Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-12-22
Eleven
Voted Off Grid
By Trustees
Students Surprised,
Coach Is Startled
By Boards Move
BY ARNOLD DERLITZKI,
Associated Press Sports Writer.

CHICAGO, Dec. 22.-The Univer-
sity of Chicago. member of the
Big Ten Conference since the in
ception in 1896 and one of its
major gridiron powers for many
years, has abandoned intercollegiate
football.
The end of the sport in which
Chicago, despite recent disastrous
seasons, still holds more undisputed
conference championship than any
other member came by decree of
the university board of trustees,
whose vote was unanimous.
The decision was made public
last night by Harold Swift, chair
man of the board, and Robert M.
Hutchins, president of the univer-
sity.
The trustees statement said:
"The decision is effective at once
and institutions with which football
games have been scheduled for 1910
and l941 will be asked to release
the university"
The university trusts the state
ment added, that its withdrawal
from intercollegiate football will
not require termination of its long
and satisfactory relationship with
the other members of the intercol-
leglate conference, known as the
Big Ten"
Custer by Loop Looms.
Inc trustees said the university
believes its particular interests and
conditions are such that it's stu
dents now derive no special benefit
from intercollegiate football"
They added The university looks
upon all sports as games which are
conducted under its auspices for the
recreation of the students. The
university will continue to promote
lntramural sports and will encourage
all students to participate in them"
Doubt that the conference would
permit Chicago to continue confer
ence competition in other sports was
expressed by Prof C. F. Long of
northwestern, chairman of the Big
Ten Faculty Athletic Committee
and a member of that body for 81.
years.
Predicting special meeting of
the faculty delegates in the near
future to consider the action, Prof.
Long added Il can't speak for the
conference, of course, but it was
apparent at the Big Ten meeting
early this month that the faculty
group was opposed to the suggestion
that Chicago should drop football
and carry on as a Big Ten COM
petitor in other sports
Shaughnessy Startled.
The trustees statement said DE-
tails of Head Coach Clark Shaugh-
nessy's adjustments to the new sit
patton have not been determined"
Shaughnessy himself termed the
action quite startling" but declared
he had no other comment to make.
T. Nelson Metcalf. director of ath-
letics, declined to comment.
Despite campus dissatisfaction
with present football conditions and
recent maneuvers by university au-
thorities which limited at the dis
card of football, the announcement
came as a surprise to the midway
generally and to Big Ten circles.
David Martin, editor of the Daily
Maroon, student newspaper,
which had taken the stand that
something should be done,' and
requested alumni cooperation, char
acterized the action as similar to
pulling TOOTH"
Now that it is done, it is a good
thing. Although it probably will
make the fall season duller and
widen the bridge between Chicago
and other rah, rah schools"
Last Big Ten Win in 1896.
Chicago won two games last sea-
son-over Oberlin and Wabash
and one the season before, over De-
paw. Not, since October 81, 1896,
when it defeated Wisconsin, TO,
has it won a conference game. Yet
in the au-time conference records
it has won six undisputed football
titles-more than any other member.
Lack of material has handicapped
Shaughnessy, who came to the Mid
way in 1888 to replace Stage, who
was retired and now coaches at COL
(ege of the Pacific
Student publications on the Chi
cago campus have been loud in
their criticism of the football Sit
uation, demanding that the Ma
rooms drop out of the sport or take
steps to get more and better players.
Last spring at the Big Ten con-
ference meeting, Chicago represent
ativeS asked what would be the at
Goo GIIIOAGn naxo a 10 \