The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-20
Michigan Athletic Board Refuses to
Consider Protest on Transfer
of Minnesota Game.
DR.. Williams Insists That Wolverines
Must Live Up to Their 0rigi-
nal Agreement.
Manager Luby Still Favors Ann
Arbor-Final Decision Il
Expected Tonight.


of athletics at the University: of Michigan
and Athletic Manager Charles Baird came
into Detroit from Ann ,Arbor at, noon to-.
day to inspect Bennett park and decide
whether it would be possible to play the
Thanksgiving day football game with Min
nesota there; Professor, Patergille Of the
board was asked whether the game would
be retransferred here if the, park was
found suitable for the game and said:
Speaking not for the board but per-
sonally, should say that it will" L.
Newspaper men were barred from the
park while the investigation was In
progress. -.
1t is now up to the athletic boards Of
Michigan and Minnesota universities to
decide whether the western Championship
football game shall be played in Ann Ar
Dor or Detroit. d..
The Michigan board is now waiting to
hear the protest Of Detroit alumni. A
committee was appointed by the Detroit
ers to draw up resolutions protesting
against the transfer Of the game, and the
board, according to dispatches from Ann
be presented before taking final action.
Up to date the Michigan authorities
have declined to take any notice Of the
objections of DR.. Williams of Minnesota.
Professor Pattengill Of the wolverine
board said yesterday: I'VE made our
signed the papers with Manager Baird.
and he is the man with whom all business
arrangements were made. The board Of
control will take no official notice Of any
telegram from DR.. Williams or anyone
else until Mr.. Luby has chance to get
to his home in Minneapolis and fully ex-
plain this matter to the Minnesota board
of CONTROL '-'.=.
Another member Of the board said: Eve
know nothing officially Of any protest from
Minnesota, and until we hear to the con-
trary, will consider the proposition OF
taction.'' .StsE.
The Michigan board was in session IN
til midnight last night but deferred def
mite action until to-day D.. -
Statement by Luby. -
Manager Luby returned to Minneapolis
this morning and explained the reasons
for the transfer of the game to Ann Arbor.s
He stated that the only things consid-
cred by Baird and himself were the con-
dition Of the stands at Bennett park in
| Detroit, the necessary of avoiding an
accident like the collapse Of the circus
seats at Marshall field in Chicago during
the Michigan Wisconsin game, and the
| question Of handling the crowd. Luby
further said: -,
II examined the bleachers and grand
! stands in Bennett park and they positively
are not safe. 1 would not want to ask
| the Minnesota rooters, and especially any
| of my friends. to take seats there, because
they certainly would 60 through the seats.
Moreover, Bennett park will not hold the
crowd. It is not correct that II, 900 per-
sons were Accommodated there during
! baseball game this summer The limit
| of capacity Of the field, including standing
| room, is 1900 persons. That is the largest
number that can get inside the fence. At
Ann Arbor they are making preparations
for $4,000 persons. = ~
Attitude Of Michigan. .-s ~
Manager Baird explained his attitude
| to me fully and clearly Michigan agreed
on Detroit before, because 1t was not
thought that the Minnesota game would
draw more than six or seven thousand
persons. Since Minnesota has defeated
Wisconsin, however. the game becomes a
championship contest, and a much larger
crowd is expected. This crowd cannot
| be accommodated in Bennett park. After
looking over the ground thoroughly and
considering every point L cana to thu
conclusion that 1t was advisable q trans
fer the game, and I wired President Ken
! nicott of the Athletic association ara also
DR.. Williams, to that effect. I did sc to
get their official opinion upon the pre-
posed change. The next mornini: : re
cefved a telegram from President -kenni
colt saying that Michigan must stand the
expense of erecting extra bleachers on
Ferry field, since the game was on Mich
igans grounds ,-...
Naturally L took this as an indication
that the athletic board would consent to
the transfer. I still believe the game
should be played in Ann Arbor. do not
think the crowd could be controlled in
Bennett park. From all could learn
| in Detroit and Ann Arbor. our team would
receive worse trea tment from tho Detroit
| 'rummies' who would certainly be out in
at he he
| at Ann Arbor.'
- Or. Williams Won't Yield. ~;,E>
DR.. Williams still insists that ths game
| must go to Detroit. He made the follow
| ing statement this morning:
! AS. I said yesterday, the contract
named either Ann Arbor or Detroit as the
place for the game, but both Manager
! Baird and myself agreed that the contest
should take place in Detroit The al
| tentative was simply put in as a lever on
| the owners Of the ball park in Detroit, be-
| cause we feared that if we named Detroit
| definitely as the place, the owners would
! charge an exorbitant price for the rent Of
| the grounds. 80 ~,
Then last week Manager Baird made
| a definite arrangement not only with me-
| but with the Minnesota faculty commit
| tee. that the game should take place In
Detroit. Baird further asked us to have
| the tickets printed. and sent US plat
II
| this work He requested us, If we could
not get the work done in two days
time, that is by Saturday last, to
wire him, and he would make arrange
ments to have the printing done In Chi
cago. Further, Michigan advertised the
game for Detroit in all the little towns in
/ the state.
Sudden Change Of Front.
After all this had been done, Baird
suddenly discovers that Bennett park Is
too small and Is unsafe, and that the
/ crowd could not be controlled there. That
might have been learned before. Had
Michigan asked in the first place to take
I the game to Ann Arbor we should have
agreed cheerfully, but since the Michigan
authorities have entirely agreed upon De-
troit, they have no right to change the
arrangement without our consent. It seems
to me that they are leaving no stone un-
turned to win the game, and that on this
account they want the contest held in
Ann Arbor, where their men know every
foot of the gridiron.
II am satisfied that the Minnesota board
will stand firm upon this proposition, and
hold out for Detroit. It is not matter