Evening star., 1952-10-30

tor in charge of interhigh ath-
leticS, and Norman j. Nelson, as
sistant superintendent of schools.
Pearce readily takes the blame
and Nelson was unavailable for
comment yesterday.
| When Kanthal, a transfer from
Tech, first came out for football
at Coolidge he told Coach Gil
Conn that he was not sure OF his
eligibility. "They let me play at
Tech" Kanthal told Conn. so I
guess I'm eligible. But I'm not
sure"
. Conn asked Pearce for ruling
before the season started and
Hardy examined KanthaPs tram
script. Pearce then told Conn
the boy could play. My error
was in mistaking his February
report. which was all right. for
the June report. which would
have shown the boy dropped out
of Tech with failing grades and
was ineligible" Pearce says. Il
should have checked the records
at Tech, but didn't"
Other Schools Protest.
Kanthal played for Coolidge
and saw action against Anacostia
October 3. At that time repre-
isentatives from other schools than
Coolidge and Anacostia told Russ
Lombardi, head of the Anacostia
athletic department. that Kanthal
was ineligible. Lombardi at
tempted to check this but says he
could get no definite proof and let
the matter drop.
1t was Roosevelt which Kanthal
once attended, not Anacostia. that
finally pushed the matter. On a
strong complaint from Roosevelt
authorities, Pearce rechecked the
records and declared Kanthal in
eligible two weeks ago. However,
Pearce, after consulting Nelson.
ruled the Coolidge victory over
Anacostia should stand.
! 1T was my fault since I told
Coolidge in good faith that Kan
thai could play" Pearce says. Il
didn't feel Coolidge should be pen
alized for my error"
/ However, Anacostia is disturbed
that it was not informed of the
protest by Roosevelt or of the
decision by Pearce and Nelson.
In fact we didn't know anything
about it until last Friday when
the boy didn't play against East
ern and we found he was in
eligible" lombard says. Il then
called Pearce and asked him if
Coolidge's win over us shouldn't
be forfeited. He told me the de-
Icision had already been made and
the result was going to stand
This I found hard to believe, but
I couldn't get any satisfaction.
Two Rules Cited.
lombard quotes two Board OF
Education rules for interhigh
athletics, one saying a boy who
did not receive three semester
credits IN the last advisory period
(Kanthal's situation at the start
of the season. is ineligible. The
other states that all principles
must be informed of the decision
of protest.
Mrs. Opal Corkery, principal OF
Anacostia, did not learn of the
confusion until Lombardi and Zu
Stewart, Anacostia football coach
called on her Monday with the
facts. She had not been Informed
of the protest on its decision.
Then Mrs. Corkery called Pearce
and Nelson to ask if Anacostia
shouldn't be awarded forfeit
victory over Coolidge. Mrs. Cork
cry received the same story as
had Lombardi.
Il don't think we can build
character with boys and girls
Iif the schools themselves do not
obey the rules" Mrs. Corkery COM
Imented. But I received no salts
faction from Mr.. Pearce or Mr.
Nelson"
In fact, as late as Tuesday after
noon Mrs. Corkery was talking
by phone to Nelson on another
matter and brought up the eligi-
bility confusion. Nelson again
stated that the decision by Pearce
, and sanctioned by him would
; stand: 1t was Coolidge's game.
| However before o'clock thai