The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-02-01
MICHIGAN QUITS
THE CONFERENCE
UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC BOARD
VOTES TO SEVER ALL RELA-
TloNs WITH "Bie NiNEP
ACTION IS SAID TO Be FINAL
Wolverines Adopt All Ruleo Except
Three Objectionable ones-Ann
Arbor School Leading Member In
Formation Of Western lntercollsei.
ate Athletic Association.

ate Athletic Association.
Michigan university has severed its
connection with the western confer
ence. After three years Of struggle
with the eight other members OF the
big nine" body the board Of athletic
control Of the Ann Arbor institution
decided to withdraw from the organ
ization Of which it had been a mem
Der since its inception, nine years ago
Notice Of the action taken by the
maize and blue board will be sent 70
every member Of the conference with
the reasons assigned for its present
attitude The action Is given out al
final. The board, which Is made up
Of students, faculty members, alumni
and representatives OF the athletic as
sociation, has the power to take the
sep.
Prof, George w. Patterson, chair
man Of the board, who represented
Michigan in the recent conference al
Chicago when his university was
given until February to decide
whether It would conform to the con-
ference rulings Or withdraw from the
body, gave out a statement covering
the action taken by the athletic board.
It was as follows:
Attorney Henry Bodman Of De
troit, who Is the representative Of the
alumni, and myself were instructed
by the board to write the representa-
tives Of every college Of the western
conference that Michigan thought It
wise to Withdraw from the western
conference.
Michigan does not feel that the
Course which the western conference
has taken Is necessary for the pur-
ity of athletics or the excellence Of
scholarship.
Michigan does not feel that the
conference intended to work any hard
ships on Michigan, especially, by the
rules which that organization has
seen fit to pass and to adhere to-
The board, according to Prof. Pat
terson, decided also to adopt all the
conference rules except those against
which Michigan protested in the last
meeting at Chicago.
These we're the retroactive rule, the
anti-training table rule and the FIVE
games a season rule
Two petitions were circulated in
Ann Arbor for more than week
with the intention of showing the SEN
timent OF the students. One advised
the withdrawal from the conference
This had 1000 signatures. The
other advised remaining in the con.
ference. This had only one sigma
ture.
The action of the board meets the
hearty support of the student body,
and big bonfire with speeches and
a parade through the town are among
the festivities proposed.
Michigan for many years was lead
ing member of the conference asso-
citation, and was one Of the unlyer-
stiles which assisted in its formation
when the old Western Intercollegiate
Athletic association fell BY the way
side. Upt to 1905, when Chicago's
football team defeated the four years
western champions, Michigan was tho
athletic leader
Immediately after that game tho
reform element got into the air, and
measures were proposed and passed
which dealt heavy blows to Mlchi-
gan's athletic hopes The maize and
blue refused to accept the mandates
OF the conference, and after protest
ing vigorously for three years, during
which its fortunes rested with the
east and south, it came to the conclu-
sion it must withdraw from the body.
Alichigans action in seyering the
bonds OF rivalry with the eight other
members of the conference will como
as q surprise TO the college men Of
the middle west, although it long has
been realized Michigan either must
bow gracefully to the viii OF the coz
ference or withdraw.