The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-29
FOOTBALL
"BIG NlNE'S". WORK
The Conference Declines to Expand
Nebraska Petition Denied
Change in Rules Criticized.
Minnesota Schedule for Next Year
Includes Michigan, Wisconsin,
Illinois Here.
Special to The Journal.

Special to The Journal.
Chicago, Nov. 29.-The big nine con =
ference adjourned last evening after q
prolonged session in which the applica-
tions Of Notrc Dame and Nebraska for
membership in: the conference were turned
down.. and Earl Schreiber, the former
Wisconsin fullback, was refused reinstate-
ment.
Professor c. W. Clemens of Nebraska
presented the petition Of that university
and Professor d. II. Murphy of Notre
Dame spoke for his institution. Nebraska
pleaded that the Missouri valley was not
represented In the conference and that
some such representation was needed.
The conference decided, however, that if
Notre Dame and Nebraska were admitted
to the conference all the western colleges
would have to be admitted in the course
Of time. Further. there was nothing to
prevent organizing other conferences.
This, it held would make the con-
ference unwieldly, and consequently the
two colleges which knocked at the door
were denied admittance.
The conference declared Earl Schreiber
professional on the ground that he had
received SO for coaching high school
football team. Reinstatement was denied
accordingly. Schneider, who has worked
hard and made an excellent record in his
studies. in the hope of reinstatement. was
Indignant when he learned Of the verdict
of the conference.
Schneider Makes Threats.
.'Stagg Is the man to blame for this
he said He is the one who knocked me
in the conference. and will make him
smart for it If 1t is the last thing 1 do.
I have played against some Of his foot
ball men, know their records and I will
make it my business to see that every
point of evidence against any maroon
football player Is brought into public
view"
The question of allowing baseball play
ers to play semi professional teams IN
the summer was discussed at length and
referred to committee consisting of Chi
cago. Indiana and Illinois men. The COM
rnittee will submit its report to the 1nstl-
tutions composing the big nine Tor
mail vote. Stage Of Chicago Is strong In
favor of the absolute prohibition OF sum
mer football Director Huff of Illinois Is
Just as strong in favor of wide open
policy. Indiana IS neutral
Eligibility Rule Amended.
Rule No. 4 In the conference eligibility
list, defining the use Of athletic Skill for
gain. was amended to read, mo person
will be eligible who takes part In con-
test where money prize Is offered, re-
rardless of the disposition to be made OF
the prize" This amendment Will cut out
all hose company team competition.
The conference committee on eligibility
was authorized to hear evidence on minor
violations of the conference rules, and to
reinstate offenders where the evidence JUS
tifld. The action of the committee, how
ever, is subject to approval by the con-
ference.
Many of the football men who gathered
about the Victoria hotel yesterday criticise
the work Of the conference in no doubtful
terms. Ex-Manager McCutcheon of Iowa,
he of the famous "hunches.' expressed the
opinion that the rules might be much SIM
plified and made more effective than they
now are.
Mccutcheon Has "Hunch"
'I would suggest said McCutcheon,
chat four simple rules be substituted for
all this lengthy code the conference has
adopted
First no student to play on any athletic
team until he has had years residence
at the college. Second, limit the period Of
eligibility to four years in line with the
present rule. Third. prohibit any athletes
accepting money for his services on any of
the varsity teams. Fourth requiring
athletes to maintain a certain standing in
their classes.
II believe these rules would be more ef-
fective and less easy to evade than the
present code. BY requiring a years resi-
dcnce before student Is eligible for mem
bership on an athletic team you would
cut out professionalism to large extent
You would. in short, require the college to
pay two years salary for one years work
which is not a business proposition. The
rule prohibiting student from accepting
money for his services on the varsity ath-
letic teams would be evaded more or less.
But there would be less professionalism
under this rule than If there was none at
all. The rule requiring good standing in
classes for all football players or other
athletes would keep out the less desirable
Nf CT a lc FUnr lr
that the present rules ineffective.
II believe that the affairs of the confer
ence would be managed better by dele
cation of two students from each college
than by the professors because the stu
dents would look at the thing from a more
practical point Of view. The conference
simply tries to have each university
policed by the other eight. The students
would make better policemen. because
they are more closely in touch with the
situation and know just how the athletes
would evade the rules. Consequently tho
students would guard against evasions
better than the professors"
Professor Jones of Minnesota introduced
at the conference in a tentative way a
set Of rules similar in purport to those
suggested by McCutcheon This set of
rules Included the provision requiring one
years residence to secure the eligibility
Of an athlete. It WIS not expected by
Minnesota, however, ti:at the proposition
would be given serious consideration and
none Of the Minnesota. representa- tives
was surprised when the changes were
turned down.
The officers Of the conference elected
for the ensuing year are: E. S. Jones of
Minnesota. president; N. w. Sampson Of
Indiana. secretary. An eligibility commit
+ tee for the field meet of 1903 was ap-
pointed follows: Minnesota, North
western. Purdue. =.
All Western Teams.
The Chicago papers arc already picking
al western teams. Three have been is
A GTHKE 4 ..-.' 49,.