Reform

For the past ten years the U. S. Military Academy has been the only major football-playing college in the U. S. that has not had the three-year varsity eligibility rule. Such Army All-Americans as Elmer Oliphant (Purdue 1914), Ed Garbisch (Washington & Jefferson 1921), "Light Horse" Harry Wilson (Penn State 1924) played varsity football three or four years at their respective alma maters and four more for Army.* This situation roiled many an opponent. In 1928-29 the Naval Academy refused to have any truck with the Army footballers, and the Big Ten for the past three years has banned games with Army. Nevertheless, West Point officials insisted that athletics were as much a part of Army requirements as book learning and every cadet should have an equal opportunity to prove his ability in competitive sport regardless of previous affiliations. Suddenly last week, two days after the Big Ten decided to lift its ban,

Major General William D. Connor, superintendent of the Military Academy, without giving any reason, announced: "Hereafter the eligibility rules which obtain at Annapolis and the leading civilian colleges in the country will be applied in determining the eligibility of cadets to play upon the athletic teams of the Military Academy."

*Until ten years ago Army plebes were permitted to play varsity football.

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