Valpey, Aides Launch Spring Practice Today

Spring may be another week away on the calendar, but for Harvard football it starts today at 4 o'clock in Carpenter Hall when Art Valpey and his aides size up the men they hope to build a team out of between now and next October.

Backfield coach Forrest "Butch" Jordan and line coach Davy Jones have hardly had a chance to unpack their bags. They checked in from Ann Arbor Saturday afternoon at the Kirkland House suite they will share temporarily with their boss. As yet, no end coach has been signed.

Valpey has already made a hit with some football players by his pledge of a hands-off policy regarding grid candidates who also like to play baseball. "That's their own individual problem," he says, "although it may mean starting fall training either with a background, or completely unindoctrinated."

Three Players Caught

At least three of last fall's Varsity football players are caught between football and baseball, but two of them, guard Nick Rodis and back Chip Gannon, are expected to junk the latter sport in favor of an all-out drive for Valpey.

The third man, Jim Kenary, says he "will try to do both." Kenary, last fall's sophomore passing whiz, will attempt to land an outfield berth on the Varsity nine. Presumably, he'll work out on the diamond during early afternoon, and then sprint over to the Cage, where grid drills will be held from 4 to 6 o'clock until after vacation.