The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-11-11
SCnOLAST|CS DISPUTE
CHAMPIONSHIP CLAIM

Claiming that unfair tactics were
employed by the Church Hill team
and that the man who refereed the
game was incompetent, the Scholastics
are d!sputing their claim to the in
dependent championship OF Rich
mond, The following communication
was received last night:
Richmond. Va, November II.
Sporting Editor Nirginlan;
Dear sir.~--It is due To the lovers
of clean. fair amateur athletics of our
city that this letter with reference to
football game between the Church
Hill Athletic Association and the
Scholastic football team, played Sat
urday. October 81. be published.
We, the Scholastics, must protest
this game for several reasons. We pro-
test each and every decision made by
Referee Graves as we claim he IL
very incompetent and showed par
TALLY to Church HIN on every play.
Cur team did make a touchdown in
che second uArter OF play. "A Church
Hill man was allowed to pull our man
back from the goal line. and the ref
cree allowed the bail 10 go to Church
Hill on their own one-yard line.
Church Hill attempted to kick out.
our er,d blocked the kick and the
Church Hill man fell on the ball
back Of the goal. We claim this to
have been a safety. as ruled in Rich
mond College Randolph Macon game
OF the same date. but the referee ruled
1t a touchback. After what We con-
slider these two OF decisions by the
referee our team lost heart and did
not endeavor to play the game Of
which they have since proven them
selves capable of playing. In addition
to the above we could cite numerous
instances to support our claim that
the referee was not even capable Of
keeping the downs or yards gained.
In one instance II was Schoiastic's
third down with FIVE yards to gain.
Church Hill was here penalized for
being of side. Ave yeards. and referee
called fourth down, down one yard to
60 on Scholastics. The game was
played on a field entirely UNIT for
football. Dust was very thick on the
ground, and the field was far from
level. Church Hill was accustomed
to this field. but it was considerable
handicap TO our team The Church
Hill eleven did not even endeavor to
play clean game. In fact, 1t was
from their part. one Of the most un-
sportsinanlike games We have ever
been called upon to play. The peo-
HILL were not kept from the field.
When the Scholastics had the ball on
the seven yard line the spectators
were standing right on the goal line.
making 1t quite difficult for our men
to know where to run. We also claim
Church Hill should have been penal
ICED both for smuggling and using ille-
gal plays In several instances. Our
schedule called for a game with
Church Hill on the 14th. and they
are now refusing to play us.
For the above stated reasons we
do not consider that we have been
beaten by Church Hill in the right
way and challenge them to play q
game on neutral grounds. Byrd Park,
with neutral of1icials. to be instructed
to bar any players that do not respect
the game In an entirely sportsman
like manner. We dispute Church
Hills claim to the championship UNI
I'll they have demonstrated that they,
In fair football. can beat the Scho-
lastics.
SCHOLARSHIPS FOOTBALL. TEAM.
wv. w. Gee, Manager