The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-03

The faculty of the University of Mis- sippi. after strenuous meeting. rein stated Players Cahall. Walton, Shields and Carter, who had been barred from participation in athletics by the action of the faculty last spring. Coach Stauf- fers case was also reviewed, and the faculty rescinded it's action which had led to the debarrment of the Mississippi coach from s. I. A. A territory. The ground upon which this action was taken is that the evidence against Dr. Stauf- fer had been misinterpreted.
 Arguments on both sides of the dues- tion were heard at the meeting. The vote in Dr. Stauffer's case was. r to for reinstatement. In regard to the players who had been suspended a tie vote re- suited, and Chancellor Kincannon, talk ing an emphatic stand for reinstatement, cast the deciding vote.
 Dr. Stauffer in statement regarding the recent action of the faculty said: T knew the boys and myself had been unjustly dealt with at hearing of which we were ignorant and not even represent ed last spring"
 This statement of the coach Is borne out in a clause in the petition asking for the reinstatement of both players and coach, presented by the Alumni association of the university. It reads as follows: "Dr. Stauffer and students who were suspend ed were tried and convicted of an of- fense to them unknown. without being in- formed of the nature of the charge pre- ferred against them or the name of ~.le informant and without the privilege of being heard in their own defense,
 Athletics Lose Year
 The action of the faculty in thus de- barring these men and casting a reflec- ton upon the coach, has played havoc with "old Miss " athletic teams this sea- son. Although the faculty has reinstated them now. in asking for their debarrment from the s. l. A. A. they disposed of the power to allow them to compete. even after these men have been found innocent through investigation. The S. A A. must act upon the matter before these men can be eligible to compete. and this action will probably not take place until the winter meeting of the assoca- tion. And even then, if the association sees fit to abide by the later ruling of the faculty which, however, it is not likely to do, that these men should be rein stated, some at least of the debarred athletes will be forced to remain year in athletic idleness. Several of the de- barred athletes are reported to have at tended S. w. P. U. for a time this fall after their suspension, and according to the ruling of the s. I. A A. a student en- tering one college from another must be a student of the latter college for one session before he is eligible to compete on any of its athletic teams.
 The writer does not maintain that the players In question are strictly "clean," according to the strict rulings of the s. I. A A. but in being tried and suspend ed without a hearing or knowledge of their accusation, they were dealt with without justice. Through haste the fac ulty has placed these athletes in a posi- ton out of which the faculty has not the power to eject them. The only means by which these players can be given reparation for their treatment Is for the | s. I. A. A. to accept without investiga- ton the findings of the faculty, and to make a special ruling upon their case, al- lowing them to participate during the re- mainder of the season.
 The Poor Goats"
 AS 1t is, the faculty has placed these men before the association for investiga- ton. Investigation will probably not hurt Dr. Stauffer. but investigation before the association is ruinous to most college athletes. It is harder for the s. l. A. A. directors under their present regula- tions to find where the athlete Is eligible under any conditions than it is for them to find him guilty of breaking some one law. The reason that more athletes are not debarred Is that the association is apparently ready to overlook many of the violations, but when its hand Is called by a demanded investigation from a fac ulty it is generally good night for the athlete.
 Such a condition Is deporable. but it is likewise remediable. These Mississippi athletes are undoubtedly as clean in ath- letics as any others in the south, but at present they are the goats" of the situation, and the august s. l. A. A. has not formed habit of dealing leniently with the goats"