1929 COACH BELITTLES NEW ITHACA ROWING INVENTIONS

Last week it was announced from Cornell University that several new inventions in crew apparatus having to do with the oarlocks and seats, had been made which would be of importance in the future of the sport. Speculation has been current in all rowing circles as to the likely effect of these proposed innovations.

"I doubt if any one will ever use them", H. H. Haines, coach of the Freshmen crew said when questioned, on this subject yesterday. "The idea isn't entirely fanciful, but I don't think there is anything like the saving of energy that they advertise, nor do I think they'll ever do a two mile course 25 lengths faster than they do now. The most important of these inventions is the sliding oar lock which is supposed to give an absolutely straight pull through. The idea is undoubtedly sound, but it is not likely to be widely adopted. The other inventions in the pneumatic seats and moving footrests mean little."