Evening star., 1953-05-09

Miami Applies for Spot
In New 8-Member GROUP
BY the Assoeioted Press

GREENSBORO, N. c., May 9.
Better schedules, with each
member Of the new group meet
ing each other, will be one of
the results of the breakup Of the
Southern Conference, it was be-
lieved today.
Seven schools. representing
most Of the actual athletic
prowess Of the circuit, pulled out
in a momentous session here
yesterday and will meet in
Raleigh. N. c., Sunday. June IA,
to make plans for their own con-
ference. at yet unnamed.
The remaining 10 schools will
gather in Roanoke, Va. June 26-
81. to plan their future.
Withdrawing were North Caro-
lima, Duke, North Carolina State,
Wake Forest, Maryland, South
Carolina and Clemson.
Remaining as the Southern
Conference were Davidson, Fur
man, The Citadel, West Virginia,
George Washington and five Vir-
ginia schools-Richmond, Will
liam and Mary, Virginia Tech,
Virginia Military and Washing
ton and Lee.
Meet for Eight Hours.
It took eight hours of SEEM
ingly endless closed meetings
of both factions and consider
able delicate maneuvering to
accomplish the long-rumored
split of the ungainly circuit
which had embraced five States
and the District Of Columbia.
Actual operation of the new
conference has been set for "a
later date" to quote the official
announcement of the break.
This could mean next fall. or
next year. What happens at the
Raleigh meeting will determine
the pattern.
Meanwhile, the annual golf.
baseball, tennis and track cham
pionships for all II schools,
scheduled for next week end.
will go on as scheduled.
Virginia May Join.
The new group would like to
operate as an eight-team unit.
Mentioned prominently as the
possible eighth team was Vir-
ginia, which left the conference
more than a decade ago. Vir-
ginia officials were not in at
tendance here, but Gus Tebell,
the schools athletic director.
said at Charlottesville that he
believed Virginia would CON
slider seriously" joining the new
conference, if invited although
the final decision would rest
with school officials.
T. Penney, faculty chairman
Of athletics at South Carolina.
was named chairman of the new
group. o. K. Cornwell, chairman
Of the Department Of Physical
Education and Athletics at the
University of North Carolina, was
named acting secretary. He will
draw up an agenda for presenta-
tion to the June meeting.
The 10 schools remaining in
the conference named an Execu-
tive Committee consisting of Max
harrington, George Washington;
Dean c. P. Miles. Virginia Tech;
Col. K. S. Purdie. Virginia Mill
tary; DR.. R. c. Mcdaniel. Rich
mond, and Col. D. S. McAlister,
The Citadel. harrington has
been conference president for
several years and McAlister has
been longtime secretary-treas-
urer.
Wade's Office Discussed.
Principal items of discussion in
the day-long negotiations con-
cerned finances and the fate of
the Office of Commissioner Wal
lace Wade.
The delicate situation was re-
solved amicably, with the seven
schools pulling out waving any
claims to the approximately
$150,000 in the conference treas.
ury. The 10 schools remaining
will assume all assets and liabili-
ties. In addition, Wade's Office
will serve the seeding seven"
as well as the remaining 10
schools until anuary /. 1855,
when his four-year contract
with the conference expires.
Thus the Southern Conference,
repeating it's action of 81 years
ago. has again cut down to more
workable size. 1t was back in
1882 that the 23-member con-
ference saw 13 of it's deep South
entries pull out to form the
Southeastern circuit. The re-
naming 10 formed the nucleus
of the Southern, which, picking
up additional members over the
years. finally reached a total
membership Of II three years ago
with the addition of West Vir-
ginia to the family.