Evening star., 1951-08-10
BIaik Begins 10 Piece
Together Remnants
OF Army Powerhouse
BY the Assoeioied Press

WEST POINT, N. Y, Aug. TO-
Earl Blaik. a father and coach
began building his 18th Army foot
ball team today from the rem.
nants of a squad that could have
been one of the Nations best un.
til it was riddled by the curren1
cribbing scandal.
Gone is his own son Bob, wht
identified himself as one of the
80 cadets involved yesterday JUS
a short time after the father tole
sports writer's in New York City
he would stay as coach at the
Military Academy.
Young Blaik, who would have
been a senior, was quarterback
Some rated him as the Nation!
best. But he and all the remain.
ing accused cadets face expul.
sion for either giving or receiving
advance information regarding
written tests.
Others who have identified
themselves as involved are Harold
Loehlein of Kimball. Mimi, cap
tain-elect Of the team and presi-
dent of the senior class; j. D
Kimmel, powerful Tyler (Tex.)
tackle; Gibby Reich, an outstand-
ing defensive back from Steelton
Pa: Gene Gribble. another back
from Newcastle, Pa; Al Conway
a Kansas City end, and Bob Haas
veteran center from Dayton, Ohio
Loehlein said yesterday that he
was forced under threat of prison
to "squear' on his teammates.
Most of Squad Gone.
During the tense private press
conference in New York, Coach
Blaik said that "all but two-no,
make that a few" members Of the
1851 football squad were involved
and would be dismissed. He
added that the 1851 varsity bas-
ketball and baseball teams also
were virtually wiped out.
He said that approximately SO
per cent of the accused cadets
were athletes and explained that
the high proportion was because
the athletes ate together at the
training table and because OF
their conversations on the prac-
tice fields and in the gym.
Tests at the academy are given
in shifts. with half the corps get
ting them one day and the other
half the Identical questions the
next. If two cadets who have tax
en- the examination discuss the
questions in the hearing of third
all three are liable for expulsion
Blaik told the New York writers
that the press conference had
been called in an effort to save
the regulations of the cadets in
|volved. including that of my own
SON."
MY entire endeavor from now
on" Blaik said in an emotion
packed voice. "is to see that these
boys go out of West Point with
the same type reputation they
had when they came in."
All cadets likely will be dis
missed. It is Blaik's hope that
they will receive honorable dis
charges.
Coach Defends Group.
: "The point I want to make is
that I believe them to have come
in with the finest of regulations.
Although they are in error, ]
don't believe any of them is differ
ent fundamentally in a character
way. There is no moral reason to
send them out into Army service
or to other colleges with anything
but the same type of reputation
x x x" he said.
Blaik has only three known
members Of the 1851 team as q
nucleus for The team that must
take the field September 2s
against Villanova. John eddie
Weaver, an end from Kingston
N. Y; Don Fuqua. a Little Rock
(Ark.) back. and Richard Inman
Vincennes, Ind, guard. All have
telephoned their parents they are
not involved.
Previously Blaik said that the
1850 plebe or freshman squad wa.
one OF the poorest during hi:
tenure. Members OF the freshman
class which entered West Point ir
July are eligible for competition
under the war-relaxed Eastern
Colleges Athletic Conference rule:
but Blaik said the flrst-year stud,
program is so severe only one OF
two cadets could play and keer
up their studies.
Athletes don't come to West
Point to become pro athletes, he
said, because they have to gel
up at $3.50 each morning."
Football practice will get under
way In about a week. There i.
a possibility that some Of tn in.
yolved cadets may be cleared but
the coach indicated that if honor
able discharges are made avail
able to the men, all who have
been accused will leave.
All fT