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University of Iowa football boycott suspension newspaper articles, 1969

1969-04-19 Des Moines Register Article: "Link Player Action With Bolden Case"

DMR April 19,1969

LINK PLAYER ACTION WITH BOLDEN CASE
Major Blow to '69 Title Chances
By Ron Maly 
(Register Staff Writer)

IOWA CITY, IA. - A bombshell struck on the opening day of spring football practice at the University of Iowa Friday when Coach Ray Nagel declared 16 Negroes "off the team" after they boycotted the workout.   
    Among those dismissed were four players who started on defense in the Hawkeyes' final game last season - linebacker Mike Phillips and backs Ray Cavole, Ray Churchill and Coleman Lane. 

Also off the squad are three members of last fall's No. 2 backfield including Denny Green, who sparkled as a sophomore in Iowa's go-go attack in 1968 before suffering an injury. 
   Only four blacks appeared for the opening practice which was supposed to start Wednesday but didn't because of bad weather.
    Those who showed up were Mel Morris, 235-pound starting offensive tackle from Lake Charles, La; Ray Manning, starting offensive end from Wichita Falls, Tex., and Hawk's leading pass receiver as a sophomore; Bill Powell of a Gaffney S.C.. No. 2 tailback behind Eddie Podolak in 1968, and sophomore-to-be Don Osby of Steubenville. Ohio, who is expected to do big things as an offensive end. 

Can They Return?
   Asked if there were a chance that the 16 blacks who were absent could get back on the squad this spring or next fall, Nagel said, " They are off the team." 
   Nagel whose 1968 squad posted a 5-5 over-all record and finished fifth in the Big Ten with a 4-3 mark, termed Friday's happenings a case of " self dismissal."

" We have a policy that if a player has an unexcused absence from practice he is off the team, " the coach commented. "These men have decided not to be in our program. 
    " The players you see on the field now are the ones we'll go to war with next fall. We have people who want to be winners. We'll rally together and have a representative team  that will give 100 per cent." 
    After the promising 1968 season, next fall's Hawkeye team was expected to challenge for the Big Ten championship. Needless to say, the title chances were dealt a stunning blow Friday. 
    A squad of 75 was scheduled to start practice. Only 57 appeared on a sunny, windy afternoon. In addition to the 16 blacks, white players Pat Dunnigan and John Fontes didn't practice because of injuries. 
   The missing blacks were Cavole, Churchill, Lane, Green, Phillips, guard Louis Age, tackle Wendell Bell, back Craig Clemons and Herschel Epps, fullback Frank Holmes, back Jerry Johnson, tailback Levi Mitchell, guard Jerry Nelson, end Ken Price, tailback Rich Solomon and fullback Tom Wallace.
   Age, a 211-pounder from New Orleans, LA., was the No. 2 quick guard on offense in 1968. Wallace was the second-team fullback behind Tim Sullivan. Price was second-team defensive end. 
  Mitchell, a 5-foot 9-inch 180-poundeer from Gary, Ind., was an exciting runner on last year's freshman team. 
  The boycott climaxed several days of meetings between leaders of the Afro-American Student Association and members of the Iowa athletic department. 
    Nagel met with his squad Thursday. He said the meeting was "well attended."
     The black group has refused to disclose any grievances it had with the athletic department or anything it is demanding. 
   However, it was learned that some of the black football players were unhappy with Nagel after he criticized Charles Bolden and Greg Allison, two Negroes who weren't allowed to participate in the spring drills. 
 
The blacks demanded- and apparently got - an apology from Nagel after they accused him of "ridiculing" Bolden and Allison, However, some blacks later said Nagel "wasn't sincere" in his apology. 

Notice From Nagel 

Bolden and Allison, who at times started on defense last year, were told by Nagel earlier this month that they couldn't practice this spring.
    Nagel confirmed Friday that the boycott "could be tied in" with Bolden and Allison. 
    " However, " Nagel added, " I don't really understand boycotting. We have one set of rules here. We have an integrated university and an integrated team and that's how  I prefer it  . 
  " Anytime you see some young men go into a situation like this and are no longer on the team you can't feel good about it. I wouldn't be honest if I said anything else."
   It is believed the blacks have included several things in their demands that are out of the hands of the athletic department. Reportedly among them is a $15-per-month payment and the establishment of an Afro-American student center. 
   The $15 plan is in operation in some conferences, but not the BIg Ten. 

Seven Lettermen

Seven of the 16 blacks who are off the team were lettermen They are Age, Cavole, Churchill, Green, Phillps, Price and Wallacee. Bell a 272-pound tackle, Clemons, Holmes, Johnson, Mitchell, Nelson and Solomon would have been sophomores next fall. 
    Solomon from St. Augustine High School in New Orleans, stands only 5-6 and weighs 158. 
   Friday's practice was the first of 20 days of workouts. The drills conclude May 17 with a squad game.

