Seen From the Sidelines
(This column appears in The Dartmouth, and is written by the paper's former managing editor)
The Story of Squash
In college sporting circles, it is a pretty generally accepted proposition that about the only sport which pays for itself is football and that football, of necessity, must carry on its broad shoulders all other athletics whether varsity or intramural. At few colleges in the East has this fact been more soundly illustrater' than at Dartmouth. This year, most freshman sports were on an informal basis or else a very reduced schedule. Although to a lesser extent, varsity sports have also suffered. Football receipts undoubtedly make the mare go, but with $4.40 seats and packed football stadiums just a memory, football receipts simply cannot make the mare go so far.
Squash: Three Stages
Squash is one sport soon to become ripe for recognition at Dartmouth, but the question of how soon cannot be answered until we understand the story of squash which conveniently divides itself into three stages.
Although the thought of squash had always been in the minds of Dartmouth men, it took a few rebels playing the game in ill-fitted handball courts to start the ball rolling. Back in 1931. when it had money, the Dartmouth College Athletic Council built the present squash house at a cost of $80,000. This was the first stage. Ten singles courts and a doubles court were constructed under the immediate supervision of Walter Kinsella, retired world's squash champion. The courts compare favorably with the best in the country.
Excellent Construction
Dartmouth adopted a new policy in squash court construction which had been very successful at the Yale Club in New York City. Rather than the usual white, the floors have the color of maplewood, which has been twice shellacked and then treated with one coat of colorless spar varnish. At the present time, the wisdom of this policy, two years and a half after its inception, is evident. The glare of the lights above is no longer reflected from the floor to the eyes of the player. Slipping on the court is an impossibility. Nevertheless, the finish of the court is sufficiently light to enable the players to distinguish the ball no matter how fast the play may become. In addition the courts have excellent lighting and ventilation facilities.
Coach Appointed
Dartmouth's second step in the squash movement was the appointing of Crawford L. ("Bill") Gilligan of the Fraternity Club of New York City as coach. Coach Gilligan came to Dartmouth highly recommended and has always been active in the squash field first as a player and later as a coach.
Naturally, Dartmouth could not enter a team in the Intercollegiate Squash League capable of competing with Harvard, Yale, and Princeton, at least, not without a year of orientation to the game. So the first year was devoted to classifying players with the end in view that in another year, squash at Dartmouth would be represented with a league team as are baseball. basketball, hockey and golf.
The transition from the intramural stage to the varsity stage has never been complete, but nevertheless, the expenditure for the squash courts has proved productive. Enthusiasm for the game has spread not only through the ranks of the undergraduates, but also to the faculty and the administrative officers. Dean Neidlinger is now a ranking player on the Graduate Club team. Squash is at present one of the most popular intramural sports in college.
Informal Varsity Team
In the two years following the construction of the courts, an informal varsity team met and defeated ten opponents in a row. During this period, Massachusetts Institute of Technology was beaten in a close match.
This winter, a definite attempt was made by the team to obtain the permission of the Athletic Council to represent the College. Realizing that in a year when several sports with good records were allowed practically no money by the Council, the squash group asked only the permission to call itself the Dartmouth team. At that time also, the Council was called upon to approve a schedule which included Yale, M. I. T., and Trinity, three of the best squash teams in this section of the country. Only Harvard and Princeton rank higher.
Petition Turned Down
The Council had previously turned down the petitions of wrestling and boxing teams which desired recognition. Fearing that it would be branded inconsistent- to recognize the squash team when the other two sports had been turned down and feeling that the squash team was not ready to make a creditable showing, the Council refused to approve the squash petition.
Before submitting its petition to the Council, the squash team, under the name of The Hanover Indians held the strong Boston Athletic Association team to a 3-2 victory and lost to M. I. T. by the same score. Subsequently, the B. A. A. five won the Class "A" championship of Boston, thus distinguishing itself as one of the best teams in the country. Boston later defeated New York in the intercity matches, with three B. A. A. men playing for Boston. These players, Rice, Stuart, and Clarke, also played against the Hanover Indians.
The Intercollegiates
Three men from The Indians represented Dartmouth in the Intercollegiates, Arthur Noble of Newton, Mass., Edward Davis of Boston, Mass., and John Harrison of Ridgewood, N. J. Captain Noble was seeded, but all three men were put out in the second round.
Thus stands the story of squash at Dartmouth to date.
Perhaps Earl Blaik and his associates can bring squash to Dartmouth by increasing football attendance. In any event, it is only a matter of time before Dartmouth will recognize and support a. squash team and thus attract the best preparatory school players in the country, for Dartmouth's physical equipment ranks with the best.
