Evening star., 1954-09-22
Big Ten Brushes Off
Blast by NFL Head;
Doesn't Want War
by sl,s A.soeiassd Press

by shs Asseeiaisd Press
CHICAGO, Sept. 22.-Big Ten
college football officials today
brushed off q blast of. criticism by
Bert Bell, commissioner of the
National Football League. and
said they're not out to make war
with the pros.
Bell, in Philadelphia yesterday,
criticised Big Ten athletic Off
cials and others as 'isolationists
and selfish men" intent on sever
ing years Of harmonious rela-
tions between college and pro-
fessional football
He singled out Kenneth (Tug)
Wilson, Big Ten athletic COM
missioner Ted Payseur. North
western University athletic direc-
tor; Fritz Crisler. Michigan
athletic director, and Tom Ham
ilton, head of Pittsburgh ath-
letics.
No Grievance With Pros.
Upon hearing Bells charges.
Wilson said in a statement:
I'VE have no grievance with
the pros and no desire to make
an issue with the pros"
I'VE are trying to build ath-
letics for its own identity and I
have previously told Mr.. Bell I
was willing to talk over the
matter"
Bell, who said he asked Wilson
to make the Big Ten stand public
but received no answer, was
aroused by letter from Wilson
and a report he received on a
conference meeting at Purdue
University June 1874. The dele
gates discussed ways and means
Of sharply differentiating between
college and pro sports.
Bell said Wilson and his col
leagues recommended that col
leages bar pro scouts and officials
from press boxes; refuse to hire
coaches from the pro ranks until
one year after their affiliation
had expired; refuse to mention
professionals on college radio and
TV programs: bar radio and TV
commentators who broadcast
pro games from broadcasting col
lege contests; ban college coaches
from coaching in AH-Star games
against pros; prevent college
registrars from giving eligibility
information to pros; do away
with the Senior Bowl game, and
refuse to loan college football
films to pros.
Claims Bill Isn't FactuaI.
Wilson said the bill of partic-
ulars' listed by Bell was mot
factual." S
They're not kidding us" Bell
said. I'VE know that the real
reason for their sudden attack
on pro football is Our elaborate
nation wide teleyision program.
They're sore because we televise
on Saturday nights" II
Both Payseur and Crisler took
calm view of the attack.
Payseur said there's no war
with the pros as far as I'm con-
cerned. We've gone along and
supported the NCAA. on regional
television. After all that's what
the fans want. There's room
enough for both college and pro
football in television.
II think Bert's getting pretty
excited about nothing" Crisler
said at Ann Arbor. We're not
declaring war on professional
football. We are trying to. sepa-
rate all that is extraneous from
college football. If trying to
promote our own game is isola-
zionist presume we are guilty."
Hamilton, in Coronado, Calf,
said professional football has
been the aggressor in moving in
on what has been a traditional
football picture.
Everybody knows that Bell
Is prone to make wild state
ments," he said. But colleges
are merely interested in pro-
tecting the institution of foot
ball as training measure of
the educational system for young
men,"
He said the scheduling and
television by the pros was proof
of their moving in on the college
football picture.
The Big Ten has disclosed it
would discuss the subject of
coaching all-star games at it's
December meeting in Detroit.
The conference also has asked
the pros not to place burdens on
college registrars by requesting
eligibility information, which,
the Big Ten said, can be OBJ
tanned through regular publicity