The Wilmington morning star., 1940-11-07
BUCKEYE CHARGES
DENIED BY LYMAN
Cornell Athletic Director
Writes Denial Snavely
Signaled To St. John

ITHACA, N. Y. Nov. 6.-R-
James Lyman, director of athletics
at Cornell released today letters
to Athletic Director L. w. st. John
of Ohio State and to Asa Bushnell
commissioner of the Eastern In
tercollegiate Football association,
in which he denied emplatically
st. Johns charges that the Cornell
football team was directed from
the sidelines by Coach Carl Snave-
ly during its victory over Ohio
State.
To st. John, Lyman wrote:
II hold in the highest esteem
any man who has the courage of
his convictions and, holding the 'un-
reserved conviction you express
(that Snavely broke the football
rules by signaling from the bench),
l too feel that you were bound to
report your convictions.
But l take decided exception
to your releasing for publication a
complaint based on 'unreserved
convictions before your COM
paint h las reached the one
to whom addressed md before any
of those concerned in your COM
plant had been made aware that
you would submit a complaint.
I'm other words, you chose to
attempt to convict in the eyes of
the public, on charge of violat-
ing the letter of the rule and the
code of sportsmanship, a man Of
unimpeachable character and of
the highest standards of sports
manship, who enjoys the respect
and confidence of the entire uni
versity community before placing
a charge against him.
cat the same time you cast as
pensions upon the ability of our
two quarterbacks who, in our opin-
ion, have demonstrated that they
are fully competent to direct the
team.
"Your high standing as an ad-
ministrator in the field of intercol-
legiate athletics over many years
leads me to hope that this action
on your part was inspired by some
other person, or persons, whose
disappointment at the outcome of
the game led them to make type
Of cruel and unfounded charge.
II cannot make myself believe
that you could personally have
been responsible for these charges,
er, on your own initiative, could
have possibly published them be-
fore you had complied with the
amenities which l hae' supposed
governef' the relations between you
and me as representatives of two
great educational institutions.
Il am withholding release Of
these letters until Thursday morn
ing in order to have them reach
you before you read their contents
in the press"
In his letter 20 Bushnell, Lynah
said the St. John complaint war
rants a most scrupulous ane- open
minded inquiry in fairness to
Coach Snavely," and continued:
'1t is not coincidence that con-
stantly during this game had my
field glasses focused on the teams
and the field of play, for this is
my practice at all home games,
and from my point of observation
high up in the Crescent an excel
lent and unobstructed view of the
fielc is afforded.
eat home games Coach Snavely
sits at table just in front of the
press box in plain view and direct.
ly opposite from wher sit in the
Crescent I frequently focus
nv glasses on Coach Snavely to
gee how he reacts to certain stu.
ations encountered by the team.
It is a restless period for the coach
and he changes his positions fire.
quently, and whatever he is hold
ing in his hand, rolled-up pro-
gram or sheets of paper (St. John
charged Snavely signaled with a
cylinder, goes through many gy-
rations.
mot once in the Ohio State game
or in any other game have I de-
tected any actions that could be
construed as signaling from the
bench by Coach Snavely.
Captain Matuszczak. who called
ali signals while in the game, and