Evening star., 1951-08-04
Army to Field Grid Team
Despite Cribbinq Scandal
"A BY the Assoeiated Press

"A BY the Associated Press
NEW YORK, Aug. Army
will field football team this fall
That much seems certain.
But whether it'll resemble the
powerhouseS of recent years is a
question that Coach Earl Blaik
himself probably can't answer
until he surveys what is left of q
squad riddled by dismissals fol
cheating in examinations.
Ninety unidentified cadets were
expelled yesterday for cribbing
and Gen. j. Lawton Collins, Army
Chief of Staff, said no names
would be announced.
But Senator Byrd of Virginia
said Gen. Collins told him and
several other Senators that most
of the Army football team was
involved.
Senator Byrd said also that
Gen. Collins told him the Crib
bing' started among the football
players, who found it difficult to
keep up with their class work be-
cause of practices and trips.
Blaik Unavailable.
Blaik could not be reached for
comment. He was at the academy
Thursday but had "disappeared''
yesterday when Army Secretary
Pace disclosed in Washington that
the cadets had broken the honor
code.
However, Col. James Leer, head
of the academy'S information of
fee, said the Army would play
football this fall.
That means a schedule high
lighted by the Southern Cali
fornia game in New York, No
vember 3, and the traditional
game with Navy in Philadelphia's s
Municipal Stadium, December l.
Dartmouth, Harvard and the
Citadel don't appear too formida-
bic at this stage even for a re-
built Army eleven. But the re-
malnder of the schedule, in addi-
ton to use and Navy, includes
such gridiron powers as Villanova,
northwestern, Columbia and
Pennsylvania.
News of the wholesale suspen-
sion, the greatest mass expulsion
in West Points 149 years, was
broken to the cadet corps in MIN
eographed announcements short
ly after noon yesterday.
West Point Stunned,
Col. Leer said, THE entire post
and garrison and the corps of
cadets were stunned"
About 16O0-1,700 cadets were
on the West Point campus. About
300 were away on leave or on
various training missions.
Actually, academy sources said,
the news of the mass breakdown
had been rumored among the
cadets for many weeks.
Col. Leer said the Investigation
began last Spring-he could not
say exactly when-after a single
cadet became suspicious of some
OF his fellows. This cadet was
not identified by name.
Following academy regulations,
Col. Leer said, this cadet relayed
ms suspicious to the 25-man
honor guard, made up of West
Point seniors or f1rst-classmen.
This board then began an in
VeStigation.
1t grew as it went along" Col.
Leer explained.
The June 5 graduation of the
senior class automatically took
away from the academy the honor
guard that was doing the investi-
eating. It was at that time that
special board set up by Gen.
Collins in Washington took over
Col. Leer said at least half of
the 80 cadets involved were on
leave. kilograms were sent out
ordering them to report back at
once.
The cadets will have a chance
to have their cases reviewed dur
ing the formal process of being
discharged from the Army. Col.
Leer said this process may take
two or three weeks.
Players Lost by Graduation.
Even without yesterdays set
back, Army was destined to enter
It's 1851 football campaign minus
10 of last years players-most of
whom figured in the cadets 28-
game winning streak before they
were beaten by Navy, 14-2, in last
falls final game.
From last years team three
quarters of the starting offensive
backf1eld had been graduated, as
had the center of the defensive
line.
Gone were such offensive stars
as Dan Foldberg. captain and left
end; Guard Bruce Emblad. Tackle
Bruce Ackerman and Fischl, Gil
Stephenson and Jack Martin from
the backfleld. On the defense,
Charles Shira, left tackle, and
Harold Shultz, halfback, also were
lost by graduation.
But by the close of spring prac-
tice Blaik had moulded what ap-
peared to be another rugged grid
iron machine.
He placed his own son, Bob at