The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-16


 ing itself. When Alabama states it's req
 sons then these reasons are open to crit
 ieism. But to judge of a mans action in
 advance is apparently unfair, and un-
 worthy.
 We doubt, sincerely. that the s. I. A. A. stands for deeency in athletics The fol- lowing reason is cited:
 During the last football season the Uni versty of Georgia was admittedly, con- fessedly guilty of the violation of the fundamental principles of the s. l. A. A,
 i. e., the hiring of professionals to en- nance it's football success. What action l did the S. l. A. A. take? It white
 washed" Georgia, in spite of Georgias confession amidst salty tears of alleged repentance But the s. l. A. A. did not hesitate after. taking this righteous" step. Realizing that the blame must be attached to someone. it assailed the repu- tation of Coach Whitney and barred him ! from working in southern colleges. As any fair minded man knows, if the s. |. l A. A. stands for athletic decency, it
 would have put Georgia under a baa,
 preventing it from athletic intercourse | with other colleges against which no evi- l dence of professionalism has been ad-
 vanced or hinted at
 MT. Writings admission that he can
 "see but one side of the proposition is 1 further borne out in his frank statement
 that Vanderbilt stands for athletic purl- 1 ty and Virginia does not We do not l even suggest that Vanderbilt is worthy l of criticism However, we do feel tha- in justice to Virginia, it's morals and integrity should not be assailed without sufficient and undisputabe evidence.
 The idea of forming an association of eight colleges of comparatively equal l strength was merely q suggestion on the
 part or The Age-Herald. and was not ] prompted by any probable plans of Ala l bama Alabama's intention and plan are unknown
 | However, We do content, in spite of Mr. l Writings argument to the contrary, that l if such an association is formed. there will be more interest than at the pres | ent time, more games the decision of | which could not be accurately predicted and more earnest and enthusiastic rivalry
 than presently exists
 The point in football is not to play for championship. championshp how ], ever is nothing more or less than a gen l eral victory, and general victory is or
 should be the object of all football ag- gregations
 MT. Whiting, in crticizing the state ment that the s. l. A. A. is dominated 1 by Vanderbilt and Sewanee, states that these two institutions did not threaten to withdraw unless they were pacified by the granting of their demands at the Clemson
  the S. l. A. A
 It so happens that the majority of southern colleges desired a one-year rule that is, rule whereby first year
 men excluded from athletics Van
 derbilt and Sewanee opposed that rule,
 and threatened to withdraw unless a first year man with "A Carnegie units" a
 standard of educational and athletic proficiency, was excluded from the gen. era debarment
 The Age-Herald did not attack Wander bits stand in reference to the one-year rule, but Vanderbilt's threat to with draw unless it's demands were granted. Therefore, The Age-Herald writer is not inconsistent in criticzing that action, l and at the same time terming the rule nefarious."
 MT. Whiting's one other thought in re- futing the argument of The Age-Herald
 is that with Vanderbilt and Sewanee out of the new and possibly embryonic as- sociation the race would be between sec- ond raters.
 That is true to certain extent. How ever the struggle for supremacy among the members of the s. l. A. A. is struggle of second raters, and will be forever unless Harvard, Yale, West
 Point, Michigan and few others of like standing are admitted to this union of ours.
 The Age-Herald's point in this connec- tion was that there are three separate and distinct classes in the s. l. A. A, each class with a separate and distinct strength The first class is made up of
 Vanderbilt and Sewanee. The second is
 made up of Auburn, Georgia. Tech,
 Alabama, Clemson, Tennessee and others. The third is made up of Howard, Dah- lonega, Greensboro, Mercer and others. The fact was stated that inasmuch as these three classes are so unequal when qualifications are concerned that 1t
 naturally follows that the laws, suitable
 to one are not suitable to others How ard with its 200 students should not be
 expected to conform to the same princi-
 pals as Auburn with it's 400.
 There are countless other examples that
 might be cited examples apparent
 that anyone without trouble can grasp
 them.
 In course of Writings invective, he admits that the s. I. A. A. is not as wieldy and effective as It's supporters would wish. He claims, however, that the association, since it's division into districts is growing more efficient eSch year toward the purification of athletics.
 We doubt the latter clause, and again cite the association's "whitewashing' or Georgia, deeply dyed in guilt. The dl- vision of the association into districts does nothing toward dolng away Wiln the great bane of the association-its many members of many strengths.
 Without criticizing any one member of the S. l. A. A.. it is believed that a voluntary dismemberment would be best for all concerned.
 Alabama should not be criticized for l preparing to withdraw. That institution | has made no announcement as to its fu- l lure plans. Therefore, it would appear | more dignified to await the announcement | of it's future policy before heaping 1t | with abuse and insinuations.
 As for the association it is too large l and made up of members of strengths | too widely different, to be effective, ana |