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DMR April 19,1969 LINK PLAYER ACTION WITH BOLDEN CASE Major Blow to '69 Title Chances By Ron Maly (Register Staff Writer) IOWA CITY, IA. - A bombshell struck on the opening day of spring football practice at the University of Iowa Friday when Coach Ray Nagel declared 16 Negroes "off the team" after they boycotted the workout. Among those dismissed were four players who started on defense in the Hawkeyes' final game last season - linebacker Mike Phillips and backs Ray Cavole, Ray Churchill and Coleman Lane. Also off the squad are three members of last fall's No. 2 backfield including Denny Green, who sparkled as a sophomore in Iowa's go-go attack in 1968 before suffering an injury. Only four blacks appeared for the opening practice which was supposed to start Wednesday but didn't because of bad weather. Those who showed up were Mel Morris, 235-pound starting offensive tackle from Lake Charles, La; Ray Manning, starting offensive end from Wichita Falls, Tex., and Hawk's leading pass receiver as a sophomore; Bill Powell of a Gaffney S.C.. No. 2 tailback behind Eddie Podolak in 1968, and sophomore-to-be Don Osby of Steubenville. Ohio, who is expected to do big things as an offensive end. Can They Return? Asked if there were a chance that the 16 blacks who were absent could get back on the squad this spring or next fall, Nagel said, " They are off the team." Nagel whose 1968 squad posted a 5-5 over-all record and finished fifth in the Big Ten with a 4-3 mark, termed Friday's happenings a case of " self dismissal." " We have a policy that if a player has an unexcused absence from practice he is off the team, " the coach commented. "These men have decided not to be in our program. " The players you see on the field now are the ones we'll go to war with next fall. We have people who want to be winners. We'll rally together and have a representative team that will give 100 per cent." After the promising 1968 season, next fall's Hawkeye team was expected to challenge for the Big Ten championship. Needless to say, the title chances were dealt a stunning blow Friday. A squad of 75 was scheduled to start practice. Only 57 appeared on a sunny, windy afternoon. In addition to the 16 blacks, white players Pat Dunnigan and John Fontes didn't practice because of injuries. The missing blacks were Cavole, Churchill, Lane, Green, Phillips, guard Louis Age, tackle Wendell Bell, back Craig Clemons and Herschel Epps, fullback Frank Holmes, back Jerry Johnson, tailback Levi Mitchell, guard Jerry Nelson, end Ken Price, tailback Rich Solomon and fullback Tom Wallace. Age, a 211-pounder from New Orleans, LA., was the No. 2 quick guard on offense in 1968. Wallace was the second-team fullback behind Tim Sullivan. Price was second-team defensive end. Mitchell, a 5-foot 9-inch 180-poundeer from Gary, Ind., was an exciting runner on last year's freshman team. The boycott climaxed several days of meetings between leaders of the Afro-American Student Association and members of the Iowa athletic department. Nagel met with his squad Thursday. He said the meeting was "well attended." The black group has refused to disclose any grievances it had with the athletic department or anything it is demanding. However, it was learned that some of the black football players were unhappy with Nagel after he criticized Charles Bolden and Greg Allison, two Negroes who weren't allowed to participate in the spring drills. The blacks demanded- and apparently got - an apology from Nagel after they accused him of "ridiculing" Bolden and Allison, However, some blacks later said Nagel "wasn't sincere" in his apology. Notice From Nagel Bolden and Allison, who at times started on defense last year, were told by Nagel earlier this month that they couldn't practice this spring. Nagel confirmed Friday that the boycott "could be tied in" with Bolden and Allison. " However, " Nagel added, " I don't really understand boycotting. We have one set of rules here. We have an integrated university and an integrated team and that's how I prefer it . " Anytime you see some young men go into a situation like this and are no longer on the team you can't feel good about it. I wouldn't be honest if I said anything else." It is believed the blacks have included several things in their demands that are out of the hands of the athletic department. Reportedly among them is a $15-per-month payment and the establishment of an Afro-American student center. The $15 plan is in operation in some conferences, but not the BIg Ten. Seven Lettermen Seven of the 16 blacks who are off the team were lettermen They are Age, Cavole, Churchill, Green, Phillps, Price and Wallacee. Bell a 272-pound tackle, Clemons, Holmes, Johnson, Mitchell, Nelson and Solomon would have been sophomores next fall. Solomon from St. Augustine High School in New Orleans, stands only 5-6 and weighs 158. Friday's practice was the first of 20 days of workouts. The drills conclude May 17 with a squad game.