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Che Battalion
Page 2
College Station, Texas
Wednesday, December 15, 1965
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SWC Action Questioned
CADET SLOUCH
by Jim Earle
Texas A&M felt the sting of Southwest
Conference disciplinary action Saturday for
the second time in 10 years.
And for the second time this decade,
the Aggies face the grim possibility of
winning the conference championship and
not being allowed to represent the league
in bowl competition.
The SWC faculty committee found A&M
guilty of violating the off-season practice
rule and illegally depriving athletes of
scholarships. Indefinite probation and re
moval of post-season bowl privileges were
the penalties.
The committee charged A&M with using
physical education classes for scheduled
football practice and for withdrawing aid
from almost 70 students who quit the squad
after Coach Gene Stallings took over as
head coach in December, 1964.
Stallings termed the former charge an
insult to his integrity. It has been suggest
ed the only reason this charge was included
was to bolster the SWC argument for so
severely penalizing A&M.
The charge apparently contains little
merit. The class in question was Physical
Education 317, Coaching of Football. Foot
ball shoes and footballs were issued in the
class, which contained about 70 football
players.
“How can you have a football class
without a football?” Stallings questioned.
“The shoes are issued for protective mea
sures.”
Editor,
The Battalion:
I am writing this letter to the Fightin’
Class of ’69. We are the best class that Texas
A&M will ever produce and we need the best
representation possible. To assist the class presi
dent, we need someone who can fulfill the job of
vice president.
I feel that the freshmen class is reliable enough
to choose the best man for the office of vice
president. This position is not only an honor
but it also carries with it a year of hard work
and responsibility. I am willing to sacrifice my
time for the class to the best of my ability. On
Thursday, I strongly urge each freshman to go
to the polls and vote for the man of their choice.
By all means turn out for the polls whether you
are a cadet or a civilian and keep Harvey Cooper
in consideration for the office of vice president.
Harvey Cooper
★ ★ ★ ★
Editor,
The Battalion:
Allow me to thank you for putting me, fish
“Old Army” Edwards, in the runoff for your
fish class president. Space does not permit me
to individually thank everyone, but I would like
to cite the fish buddies in my outfit, and the corps
and civilian freshmen who vigorously campaigned
in my behalf.
If elected through your continued support, I
will work to the best of my ability, for the best
representation of all Fightin’ Texas Aggie fresh
men. My campaign platform is centered around
the Fish Ball, which will be the best ever. To serve
my fish buddies is my sole purpose in running for
the responsible position of president of the Fight
in’ Texas Aggie Fish, Class of ’69.
Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy
New Year. Looking forward to seeing you at
the polls this Thursday (same time and place)
and also after the holidays.
Fish “Old Army” Edwards
A&M’s football coaching staff did not
actively participate in the class, except
when asked by Emil Mamaliga of the phy
sical education department, instructor of
the course.
The 55 non-football players taking the
class were issued full equipment for con
tact (for practical experience), but foot
ball players were held out of these drills.
Stallings said the course was approved
by SWC executive secretary Howard
Grubbs, but Grubbs refused to comment
to sportswriters Saturday after the commit
tee had reprimanded A&M for “violation
of the off-season practice rule.”
We agree with Stallings that the con
ference misinterpreted this rule.
The second charge launched against the
Aggies is the more serious, however, and
has raised questions from several writers
in the state press this week.
Stallings admitted that scholarships were
withdrawn from players who voluntarily
quit the A&M squad between the coaching
change last December and the opening of
football season this year.
This is, in fact, a violation of South
west Conference and National Collegiate
Athletic Association rules that forbid an
institution from withdawing financial aid
from an athlete except for academic and
disciplinary reasons.
We do not questions A&M’s violation of
the rule, but rather interject various doubts
about the rule’s purpose, wording, enforce
ment and stringency.
While protecting colleges athletes from
reckless rejection of aid by coaches, does
n’t the regulation also discriminate against
the athlete who remains out for the full
season? If students who voluntarily leave
the squad are entitled to full scholarship
privileges, then what reward (other than
personal satisfaction) is accorded the play
er who does not quit ? Are athletic scholar
ships intended as a reward for outstanding
high school performers or are they simi
lar to on-campus jobs? If students may
lose scholastic scholarships for grade de
ficiency, wouldn’t the same argument apply
for athletes who forfeit their athletic ef-
feciency by voluntary resignation?
Is the world “disciplinary reasons” am
biguous in the rule? If an athlete fails
to attend practice sessions, couldn’t with
drawal of financial aid be interpreted as dis
ciplinary action ?
Is the regulation adequately enforced?
Was Texas A&M sole violator of the rule
or was this school in accord with the prac
tices of other conference institutions ? What
happens at schools that recruit 52 players
and have eight seniors four years later, or
recruit 36 boys and end up with eight
seniors, or have 10 of 31 recruits around
after four years? Do all these football
dropouts leave their respective colleges and
universities? Do the ones who remain in
school but give up football retain their
financial aid?
Should violation of a questionable rule
carry stiffer penalties than secret disregard
for recruiting stipulations? Was the con
ference faculty committee discriminatory
by slapping strong restrictions on A&M this
year and SMU last year while offering only
mild reprimands to Arkansas and Texas for
illegal conduct ?
These questions have been and will be
asked by state sportswriters who are con
cerned with fair and equal competition be
tween conference schools.
It would be advantageous for the South
west Conference and NCAA governing
organizations to also examine the issues.
