The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-03-07
Pointed Editorial Contains
a Scathing Arrangement
of UniverSity's Policy.
CITES SEVERANCE
WITH GEORGETOWN
Repeated Disputes After Defeats
Places School in Light of Be
ing Poor Loser.

An arraignment that IS due to al
tract wide attention is contained in
a recent issue of the Danville Bee,
and is directed toward the Univer-
sity of Virginia.
The charge that repeated defeats
have made Virginia a gutter is of
especial interest to Washington ath-
letic followers because of the stormy
path pursued for a number of years
by that school and Georgetown.
The editorial follows:
Information comes from Richmond
that the University Of Virginia will
sever athletic relations with the Johns
Hopkins University, Of Baltimore, as a
result of a recent disagreement grow
ing out of a track meet in Baltimore.
This information is OF little Importance
taken apart from everything else, but
when it is considered as a part of the
record of the University Of Virginia, It
IS OF interest and Importance. II may
be a mere coincidence, but It is GER
tainly noteworthy that whenever the
university athletic teams or any of
them are beaten by an opposing team a
severance OF athletic relations usually
follows OF course, each case must
stand upon its own merits, but to the
outsider it would seem that the univer-
sity rnen are poor losers The repeated
breaking OF of relations following de-
feats savors suspiciously Of playing
the baby act and certainly does not
appeal to US as game craftsmanship. If
the university only deferred its break
with a rival team until after il had won
a game, 1t would place itself in much
nsSrc advantageous position. 1t did so
once mat we recall, in the case Of the
Agricultural and Mechanical College
team, OF North Carolina. during the last
football season
Those who follow athletics closely
will recall that Virginia had a break
with North Carolina in 1883 following
a football game in Richmond when
Carolina won, 6 TO 2 and that rela-
lions were not resumed until 1901 A
similar break followed the defeat of
the university football team IN Wash
1ngton some years ago when George
town University won by a score of
something like i to 10 by a squirt at
the close. After several years and
apologies by Virginia, relations were
resumed. Then came V. p. l.. which
committed the objectionable offense OF
defeating Virginia at Charlottesville
about 1905. Severance OF relations fol-
lowed. Then Washington and Lee Uni
versity defeated Virginia two years ago
By one point, and straightway Wash
ington and Lee was dropped from the
schedule. Next came A. and NJ. OF
North Carolina, as already mentioned.
Now Virginia, which played SeWanee
last season a very close game, has lost
a game with that team by tardy nego-
tiations- Efforts to arrange a game
with Vanderbilt failed also, Virginia
refusing TO play in Tennessee.
AS a consequence of all these ath-
letic breaks Virginia is now finding diff
ficulty in making up a schedule with
rivals of its class which are naturally
rivals for athletic honors. IT is trying
70 arrange football games with Annapo-
lis and Carlisle, with doubtful prospects
Of doing So
while We do not assert that there
was perhaps no justification Of pre-
text for some Of these athletic breaks,
we must also add that Virginia her
self has been openly charged with VIC
lation Of athletic agreements and with
playing ineligible men, This charge,
with Specifications, has not been salts
factorily met
stinacy or fear Of defeat, why football
games should not be arranged with the
V =. Z, Washington and Lee, AgTi-
cultural and Mechanical, and Sewanee
and Vanderbilt, which. like Virginia.
North Carolina and Georgetown, are
the recognized leaders Of Southern col
legiate sports