Navy Frees McCallum as a Weekend Raider

Navy Secretary John F. Lehman, in an unusual departure from tradition, today authorized star running back and Ens. Napoleon McCallum to play pro football with the Los Angeles Raiders on weekends.

The 23-year-old McCallum, an all-American who set 26 school records at the U.S. Naval Academy, was selected by the Raiders in the fourth round of the National Football League draft last April even though he faces a minimum five-year military commitment.

A Navy statement released at the Pentagon said Lehman accepted a recommendation from the chief of naval operations and the commandant of the Marine Corps “to allow Ens. Napoleon McCallum to participate in professional football games on a not-to-interfere basis with his military duties.”

“The permission to participate is given to Ens. McCallum with the understanding that his responsibilities as a commissioned naval officer are primary and his participation will not be allowed to conflict with assigned shipboard duties.”

The Navy, in its statement, sought to play down the decision by stressing that it is consistent with the service’s general policy on civilian employment. The service allows its personnel to hold second jobs “as long as there is no conflict with military duties,” it said.

Nonetheless, the decision marks a major departure from naval traditions regarding professional athletics. Such previous Navy football standouts as Roger Staubach and Phil McConkey had to complete four years of active duty before joining the pro football ranks. The commitment has since risen to five years.

It was not immediately clear today whether the Raiders will be willing to use McCallum during the pro season because he will be available only on weekends and cannot attend regular practice sessions.

McCallum is a supply officer aboard the amphibious helicopter carrier Peleliu, which is assigned to Long Beach for an overhaul.

The Navy agreed that the decision regarding McCallum would apply equally to Marine 1st Lt. Eddie Meyers, another Naval Academy graduate who was drafted as a halfback by the Atlanta Falcons and, potentially, to David Robinson, a senior basketball standout at the academy.