The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-13
SHOULD FOLLOW
BIG nine LEAD.
Gopher Coach Entitled to Same
Treatment Received by
stagg and Yost.
Bv o,LouohlIn,


lack of knowledge, Of the final action of the
Big Mine conference relative to the prGfes-
sional coaches, followers of gopher football
fortunes are asking what effect the recent
legislation. will have upon, the existing con-
tract with Dr.. II. L. Williams. IS
DR.. Williams old contract expires in Au-
of athletic control in January, Just befores that
board went out of existence, anew three-year
contract was made. This contract was a dupli-
cate %of the former Instrument, save in that
/ the coach was voted an Increase in salary of
$500 a.year, making a. totalaof $500 per an
num- In the old contractSwere the stipulations
that the instrument became null and void In
case football abolished by the board of
regents If it became Improbable from
q financial standpoint. III g. , z@ -
Just before the January meeting broke up,
Dean Jones added the stipulation that, the con-
tract held good unless the board Of control
were limited by the board Of. regents, or by
the faculty." 1t was explained at the time
that this &proviso, was inserted to protect the
athletic board from any possibility of suit to
& recover should football be abolished in the
S Big Nine. Not wishing to tie up the board,
DR. Williams acquiesced in the addition. There
as not that tine NOR is there at res
to- make. the contract or, to grant the advance
In salary -...t : e. 49,.
sT5S-$a Increase Was Just. 49,
s The increase in salary of the director Of ath-,
b 1etics was thought to be more than fair In
light Of what had been done since he took
charge of the athletic affairs at the univer-
sity. From struggling body of athletes Min
nesota had gained supremacy in western foot
ball. or an even break with the leaders. Dur
e ing the last three years $25, 900 or profits
3 have been spent in permanent Improvements on
the athletic field, and at Christmas there was
S. balance Of $4,000 after providing for the
4 salaries of the year. D.
.#s At the University of Chicago, Stage has been
paid $500 for the past six years. Iost draws
$500 on hve-year contract, which has four
eonsin,| and Kraensie1n drew 1880 as trainer
ia of the football and track teams. o'Dea also
assisted In training the football men and had
y entire charge of the crews. At Michigan, F1tz-
patrick draws $4,000 for training the track
team. 5# Stagg has the help of football and
track trainers, and even the lesser colleges OF
the country paid for track and football
coaching than did Minnesota. Michigan pays
in round figures about $7,75o annually; Wis:
consin, s4,75O, exclusive Of ODea, and Chi
cago, 800 and trainers additional.
When these figures studied 1t would In
"a dictate that Minnesota has been enjoying a bar
gain in the coach line. DR.. Williams has been
acting as trainer and coach OF football anc
track teams, doing the work of two or three
s. men and receiving less salary than any othel
coach in the middle west in university Of
like sahaing There have been no surgeons II,
nection with his training, has gwen the ath
1etes such medical attention they required
other Schools Stand Pat.
Now, under the conference rules. Chicago il
Yost at the same salary, but at Minnesota thu
coach is confronted with technicality in hi
contract which makes it possible for him to b.
cut out of the $500 increase voted him, II
a good faith, by the board of control, and whicl
increase only puts him on an equal footin
with the ether coaches of the country. (s2
ss The Interpretation of the local contract seem
M tos rest with the faculty of the university. DR.
81 Williams has been highly successful in hi
work at Minnesota, and in all fairness 1t Woul
appear that the proper thing for the gophe
faculty to do Is to ratify the contract and 6
ahead in the manner in which Chicag
and Michigan meeting the situation.
Michigan's head called the recent conference
and Michigan the one school to refuse t
dc anything with the coach question. Mime
sofa has stood for the professional coach frol
the start, President Northrop repeatedly e.
pressing belief that If football is played th
work Of coaching and preparing the player
should be looked after carefully. That til
work has =, been well done in Minnesota
Es pionship football Minnesota has never had
man suffer injury which was anything mol
than temporarily disabling SAL
Is If the focal faculty forces an abrogation
f repudIatton3 of the January contract it wi
meaRs that the gopher coach will receive
much lower salary, II made under the ne
q regufa tions as understood at present.
After SIX or SEVEN years Of faithful servi
at a lower salary than that received by coach
whose teams he had licked and licked decisivel
4 st looks in all fairness to be up to Minneso
to ratify the January contract. =
The clause in the contract under which t
1 cut Is possible was inserted, as Dean Jon
/ I. explained at the time, to protect the boar
The conference has not abolished football, a.
/ menf which has been melted out to Yost a
IT. Gfapp by their institutions.