Jackson advocate., 1947-10-25

Virginia U. Raised
For Example Set in
Game With har-
ward Negro Players

the presence in the Harvard line
up of Chester Pierce, a tackle, in
the game with the University OF
Virginia at Charlottesville on Oct
boer Il, the Richmond Times Dis
patch, under the caption, "The Un-
iversity of Virginia Sets an Ex-
AMPLE last Tuesday said:
Wholly aside from the amazing
and well-nigh unprecedented de-
feat with the University of Virgin
ia football team handed Harvard
on Saturday at Charlottesville, the
Virginia Institution and its stud
ents deserve special praise for wo
things:
Il. The presence of CHESTER
PIERCE, Harvard's Negro tackle,
in the lineup caused not ripple
of unpleasantnes sthe whole after
non, either on the field or in the
packed stands Of Scott Stadium. On
the contrary, PIERCE was receeiv-
ed as another one of the Harvard
players. At n time was hetre any
razing of Pierce from the crowd
When he was replaced temporarily
and he trotted over to the Harvard
bench, bottle the Virginia and Har-
ward stands gave hi ma good round
of applause.
"2. The behavior of the Univer-
sity students, alumni and specta-
tors was almost perfect in other
respects. One would normally ex-
pect some rowdyism and drunken
ness in any football crowd of "a
900. There was virtually none al
Scott Stadium on Saturday. The
students were models of demorum
as far as others in the stadium
could observe. Their sobriety ex-
tended to practically all the al
umnoi and other spectators. Every
body concerned, from President
Colgate w. Dardon down to the
lowliest freshman, is to be con.
graduated. If ther was better
behaved football crowd anywhere
in the country, we don't know
where it could have been.
"Harvard's gridiron warriors
who sustained the worst defeat any
Harvard football team has re.
ceived since 1884 (when Yale
downed them 4S to o. we're com
pletely outclassed. us ;fV
"Harvard's well .G4illed band
made magnificent showing. The
100-piece uniformed group of mus
icians made a great hit with the
crowd. 1t went through series Of
intricate maneuvers on the field
before the game, and got the good
will of evryboy by spelling out
Hello You ALP, in front of the
Virginia rooters. From that time
forward, the atmosphere was dis
tinctly amicable, despite the fierce
rivalry between the two etams.
Most notable of all, however
was the friendly reception given
the first Negro to play against
whites in regularly scheduled
game on a Southern athletic field
The University of Virginia has
set splendid example for other
Southern institutions.
The Washington I'd. CO. Post OF
last Tuesday editorially praised the
University of yirginia's football
team for its "Tstpact for the Con-
stitution and f1aJkle fundamentals
of fair play it showed by play
ing against Pierce.
Under the heading, Virginia
Victory the Post said:
rThe University of Virginia S
football team licked something
more than previously unbeaten
Harvard eleven at Charlottesville
on Saturday. 1t gave an equally
decisive walloping to an antiquated
racial prejudice setting at rest
the silly notion that Virginians
could not be counted upon to be-
have as Americans.
THE Virginia football players
voted that they wanted to play