‘T can’t figure you. Squirt! You griped to beat all when we
made you wildcat, and now that it’s against th’ rules you
gripe ‘cause you can’t!”
is 9
FOR THE RECORD: It’s about
time we started getting’ in the
Christmas mood
Only two more school days
and nine shopping days until
the festive day
The dinning halls serve Christ
mas dinner tomorrow night —
turkey and dressing with all the
trimmings
The Aggie Hour Thursday
night will feature Christmas mu
sic in keeping with the holiday
season
Jerry Cooper, co-director of
the semi-weekly program, said
results of freshman class elec
tions will also be announced,
since The Battalion will not be
published Friday
Thursday’s show will be de
layed until 11 p.m. because of
KORA’s broadcast of the A&M-
UH game
The Aggies play Rice tonight
in the Bluebonnet Classic .
Game time both nights
p.m
FACTS AND FIGURES: A
rundown of some “Merry Christ
mas” translations
French—“Joyeux Noel”
German — “Froeliche Weih-
nachten”
Spanish—“Felix Navidad” . . .
Italian — “Buon Natale” ....
Merry Christmas and Happy
New Year — Mortimer.
A Christmas Message
Christmas really means, “Christ the gift to
men, women, and children.” To the English people
we owe the word Christmas — Christ Mass —
a religious ceremony celebrating the birth of
Christ.
Dec. 25 is the accepted date of the birth
of Christ, as he was born at midnight on Christmas
Eve.
Do you know why Santa Clause comes down
the chimney at Christmas time instead of coming
through the window? It is attributed to an old
English custom of sweeping down the chimney
at New Year so good luck could enter.
It is to the Hollanders that we owe the
custom of hanging up our stockings. They placed
their wooden shoes before the large fireplace,
but we Americans substituted stockings because
wooden shoes wouldn’t stretch.
The holly leaves represented the thorns
Christ wore upon the cross, while the little red
berries were the drops of His blood.
The giving of Christmas presents brings out
the thought — “Peace on earth, good will toward
men.”
It was General W. E. Booth, founder of the
Salvation Army, who was once asked the ques
tion if he were solicited to leave a message to
the world, what would it be? He wrote only
one word and signed his name. That word was
“others.”
Happiness is not seeking pleasure for our
selves, but doing the necessary things for others.
God grant me the power to accept things I
cannot change; courage to change the things I
can and wisdom to know the difference.
I think we should pause long enough to
thank God for living in a Christian country.
You know, I believe in prayer. My definition of
prayer would be — communicating with God for
that which we desire — not deserve.
Christmas is a good time to pause long
enough to take stock of ourselves and really see
of what value we have been through the year
to our neighbors, city, county, state, and nation.
Let us all enter into the Christmas spirit, love
one another, give to those less fortunate than
ourselves, and try to carry out Christ’s teachings.
P. L. “Pinkie” Downs Jr. ’06
Official Greeter
Texas A&M University
IHEE
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IS.
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MEMBER
The Associated Press, Texas Press Association
EDITOR GLENN DROMG00LE
Managing: Editor Gerald Garcia
Sports Editor Larry Jerden
Photographer Herky Killingsworth
News Editor Tommy DeFrank
PEANUTS
By Charles M. Schulz
pWF/^
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AW MOTHER DIDN'T RAISE ME
TO BE AN OBSERVATION POINT'
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Glenn Dromgoole
Odds ’n Ends
Across the editor’s desk:
—An Austin woman recently
complimented the Corps of Ca
dets and A&M student body for
its conduct at this year’s Turkey
Day game.
In a letter to Dean of Stu
dents James P. Hannigan, she
said: ‘Last year ... I was high
ly critical of the conduct of the
Corps during the game. I feel
that I should now compliment
them upon their splendid sports
manship during this year’s game
at College Station.
“ . . . I am a firm believer that
sportsmanship as a phase of good
citizenship is one of the crucial
responsibilities of all athletic
contests — intramural, intercol
legiate and professional. May
that always be an outcome of
competition between these two
schools of such prominence in the
state and nation.”
—Flu and chickenpox were the
most numerous diseases floating
around Brazos County last week.
The county health department re
ported 62 cases of flu and 52
chickenpox sufferers. Next on
the list were diarrhea (28), sep
tic sore throat (17), mumps (13),
gonorrhea (9) and pheumonia
(7).
—E. Barnard Polk, 17, of El
Paso, was named “Young Texan
of the Month” by the Optimist
Clubs of Texas. The award is
based on scholarship, citizenship,
sportsmanship and service to
home, school, church and com
munity.
—Mrs. Cora Faye Clayton of
San Antonio is reportedly the
first Negro to work on the sec
retarial staff of a Texas con
gressman, according to the As
sociated Press. She serves Rep.
Henry Gonzalez, the Democrat
from San Antonio who addressed
the A&M Young Democrats Club
in College Station Tuesday night.
Another Negro is on Sen. Ralph
Yarbrough’s staff—Miss Marian
Robinson of Houston.
—The 1966 state conference for
Texas Civil Defense directors has
been set for Feb. 21-22 at the
Villa Capri Motor Hotel in Aus
tin.
—East Texas (which includes
Bryan-College Station by a vast
stretch of imagination) business
men and wives are invited to tour
world trade ports and cities with
the East Texas Chamber of Com
merce. The tour gets underway
April 27.
Charles E. Thomas
’64
College Master
~>V>Representative
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