Evening star., 1951-06-30
Penn Row With NCAA
Again al Fever Pitch
After New Exchange
BY the Assoeiaied Press

Il ~ 1--WE esSV&i0tU0 FfeSS
| PHILADELPHIA, June 30.-Th,
University of Pennsylvania agair
has kicked of the college football
ltelevision controversy - and tn,
battle of words gets tougher. Th'
dispute remains stalled at mid
field, however. with. neither sid,
gaining advantage nor givins
Iground.
i Penn's athletic director, Frann,
Murray, yesterday launched tn,
new offensive against the plan o
1.-THE National Collegiate Athletic
Association to control live football
lTV for 1851. He made public :
letter disclosing that the Justicl
Department denied it had ever ap
proved. formally or informally. tn,
INCAA ban.
NCAA officials rallied quickl.
Hast night in support of theil
project.
Hamilton Quick to Reply.
Tom Hamilton of Pittsburgh
chairman Of the NCAA's Televisiol
lCommittee, countered with a bias
in which he said:
There is no question in Gu
minds of the legality Of Our posi-
tion. Fran Murray is again tryint
to muddy up the water and sub
vert the will Of the community o.
colleges in order to accomplish th'
desires of one institutions inter
ests."
The NCAA last January i.
voted. 161 to z. to limit live tele.
vision Of college football in ordel
to check the effects on attendance
and gate receipts throughout the
country.
Penn rebelled. fatty called the
plan illegal on grounds it vio.
lated the antitrust laws anG
signed contracts with the Amer.
lean Broadcasting Co. to televise
its eight home games.
Repercussions followed quickly
The NCAA declared Penn a mem
ber mot in good standing" Foui
OF Penn's football opponents
Cornell. Princeton, Dartmouth
and Columbia-threatened to quit
the schedule If the NCAA wa.
defied.
So Murray wrote Assistant At.
torney General H. Graham Nor.
ison and asked whether the NCAA
plan had Justice Department ap.
proval. Murray released Morrison.
reply yesterday in which the Fed.
eral official disclosed the Justic.
Department had instituted a full
investigation. The letter gave M
hint whether-or ia rulin,
would be made on the legality o.
the plan.
Letter Made Public.
Murray also made public a let.
ter Morrison wrote Joseph L. Rauh
jr., counsel for the NCAA. In thi.
letter Morrison told Rauh:
Il am sure the NCAA will wish
to clear up the erroneous state
ments in the press as to depart.
mental approval of the plan BY
making an appropriate public
statement at the earliest possible
moment"
/ NCAA President Hugh C. Willett
said in Los Angeles:
I'VE of the NCAA have never
said the Justice Department hae
given approval to our televisior
program. We had only noted thai
our legal counsel had informed
the Justice Department OF oul
plans"
Max harrington of George
washington University, who helped
draw up the NCAA television pro.
gram. said the letter exchang,
would have mo effect" on tn.
lplan.
We've had no opinion from thu
Department of Justice Con tn,
lplan's legality because you dom
lget one until there's a case"
/ Hamilton, former Naval Acad
lemy coach, really got mad owe
lMurray's latest disclosure. TIL
Pitt athletic director, retired ad
|miral. said:
I HE Murray has been draggin,
this legal herring across the NCAI
path continually. -.
There is no question in ou,
minds on the legality of our posi-
ton. We have been advised b,
competent counsel. available to Vi
in many locations. that our posi-,
ton is not only morally right, bu
correct from a legal point O.
view.
Accuses Penn Head.
"Stassen (Harold E. Stassen
president Of PENN and MURRAY
are taking any steps possible te
impose their will on all college.
when the vote was 161 to Z tt
defeat them after Murray hac
full opportunity to voice his OBJ.
lection in democratic assembly,
Pennsylvania was invited
with all other colleges to present
whatever views and plans they
might have for television, to be
incorporated, If possible, in the
experimental arrangement.
"They have not done so, anc
have withheld information as te
their intentions until early ir
June.
This has handicapped oul
committee a great deal. Their
actions have continually indicated
la lack of cooperation with theil
lsister colleges which should shee
some light on the intent of Muir.
rays latest statement"
Iprohnhle pitrhere