitter
verbal blast at the Academy by
| Coach Allyn McKeen of Mississippi
State. McWilliams returned to Mis-
sissippi State and McKeen charged
that his resignation, when first sub
mitted, was not acted on because
West Point wanted to retain him
for his football ability.
A storm of criticism also arose
when Tony Minisi, Bob Kelley and
"Hunchy" Hoernschemeyer resigned
from the Naval Academy to re-
enter civilian schools at the conclu-
sion of the war.
At the War Department 1t was
explained that McWilliams' resig-
nation was acted on by the Secre-
tary of War and was accepted be-
cause he did not wish to become
an officer and did not desire mill
tary career. These cases are not
unusual, it was pointed out, and
the department accepts a number OF
such each year.
A Federal statute which requires
a boy to spend eight years In mill
tary service upon his admission to
West Point is moral obligation,
not contractual, 1t was pointed out.
The Army does not desire to waste
time training men who intend to
resign after completing the course.
While the Army lacks precedent
| in granting the extended leave re-
quested by the players, they can
separate from the service If they
decide to completely sever all ties
with the Army in favor of football
career. But the matter of four
months off is hot potato which the
War Department must juggie care
fully.
At the Naval Academy, where
several football players resigned
after the 1945 season, graduates are
required to serve two years at sea
before becoming eligible to resign,
the Navy Department said. Any
undergraduate may resign, however
It has pointed out that gradual
ing West Pointers receive two
months vacation Immediately after
receiving their diplomas and that
the players might be able to take
this time off during the football
season. On the other hand, their
value to any pro team for such a
short period would be practically
nil, and certainly would not COM
mand the high salary now reported
ly awaiting them.
The All-America Conference
which lost Charley Trippi Of Georgia
and Bob Fenimore of Oklahoma to
the National League, would almost
have to land Blanchard and Davis
to remain in competition with the
older circuit. 1t unquestionably will
bid high for them and the Associated
Press reported the two eligible Ma
tional League clubs ready to match
its rival dollar for dollar. Davis
was drafted by the Detroit National
League team last month and
Blanchard was picked by Pittsburgh
last year. Since then the two or
ganizations have tried to make
deals that would keep the volatile
touchdown twins together If they
4 turned pro.
Poole was drafted by the New
York Giants last year and probably
would be partial to that team as his
older brother. Jim Poole, played
10 years for New York.
I Tony Morabito's San Francisco
49ers picked Davis in the All-Ameri-
ca draft, then bargained with
Brooklyn for negotiating rights with
Blanchard. The A-A wants to keer
the pair in the same backfield as q
drawing card. Landing them woulc
offset the rival circuits success In
signing Trippi and Fenimore ant
might te a financial bonanza.
Woodward Cogers Rout
Wuynesboro High School
I Woodward chool's basketers
lchalked IN their fourth victory in @