Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-26
MAY NOT PLAY AGAIN.
VIRGINIA MAY DECLINE TO MEET
CAROLINA IN FUTURE.
KOEHLER A PROFESSIONAL PLAYER.
Charge That His Appearance In
Thursdny's Game Was Contrary
TO Intercollegiate Ruies-Nirgihi"
Serves Notice of Protest.
"Keohler, you shall be free;
Koehler, you shall be free;
Koehler, you shall be free;


When Carolina pays you on
This refrain may prove TO be more sig
nifcant than was apparent to those 70
whom It was made quite familiar In the
Jefferson dining-room Thursday evening
by friends of the orange and blue, who
were, in good nature. but with great per-
severance, guying their triumphant oppo-
nents from North Carolina.
Koehler played left end for Carolina in
the game Thanksgiving-Day, and contri-
buted quite largely to the victory won by
the boys Of white and blue over Nirginias
gallant representatives on the gridiron.
1t has since developed, as was not gene
rally known that night, that KoehleTs
appearance on the North States team
had been the subject Of correspondence
before the contest opened, which may
possibly break up the annual meetings
between the long-haired athletes Of the
two universities, which have come TO be
the feature Of the ThanksglFing-Day cele-
bration In Richmond.
Tho matter IS now op n, and II is hoped
and believed that an adjustment will be
effected, and that these annual contests.
inaugurated in 1898, will continue through
the years to come. The indications are
that the correspondence begun Thursday
morning will be renewed, and that Though
wise and friendly diplomatic negotiations
peace will be restored.
WHY VIRGINIA PROTESTED.
There were exaggerated reports in cir
culation here yesterday as TO the nature
of what had passed between the manage
ment of the two teams as TO kOehler
plaving and the probable result The Dis
patch correspondent at the University OF
Virginia was instructed to secure an au-
thorized statement OF the facts in the
case and he sent the following:
Regarding the reported refusal OF Nir-
efnia to play Carolina again, the facts in
the case are these: The morning before
the game, acting under the direction OF
the Advisory Committee of the General
Athletic Association, Mr.. Davis, the presi-
dent of the association. addressed a let
ter 70 Mr. Julian S. Carr Jr., president
of the University of North Carolina Ath-
letic Association, notifying him that if
Carolina should play KOehler, who was
known TO be a professional athlete, al
future athletic relations in football, base
ball. etc., would be broken Off. Mr.. Carr
asked If It was necessary that formal
reply should be made, and was told that
ne could suit his own convenience In the
matter.
mo reply was received. and Koehler
was put IN and played throughout the
contest. Since the game, no further ac-
ton has been taken in the matter, as there
has not yet been meeting of the Adj
visorv Committee. Koehler, it IS said,
formerly played on the football eleven
of the Orange Athletic Club, Of East
Orange, n. j., TO which place he Is said
to have returned Immediately after
Thursdays game" 1900.
1t will be seen from this special that
the charge IS that Of violating the inter-
collegiate rules, which bar professionals
from playing on college and university
teams. The North Carolina management
does not seem TO have been aware that
IL was playing a man whose appearance
was forbidden under college ethics. The
team left for Chapel Hill late Thursday
night. but Captain Rogers was quoted
Yesterday as having made the following
statement before taking his departure:
''Koehler is not a professional. and he
was as legitimate a player as there was
on the North Carolina team, so far as j
know. He came from Montclair. n. j.,
and matriculated at the University Of
North Carolina in the law department.
He has been there all last session. He
roomed with me, and l can state en-
phatically that If there is any truth in
Vlrginia's charge that he is in the pro-
fessional class, am entirely ignorant of
it."
From this it would appear that the in
formation on which Virginia based its
action challenging Koehler may pos
sibly have been misleading. 1t is not be-
leved here that either of the teams has
ever sought to violate any well-estab-
Ushed rule, and such being the case. il
is thought this matter will be smoothed
over.
The Virginia team returned to Char
lottesville yesterday morning Managers
Parrish and Klutz OF the two teams. re-
mained over until the afternoon settling
No business matters. The receipts from
Thursdays game are said 20 have been
$500.