The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-02-16
IT MAY BLOW UP.
Missouri Valley Conference Too
Drastic for Long Life.
Only Four Colleges Have Basket
ball Teams Out.
BASEBALL is KILLED.
Only Three Conference Schools
will Attempt It.
Sounds Like Last Wheeze-Bnt
Others Want In.

st. Louis. Feb. 16.-The fact that
only -FOUR colleges are playing basket
pan and all but three have abandoned
the loea OF having a baseball team has
given rise to much speculation as to
the statutes of the Missouri Valley con
ference. All around the circuit the
lovers OF sport are wondering and ask
ing, Is the Missouri Valley conference
showing signs of breaking up?
: The basketball representation in the
young organization this year is COM
posed or Missouri, Nebraska, Ames and
Kansas. They are playing series of
three games each for the title. and the
other schools-Drake, Washington uni
versity and Iowa-are completely out
OF the game.
Ames, Kansas and Missouri are the
only colleges that will have baseball
Teams this year. The others have as
signed various reasons for abandoning
the sport, but the reason given by Ne
Draska seems to be the best of all.
The Cornhuskers, when the organiza-
ton was completed, objected to some
OF the eligibility rules, but decided to
nVe up to them. They were promul-
gated under the leadership of DR.
clark w. Hetherington, at that time in
charge of athletics at Missouri. and
are so strict that the Nebraska au-
thorities have decided that they cannot
nave a creditable baseball team and
live. up to them.
The proviso that has caused most of
the trouble is that against summer
baseball. The average college PLAYER.
if he is at all skilIful, can make enough
money to carry him through the next
year at school by playing with minor
league teams. This, under the rule,
would make him ineligible for the COL
lege nine, and most of the players use
assumed names. 7.4
When ha Yot111-T1S frx oo11a0o %
he fills out the eligibility blank with
out thought, and, although it is an
open secret with his classmates, lies
manfully about having accepted money
for his services.
Although the rule is rather strict in
some ways, it was intended merely to
keep colleges from hiring baseball
players. The wording, though, is so
strict that the player who accepts
money, although he is going to college
for an education and paying his own
expenses is barred, This would take
most of the good players away from
the teams, and it is for this reason
that the colleges are abandoning the
sport.
Only Three Baseball Teams.
Although there will be only three
teams playing baseball this year, there
are not many who believe that = Il
means the sport will not be revived. It
merely be revised, so, as to make it
easier for the students.
The only reason that can be assigned
for the giving up of basketball is that
it does not pay. Football is the only
collegiate game that pays and the
money derived from this source pays
for the other sports. By looping off
intercollegiate baseball and basketball
the extension of the track schedules
has become possible, and it is probable
that this reason will be given if the
authorities are asked.
While the other schools are quitting
certain branches of sport, there is no
likelihood of Missouri university drop
ping any. The rivalry between the
Tigers and Kansas is SO great that the
two schools are always anxious to
meet in any sport and will always Go
so. There have been chess and check
er Journeys between the students of
the two universities and it would not
be surprising to see a tidd-li-winks or
ping-pong match. They have stuck to-
gether this season and will play four
games of both basket ball and baseball.
The relations between Kansas and
Nebraska are much the same as be-
tween Kansas and Missouri. Nebraska
and Missouri have not had athletic re-
lations for several years, but last week
saw the resumption, when the Tigers
won two games of basketball from the
Cornhuskers.
1t would not be the unexpected
should Iowa drop out of the competi-
ton completely, in all sport. The
Hawkeyes have had several unsuccess-
full seasons in every branch of sport
and the teams are no longer good
drawing cards, and the authorities
find it harder every year to keep up
the interest.
Should Iowa drop out. there are sew
era1 strong schools knocking at the
DO NJ "a my fnVsa I1n 71cf
and the one probably most favored, is
st. Louis university. Kansas State
Agricultural college is running the To-
cal school a close second, and has a
student body larger than most of the
schools already parties to the agree
ment.
Oklahoma university has her boost
ers and the Sooners have a good |
chance to get in. They are living I'M
der the same rules as the conference
and played games with Missouri and
Kansas last year. Washburn college
has been trying to get into the con-
ference ever since its organization, and
the loss of any of the present MEM
bers would hardly be felt, as one OF
the four teams mentioned would make |
worthy successors.
The only schools that there would be
a chance of having to replace would be
Iowa, Drake or Washington. The three
big state schools, missouri, Kansas and
Nebraska, have too many years of
traditional competition back of them
and they will undoubtedly stick to-
gether. There has been the bitterest
kind of competition between the three
and the relationship has usually been
pleasant. No matter who wins there
is very little possibility OF. the three
severing relations.
WOODWARD ON TRAINING TRIP