Evening star., 1939-12-23
Maroon Players
Declare Action
Gross Insult
Big Ten Leaders Not
Certain That School
Must Quit Circuit
By TOM SILER,
Associated Press Sports Writer.

Associated Press Sports Writer.
CHICAGO, Dec. 23.-The volume
of protests grew like rolling snow
ball today as alumni and students
cried out against the abolition of
intercollegiate football at the Uni
versity of Chicago.
AS of one voice, large blocs of stu
dents and alumni showed clearly
their resentment and indignation at
the sudden action of the board Of
trustees in clipping the 47-year-old
sport from the schools intercolle-
giate athletic calendar.
1t is too early to say whether their
protests would result in a concerted
move to have the trustees reconsider
their decision.
Many of the schools followers
wondered if Chicago, without var
sity football team, could hold its
membership in the Western Con-
ference, of which it is a charter
member. There was wide difference
Of opinion on this point, officials Of
other Big Ten schools taking oppo-
site viewpoints on the matter. The
Conferences Faculty Committee is
expected to meet after the holidays
to discuss the matter.
Students Want Game Retained.
DR.. w. J. Moenkhaus of Indiana
University, chairman of the faculty
representatives said: There is moth
ing specific in the organization rules
that makes it obligatory for men,
Der school to compete in all sports
sponsored by the conference
whether Chicago, in failing to
compete in major sport, would
affect her standing is matter for
the faculty representatives to de-
eide"
Prof. o. F.. Long, Northwestern's
member of the Faculty Committee,
emphasizing he wasn't speaking for
the conference, said to allow the
Maroons to stay in the Big Ten with
out a football team would be vio-
lation of the spirit of the conference.
Kenneth MAGELLAN, student, said
his fraternity, Psi Upsilon, would
sponsor petition among the stu
dents after the holidays asking the
trustees to reconsider and rescind
their action
Hundreds Of alumni expressed their
regret at the action, among them
President John Schommer and Sec
retary John Chapman of the Chi
cago Alumni Club, which has 1900
members, and Jay Berwanger, 1885
all-America back and last Chicago
player to attain such honors.
Football Players Indignant.
The possibility that Chicago
might be forced from the conference
led to widespread speculation on
who would take its place. Most
prominently mentioned was the Uni
versity of Pittsburgh, which recently
made reforms in it's athletic setup
to conform with Big Ten regula-
tions. Others rated as likely success
sor to the Maroons were Notre Dame
Nebraska and Michigan State.
None was more indignant over the
trustees action than the football
players themselves.
John Davenport, co-captain of the
1889 team which won two minor
games, described the action as a
shame" and added:
Il was stunned when I heard
about it. I'll be an alumnus next
June and football is the bond be-
tween me and the university. Now
that bond won't exist any more"
Bob Jampolis. Junior quarterback
said, II don't think we ought to take
this lying down; I think it's a slam
on us players and adds insult to in
jury. 1t will keep a lot of students
from coming to school,
School Papers Back Move.
School publications, however, did
not join in the adverse criticism.
The Daily Maroon, which had
campaigned vigorously for alumni
aid in rebuilding the football team
said it approved the action.
Editor David Martin said 81
think dropping football is a gooc
thing. It's like pulling a tooth
hard to do, but once it's done, it's
a good thing He added he thought
the announcement was made while
most of the students we're or
Christmas vacation to guard against
campus reaction"
Emil Hursch, editor of Pulse, 6
monthly, said he was disappointed
but I don't think it necessary fol
President Robert Hutchins to con.
suit student opinion"
The action of the trustees fol.
lowed many lean years on the foot.
ball field. The Maroons had no
won a conference game since 1891
and their last title came in 1924
the last of six grid crowns, NOR.
than any other team ever has won
The school has had only tw.
| coaches-Amos Alonzo Stagg, VIII,