Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-01
COURTNEY TO RETIRE
AS CORNELL COACH
Rumor Has 1t That Jim Rice
Will Go to Ithaca-Old Man
Prefers Advisory Position.

For about 35 years the "old man." as
| Courtney is Familiarity known to all
Cornell men, has been the master of the
rowing destinles of the Ithaca university,
| and in that time he has made probably
the most phenomenal record OF any row.
ing coach. Several times in the course
of his career at Ithaca Courtney has
been on the point of retiring, but each
time he has reconsidercd his determlna-
ton. In every instance 1t was because
OF friction, which was, however, later
smoothed over.
Other colleges have made bids for his
services Harvard more often than any
other, but nothing has induced Courtney
to sever his connections with Ithaca.
only recently an offer was made to him
to go to Harvard in an advisory ca
pacity, says the New York Times.
There is little doubt that Courtney,
who Is 6S years old, now desires to re-
tire He has run the gamut of success
and in his remaining years would like to
be free from the worries of coaching.
While victory has been so frequently
with the Cornell colors, Courtney has
probably seen fewer of them than any
of the others VINO have frequented the
Highland course, He so keenly feels the
uncertainty of the race that he cannot
bear to look on while his boys are strug-
Cling in the actual competition.
His contract at Cornell has one more
year to run, but 1t is understood that he
would welcome q Change that might al
low him to act in an advisory capacity
This was true before he was injured
and 1t will probably be doubly true now.
Jim Rice of Columbia, is mentioned as
the most likely TO go to Cornell. Rice
and Courtney have always been warm
friends, their methods are much the
same. and in ability Rice stands almost
on a par with Courtney Ever since
Jasper t. Goodwin retired as coach at
Columbia Jim Rice has held the position,
and he has, considering the material with
which he had to work on, proved a great
success. Once he won the varsity race
and several times he mas been only inches
away from the victory.
But 1t has not been an altogether rosy
path that Rice has had at the Morning
slde institution. year ago there was
considerable friction, and there were ru-
mors of 1t this season, though denials
have been frequent. Whether Rice is free
to leave Columbia is doubtful Morton G.
Bogue yesterday would not say for Just
how long his services were contracted,
but he did say that next year was COW
cred and there is understood to be a re-
servo clause providing for another con-
tract.
If, however, Rice has an offer to go
To Cornell it is unlikely that there would
be aggressive opposition from Columbia.
While his services are appreciated and
while there would undoubtedly be an ef-
fort made to hold him. the matter would
hardly be pressed IL 1t was Rice's wish
to leave,
To have him stay where his heart was
not in the work would be no particular
asset for Columbia, for the successful
coaching of a crew requires as much the
enthusiasm OF the man at the head as
that he be endowed with a particular
adaptabillty for the work through his
knowledge Of rowing.
Rice receives $500 for his services at
Columbia, and II Cornell wants him any
increase which Columbia might make
would be topped. for rowing Is probably
more OF hobby at Ithaca than al any
other university and money for its sup
port Is provided freely. 1t Is said by
many that COrnelfs offer Is already in
Rice's possession and that the present
year viii be his last at Columbia. Court
ney has always expressed the wish 10
pick his successor, and no other seems
TO be SO logically in line for the place
as Jim Rice.