Nineteen Sports May Fight for 12 Colors

The recent elevation of soccer to major sport status has brought the Undergraduate Athletic Council many problems, not the least of which is determining what color letter should be awarded to future booters.

At first glance the Council would seem to be in an advantageous position. Major letters have traditionally consisted of some combination of the colors black, white, and crimson. Thus the baseball team receives a black H on a crimson sweater, and the hockey team receives a crimson H, bordered with white, on a black sweater.

Since there are only 12 possible combinations of the three colors involved, and since there are already eight other major sports, the Council would seem well off in having only four combinations to choose from.

Future Looks Black

But the situation bodes ill for the future. Already cross country and wrestling have submitted petitions seeking major sports status. In addition, there are eight other minor sports which may soon be clamoring for major recognition. What will the Council do when it has 19 sports and only 12 color combinations?

Possibly the best solution would be to grant the same H to all major athletes no matter what sport they have won their letter in. This solution seems even better when one analyzes the futility of the present system.

For how many people know which sports the various colors represent? It is doubtful if many but the team members themselves know the colors of a sport, and it is further doubtful if the members of one team know the colors of the other teams.

What makes the situation even more ridiculous is that many athletes either refuse to wear their letter sweaters around school or insist on wearing them inside out, with the letter obscured. Then, when they get home, many sport even a minor letter proudly, and attempt to create the impression that they have won it in a different sport. All of which leads one to conclude that letter distinctions are somewhat superfluous.

But those who disagree can go ahead and award pink letters on blue backgrounds if they want.