The Washington herald., 1921-12-04
Byrd Denies Published
Statement Laid to Him
Professionalism" Story Attributed to Mary
land Coach Refuted- Conference Passes
Resolution Backing Curly"

southern lnlercOilesldNo
conference at its closing session
here tonight passed a resolution
denouncing as "unethical and un-
true" the publication early tonight
of a story that Coach Byrd, OF Mary
land. had attacked both Georgetown
and the Navy football teams for
professionalism. Mr.. Byrd. with a
COPY OF the paper in his hands, arose
10 a question OF personal privilege
ana declared that the reporter had
miscOustrued his remarks on pro-
fessional courses" at Georgetown 10
mean athletic instruction. when he
referred to matters scholastic. The
story was declared "unethical be-
cause the remarks upon which II
was based were declared to have
been made in private conversation
and not intended for even Official
consideration
The conference further showed
evidence Of it's displeasure by stu
diously omittipg the offending pup
lication from the resolution OF
thanks which 1t proffered two other
local papers. The newspaper car
rying the story was the Georgian,
Hearst organ.
DR.. Crenshaw, OF Georgia Tech
stated tonight after the meeting
that he, had vigorously defended the
two accused institutions against
any intimation of unsportmanship'
especially Georgetown. the relation
between which and Georgia Teen
he declared. always to have been
the most pleasant, both on and OH
the field.
Georgetown has always been on,
of our cleanest and hardest foes,
he declared. Il told them whel
they mentioned it to me. that they
would have to prove whatever
charges they brought against th'
Blue and Gray before we would pay
any attention to them, and tina
even then il would not interfer'
with whatever negotiations VI
might have for next years game
The story created a sensation II
sporting circles here. 1t developed
that il emanted from a private con
versa ton and that il has brought
sharp issue of veracity between
/. Coach Byrd and a reporter.
Following is the resolution
adopted by committee. >appointet
hy the conference. on the subjec
Of the statement which was alleged
by an Atlanta newspaper to hav'
been made by Coach Byrd of Mary
land:
The Southern Inter-Col-
leCiate Athletic Association
notes with regret the unfor-
tunate publicity accorded to
statements alleged to have been
made by Mr.. II. c. Byrd of the
University of Maryland during
the morning session of the con-
ference Saturday, December ;.
at Piedmont Hotel, Atlanta. Ga.
1t is resolved that the Atlanta
Georgian is hereby notified that
its statement was unauthorized.
unethicaI and incorrect and
that the Georgian be requested
to give Publicity to the facts
that Mr.. Byrd's remarks did not
reflect upon the morality or
good faith of any college. which
he may have named during the
discussion, and emphatically he
did not accuse any college OF
PLAYING ringers. Moreover
he did not protest against any
college in this conference play
ing institutions which are not
members Of this organization"
The resolution was drawn up b,
President :. V Sanford of tn,
Southern intercollegiate Conference
and the report was adopted unani
nousIy. The committee drawing
up the resolution WAS composed o
Prof r. G. Mathews Of the Uni
versity OF Tennessee, chairman: Dr
". \. Lambeth. Of the Universit!
OF Virginia. and Prof, +. Fletche
|. OF Washington and Lee. Before tn,
conference took action Mr.. Byrt
arose and denounced lie" thu
statements attributed to him.
Considerable action was takcr
h. the delegates today. lresiden
". NJ Riggs. Of Clemson College
introduced resolution which wa!
passed that 10 member Of this con
ference should begin football prac.
tice until the official opening o
COLLEGE
The conference also decided tina
no training table would he main.
taiuca hereafter by its members.
Another rule adopted was that N,
Mayer could play for more thar
ore YEAR ON freshman teams.
Added interest developed wheI
e." Conference upheld the migraj
fnry Iaw which prohibits a player
rart:,ip atinr in any sport who has
ever pla,ed on another college
team i'm Intercollegiate games.
Tho rur-ycar rule was adopted
unanimously. y motion that M
p.rsrr should participate in inter
collt-iaJe sports unless he hac
erter,d within fifty days after the
Upeui-- % tire fall term was lost.
The section reading that nj
training should begin before Sep
TENDER 10 was amended to read
until September 10 or the official
opening OF the college"
Members Of the freshman teams
must lie members OF the freshman
class and can play for one yeal
only on~ihe T, eshman team accord
In. io the section adopted.
Til. matter Of the conference an.
rual basket ball tournament wa'
referred to- committee. Discussion
arose ~ 70 whether q joint tourna
mont would be held with the S 7
\ \ bur no action was taken the
/, details being referred to the com
prttfec