Evening star., 1955-11-22
WIN, LOSE OR
1NAV BY FRANCIS sTANN
As 1t Was in 1905

TT COMES UP Army versus Navy this week and appro
priatey letter arrives containing memories of Brig
Gen. Alexander G. Gillespie USA ret1 of Washington
"f you think will be of any interest to the old timers
the general writes you are welcome to use it as you
see ft."
Could be Of interest to the moderns too for as Gen.
Gillespie states at the outset "the old order of football
ended and new one began"
It so years ago, December 1905, of which the
general writes The game played at Princeton
that year, the last major game Of the old order,
he begins
"he reason this particular game was played Prince
ton because the Army and Navy representatives of
whom Bull Hasey was one. could not agree with the
University of Pennsylvania where the game habualy
played, equitable distribution Of tickets.
tS&4
WHILE THE CROWD at the game was the usual
glamorous one including four Presidents past present and
future in Cleveland Roosevelt Taft and wilson, the ioca
tion was to quite unsuitable from transportation
standpoint There jam at Princeton Junction and
the Army squad coming down from New York delayed
for about half hour. This important the Navy
in might attack for touchdown in the last
few minutes to tie the score at 6-6
shortly thereafter the game called because no
body except the center could see the ball
'The game itself bit rugged indicated by the
press reports at the time and the Army had somewhat
the advantage revealed by the statistics Army gained
1856 yards rushing and the Navy 22 But Army lost record
Of 10 yards in penalties against Nays 10 yards The
Army at least felt that the officials bit lopsided in
zeal human failing.
"It was right after this game that Teddy Roosevelt
called for revision Of the rules and the result revou
tionary" Presidents action after several fatalities
many vigorous protests about the brutality Of the game
UNDER THE OLD ORDER, the spectators seldom
the ball except when it was kicked OF punted" Gen
Gillespie says Mass and tandem plays the rule with
every in every play few big colleges such Harvard
YALE Chicago and Michigan dominated the football picture
Southern and Western teams seldom heard Of Notre
Dame in 1904 lost to Kansas 245 but beat Ohio Medic
12-5l
How the picture has changed Now, football covers
the country and there good teams everywhere Gen
Gillespie notes, adding:
I'm the early days expenditures for football
small The total expense of the Army squad in 1905 was
$6064 This included coaches guarantees officials train
ers uniforms and the trip to Princeton with two nights for
the team at the Waldorf Astoria
Recruiting Of players practically unknown in those
years The coaches took what they got, they got It,
and tried to make something out of It, At West Point with
only $50 cadets to choose FROM the job not Yet
done and in 1904 Army beat Yale for the first time"
NOWHERE IN HIS LETTER does Gen. Gillespie mention
that he than eyewitness but the West Point
football brochure casts light on the subject
Cadet A. @. Gillespie not only is listed member Of
that 1905 squad but he also captain Of the last team
that represented the Military Academy before the conference
at the White House brought up egazaon Of the forward
and other rule changes designed to open up the