Egan Says Crimson Should 'Recruit or Drop Football'

"Harvard hold either give up football or go out and get player so it can make a respectable showing," David F. Egan '23, Boston Record sports columnist said in an interview yesterday.

Egan, in elaborating on several columns he has written since Saturday's game, hit sharply at what he called "the backward Harvard admissions policies."

"Harvard doesn't need to lower its standards to get winning teams back," Egan stated. "The finest education in America should be sufficient to draw athletes and football stars to Harvard without going professional.

"Princeton can field good teams without lowering its standards. A more aggressive admissions policy by which good athletes are encouraged and even aided to go to Harvard must be used," Egan continued.

More Balanced

"The boys who make the admissions policy must realize that there is no reason three-sports high school stars should get as high marks as straight grinds. It's about time they came to realize that good athletes contribute as much to a school as top students--what Harvard needs is a more balanced student body, with a good deal more rewards and encouragements for the guy who is willing to spend his time and risk his neck on athletic fields."

Egan, who was a basketball player at the College in the early '20's, asked for more scholarship rewards to athletes and a system of providing good jobs to help defray expenses and combat the "salaries" offered by other colleges.

"In recent years, the athletic and admission policies at Harvard has done more to discourage athletes from going than anything else--it's time for a change in such policies. A few small changes and the wonderful education Harvard has to offer could easily combine to make the alumni and student body proud of their college on fall Saturday afternoons, instead of being ashamed," Egan concluded.