Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-11-21
U. c. |. A. Paper Says
Step Has Destroyed
Classic 5 Prestige
BY the Associated Pres.

BY the Asseeiotsd Press
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 21.-Pacific
Coast Conference officials here today
privately expressed disappointment
over the Berkeley Rose Bowl decision,
but the public at large was not SO
discreet.
Interested observers, alumni sports
men, sports experts, and literally
numbers Of fans didn't wait to be
asked for an opinion on the Pacific
Coast-Big Nine bowl pact which
slammed the gate on Army.
The consensus in Southern CALI
fornia was:
An agreement might be all right.
but after all these years OF official
and unofficial dickering between the
two, 1t could have been dated a year
later, leaving the way open for Army
to play in the Pasadena game next
New Year Day.
Ciosed-Door Policy Hit.
There was healthy minority who
didn't like the agreement in any
form. They opposed the closed door
policy against other teams, prin-
cipally from the South and South
west which have provided the bowl
history with many colorful chapter,
win or lose.
Particularly painful was the sug-
gestion as reported from the East
that the conference was afraid to
meet the great Army outfit. That
one hurt, for 1t was q. c. L. A. and
Southern California, who meet Sat-
urday for the right to represent the
Far West in the Rose Bowl, which
led the losing battle at Berkeley TO
bring the Cadets to the Bowl.
Outvoted in their own conference,
2 to s, with two members absent,
both U. G. L. A. and Southern Cali
fornia favored Army even before
the hurryup session was called at
Berkeley.
Some Express Disgust.
There were other phases in the
agreement that many could not un-
derstand, especially the one which
seemingly gives the Big Nine author
ity to designate, If not name, the
Eastern opponent for the last two
years Of the five-year contract.
Reactions by the public ranged
from acute surprise and disbelief to
complete disgust. Statements of dis
appointment over Army,s out-in-
the-cold position came from pres
idents Of both U. c. L. A. and Trojan
Alumni Associations. and the U. C.
L. A. newspaper. Daily Bruin,
declared:
ut destroys the prestige OF the
Rose Bowl and makes this game
just another intersectional contest
One group of football fans, after
sitting up until Q am. to hear the
news from Berkeley. went to work
and by noon yesterday sent tele-
gram to DR.. Stanley B. Freeborn,
president of the Coast Conference,
deploring the freeze-out Of Army.
Spokesman Ernest Newquist said
the wire had been approved by 563
fans.
Death Of Bowl Reported.
One football writer headed his
column as an obituary, leading off
with, I'm memoriam the Rose
Bowl Born January /, 1915,
died November 20, 1896"
I An almost unanimous broadside
OF criticism-again, mainly at the
Army phase of the decision--was
delivered by the Southern California
press. One veteran writer refused
to believe the news and actually
held back, firmly believing the Army
matter would be Strengthened out.
No one, it appeared, doubted that
the Big Nine, year in and year out,
offers tremendous football, but-tflis
year there was a true champion
Army team that might have come
out.
Conversely, comments from North
ern California and the Midwest In
dicated panied surprise that there
was criticism of the action.
Army Not Talking.
| As for Army, which had been re-
ported as receptive to q bowl outing
the boys at West Point weren't talk
ing.
Neither was Sugar Bowl President
Sam Corenswet at New Orleans, in
the face of widespread predictions
that the unbeaten Cadets were now
a shoo-in for that gridiron bauble.
@Out match hasn't been made. .
he commented, "and we won't be
prepared to say anything about il
until the season is over. We have
all leading teams under considera-
| ton"
There was another Army possibil-
ity. At Portland, Greg, a group OF
sportsmen announced plans to invite
the West Pointers to play Oregon
State in a game there New Year
Day.