DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | University of Iowa football boycott suspension newspaper articles, 1969 | 1969-04-25 Daily Iowan Article: "Black Players Ask Support Of All University Athletes"

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University of Iowa football boycott suspension newspaper articles, 1969

1969-04-25 Daily Iowan Article: "Black Players Ask Support Of All University Athletes"

ents a copy      Associated Press Leased Wire and Wirephoto     DI   Iowa City, Iowas 52240- Friday, April 25,1969

Black Players Ask Support Of All University Athletes. 
by JOANNE WALTON

Black athletes presently off the football team as a result of their boycott of spring practice last week called Thursday on other players on the squad to join in protesting their dismissal. 
   A racially mixed crowd of about 200 person's gathered at the rally staged by the Afro-American Student Association at noon on the Union patio in support of the 16 dismissed athletes 
   One black player urged. " Finally we have had some players who have had enough guys to actively sacrifice what they believe, And they need some support."
   There was some indication that the call for support included favorable votes should the decision to allow the dismissed players back on the squad come to a vote of team members. However, contacted after the rally, Coach Ray Nagel refused to comment on the possibility of such a vote taking place. 
    Nagel was not present at the rally. Speakers at the rally emphasized that the dismissed black players' demands were on behalf of all athletes, not just football players and not just blacks. 
   Coleman Lane one of the dismissed athletes said. " The main crux of our demands is academic and white and black will both benefit from it, only the black will benefit more."

The list of demands prepared by the Black Athletes Union (BAU), of which all 16 gridders are members, called for more adequate., specialized academic counselors provided for athletes: the extension of financial aid until graduation, even if the athlete cannot graduate in four years: a five-year scholarship plan for those athletes who cannot complete their requirements for graduation in four years: more autonomy in the athlete's personal, political and social life: and the acceptance of a $15 a month allowance plan by the Big 10. The BAU also asked that steps be taken to find out what BIg 10 schools are backing this proposal. 
  In a statement released Thursday night. Sam Fahr, professor of law and chairman of the Board in Control of Athletics, said that the board had been reviewing the program of counseling services for athletes for nearly a year. The statement further said that the possibilities of grants-in-aid, fifth-year financial aid and the $15 a month allowance had been considered. 
   The statement continued that the board had received the BAU Statement of Needs and Concerns on April 15 and had on April 16 advised the faculty representatives to the Big 10 to support or initiate action concerning the increased aid and fifth-year aid. 

According to the statement, the athletes were informed of the board's action later in the day April 16, the football coaches then met with the players and the rule concerning unexcused absence of practice was reiterated.
   The players' boycott took place April 18. 
  Former Hawkeye basketball player Huston Breedlove came to the microphone and told the crowd that he totally supported the athletes' demands. 
  Breedlove said he remembered going through problems similar to those of the dismissed athletes, and said he remembers talking with other black players about protesting in some way what they considered unfair treatment.
   " You should be proud that they (the athletes) have done this." he told the crowd.
   Greg Allison a black football player who has not participated in the boycott was called to the microphone, and said he was disillusioned with the University athletic program. 
  " This man brought me here and I came because I thought it was the best offer at the time." Allison said. 
   " Well it didn't turn out like I thought it would. Coach Nagel didn't come up to par."
  Peter Paquette 442 S. Dubuque St. a former Hawkeye football player who wrote a letter to the editor of The Daily Iowan accusing the black athletes of "stabbing Nagel in the back" and using race as a weapon, came to the microphone several times. He was jeered by the black students when he said he knew of no discrimination on the team and said he thought the boycott was an inappropriate form of protest.
   Paquette's letter to the editor was read to the crowd by Fred Woodard. G  Davenport, who then read a satiric reply to the letter.
  Woodward also read a poem which he said he had written to " explain the dynamics of the ghetto."

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ents a copy Associated Press Leased Wire and Wirephoto DI Iowa City, Iowas 52240- Friday, April 25,1969 Black Players Ask Support Of All University Athletes. by JOANNE WALTON Black athletes presently off the football team as a result of their boycott of spring practice last week called Thursday on other players on the squad to join in protesting their dismissal. A racially mixed crowd of about 200 person's gathered at the rally staged by the Afro-American Student Association at noon on the Union patio in support of the 16 dismissed athletes One black player urged. " Finally we have had some players who have had enough guys to actively sacrifice what they believe, And they need some support." There was some indication that the call for support included favorable votes should the decision to allow the dismissed players back on the squad come to a vote of team members. However, contacted after the rally, Coach Ray Nagel refused to comment on the possibility of such a vote taking place. Nagel was not present at the rally. Speakers at the rally emphasized that the dismissed black players' demands were on behalf of all athletes, not just football players and not just blacks. Coleman Lane one of the dismissed athletes said. " The main crux of our demands is academic and white and black will both benefit from it, only the black will benefit more." The list of demands prepared by the Black Athletes Union (BAU), of which all 16 gridders are members, called for more adequate., specialized academic counselors provided for athletes: the extension of financial aid until graduation, even if the athlete cannot graduate in four years: a five-year scholarship plan for those athletes who cannot complete their requirements for graduation in four years: more autonomy in the athlete's personal, political and social life: and the acceptance of a $15 a month allowance plan by the Big 10. The BAU also asked that steps be taken to find out what BIg 10 schools are backing this proposal. In a statement released Thursday night. Sam Fahr, professor of law and chairman of the Board in Control of Athletics, said that the board had been reviewing the program of counseling services for athletes for nearly a year. The statement further said that the possibilities of grants-in-aid, fifth-year financial aid and the $15 a month allowance had been considered. The statement continued that the board had received the BAU Statement of Needs and Concerns on April 15 and had on April 16 advised the faculty representatives to the Big 10 to support or initiate action concerning the increased aid and fifth-year aid. According to the statement, the athletes were informed of the board's action later in the day April 16, the football coaches then met with the players and the rule concerning unexcused absence of practice was reiterated. The players' boycott took place April 18. Former Hawkeye basketball player Huston Breedlove came to the microphone and told the crowd that he totally supported the athletes' demands. Breedlove said he remembered going through problems similar to those of the dismissed athletes, and said he remembers talking with other black players about protesting in some way what they considered unfair treatment. " You should be proud that they (the athletes) have done this." he told the crowd. Greg Allison a black football player who has not participated in the boycott was called to the microphone, and said he was disillusioned with the University athletic program. " This man brought me here and I came because I thought it was the best offer at the time." Allison said. " Well it didn't turn out like I thought it would. Coach Nagel didn't come up to par." Peter Paquette 442 S. Dubuque St. a former Hawkeye football player who wrote a letter to the editor of The Daily Iowan accusing the black athletes of "stabbing Nagel in the back" and using race as a weapon, came to the microphone several times. He was jeered by the black students when he said he knew of no discrimination on the team and said he thought the boycott was an inappropriate form of protest. Paquette's letter to the editor was read to the crowd by Fred Woodard. G Davenport, who then read a satiric reply to the letter. Woodward also read a poem which he said he had written to " explain the dynamics of the ghetto."