The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-28
POLLARD REPORT
 WAS PREMATU URE Is Considering Washington an d
 Lee Proposal MAY LEAVE UNIVERSITY
Athletic Director Was in Birmingham Last Night and Said He Would Take No Action Without
 Informing Students.

A dispatch from Richmond to the ef- feet that Dr. J. W. H. Pollord, athletic director of the University of Alabama, had all but formally agreed to accept similar position at Washington and Lee university. is trifle premature.
 When the report became disseminated yesterday that such was the case, there was practical stampede" among the students of the university many of whom are in Birmingham for the holi- days, and the expression Of regret by the alumni was general.
 Dr. Pollard has not come to terms with Washington and Lee. He arrived in The city last night and gave the re- port a denial. He stated, however. that he had received a proposition and that letters have passed to and fro. He ad- mitted, in fact, that he was looking kind ly upon the matter and that it was pos sible, in case satisfactory terms were of fered that he would accept
 Tt was not my intention" state Dr. Pollard, Ito make this matter known and l would not have done so had not the report reached the city It Is true that Washington and Lee has discussed the matter of my taking charge of the athletics of that institution However, nothing that is binding las occurred. I have told the students of the university that l would not accept any proposition without making my intention known to them, and I intend to abide by that promise'
 TT ad tn Ia rff from Washington and Lee university, has received several other propositions He has considered each but by so do- ing he has not conveyed the idea that he is anxious to give up the position which he holds at the present time. As is generally known, pr. Pollard some time ago on account of an unfortunate athletic situation at the university, planned to tender his resignation. This, however, he has not done, having been deterred by the unanimous petition of the students and alumni. and by the urgent request of several members of the board of trustees.
 The fact, however, that Dr. Pollard is considering a proposition which might remove him from the campus of the University of Alabama is giving the friends of the university cause for gen. eral alarm. He took charge of the ath-
 
 and since success hardly without paral Tel has crowned the athletic teams of that institution. Two of the three base ball teams which he coached were award ed championships of the Southern In- tercolegiate Athletic association. His football teams, in four years, have lost but four games and 1t IS generally be- lieved that the defeat sustained last sea >n would not have occurred but for the action of the faculty which barred the captain of the team from play on account of conditions in his studies.
 The general understanding that the trustees of the university will. at their meeting in June, consider the status of the faculty toward athletics and the information that a more liberal policy will be advocated may have the effect of persuading pr. Pollard to remain indef- intely where he Is. Until lis plans are made known, however, the anxiety of the friends of the institution will be nothing other than acute.