DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | University of Iowa football boycott suspension newspaper articles, 1969 | 1969-04-22 Daily Iowan Article: "Dropped Black Athletes Would Like To Play Ball"

Transcribe
Translate

University of Iowa football boycott suspension newspaper articles, 1969

1969-04-22 Daily Iowan Article: "Dropped Black Athletes Would Like To Play Ball"

Dropped Black Athletes Would Like to Play Ball
by MIKE EBBING

The 16 black football players who were dropped from the team Friday indicated Monday afternoon teey would like to play ball for the Hawkeyes next fall.
   The athletes, however, contend that they have no intentions of playing football at Iowa unless their demands are met. 
  A boycott of the first spring practice by the 16 in support of their demands led to their dismissal from the team. an action termed by Coach Ray Nagel as "automatic self-dismissal."

A list of demands has been presented by the athletes to the Department of Athletics, but a spokesman for the newly formed Black Athletes Union (BAU) said Monday there has not yet been any response. 

The BAU was formed about three weeks ago and includes, along with the 16 athletes dropped from the team Friday, two other black football players dropped earlier and several athletes in other sports. The group claims it has no leader or official spokesman and acts and speaks only as a group.
   At press time Monday night. The Daily Iowan had still not learned the nature of the demands of the  athletes. Three of the black players however, released a statement to the press Saturday night that generally stated the dilemma of the black athlete at the University. The complete text of the statement appears on page 5 and reflects the thinking of all members of the BAU.
   Nagel dismissed the 16 players from the squad after they failed to attend opening day practice last Friday. Nagel said later that failure to attend the first practice meant "automatic self-dismissal" from the squad and he added that the players in question were aware of the consequences beforehand.
     Several members of the BAU met Monday with William Hubbard, dean of academic affairs, to discuss the demands and the situation at the University for the black athlete. Hubbard, who is black, and the players attending were drawing up a letter that will be presented to the Board in Control of Athletics today. 

All of the dismissed players, including Charles Bolden and Greg Allison, who were dropped from the squad earlier, have been working out regularly since thee start of classes after Easter vacation. The players have been keeping in shape by running and playing basketball at the Field House and practising among themselves outdoors. 

The BAU members maintain that their intention was never really to withdraw themselves from the school's athletic program, but instead they said. " Our primary concern is to demonstrate through our protest that there is an intolerable situation at the University for all black people."   
   Nagel who has remained relatively silent since Friday's dismissal of the 16 players said Sunday he believed in the " basic principles that the black athletes are striving for"
  The Hawkeye coach remained firm in his reply to the question of whether the athletes might ply again next fall.
" They're off the squad and you can take that anyway you wish." 
   The group was unhappy with the way Nagel had dismissed Allison and Bolden from spring drills this season and were also not satisfied with an apology he made to the two players last week.Both players were dismissed from spring practice because of what Nagel has called " personal reasons."
  It is believed that another point in question is that the black athlete is not given the right to openly display what he believes. Specifically, the 16 are unhappy with the way Ken Price was reprimanded after he did not stand up for the playing of the national anthem at an Iowa basketball game. 

DI April 22, 1969

Saving...

Dropped Black Athletes Would Like to Play Ball by MIKE EBBING The 16 black football players who were dropped from the team Friday indicated Monday afternoon teey would like to play ball for the Hawkeyes next fall. The athletes, however, contend that they have no intentions of playing football at Iowa unless their demands are met. A boycott of the first spring practice by the 16 in support of their demands led to their dismissal from the team. an action termed by Coach Ray Nagel as "automatic self-dismissal." A list of demands has been presented by the athletes to the Department of Athletics, but a spokesman for the newly formed Black Athletes Union (BAU) said Monday there has not yet been any response. The BAU was formed about three weeks ago and includes, along with the 16 athletes dropped from the team Friday, two other black football players dropped earlier and several athletes in other sports. The group claims it has no leader or official spokesman and acts and speaks only as a group. At press time Monday night. The Daily Iowan had still not learned the nature of the demands of the athletes. Three of the black players however, released a statement to the press Saturday night that generally stated the dilemma of the black athlete at the University. The complete text of the statement appears on page 5 and reflects the thinking of all members of the BAU. Nagel dismissed the 16 players from the squad after they failed to attend opening day practice last Friday. Nagel said later that failure to attend the first practice meant "automatic self-dismissal" from the squad and he added that the players in question were aware of the consequences beforehand. Several members of the BAU met Monday with William Hubbard, dean of academic affairs, to discuss the demands and the situation at the University for the black athlete. Hubbard, who is black, and the players attending were drawing up a letter that will be presented to the Board in Control of Athletics today. All of the dismissed players, including Charles Bolden and Greg Allison, who were dropped from the squad earlier, have been working out regularly since thee start of classes after Easter vacation. The players have been keeping in shape by running and playing basketball at the Field House and practising among themselves outdoors. The BAU members maintain that their intention was never really to withdraw themselves from the school's athletic program, but instead they said. " Our primary concern is to demonstrate through our protest that there is an intolerable situation at the University for all black people." Nagel who has remained relatively silent since Friday's dismissal of the 16 players said Sunday he believed in the " basic principles that the black athletes are striving for" The Hawkeye coach remained firm in his reply to the question of whether the athletes might ply again next fall. " They're off the squad and you can take that anyway you wish." The group was unhappy with the way Nagel had dismissed Allison and Bolden from spring drills this season and were also not satisfied with an apology he made to the two players last week.Both players were dismissed from spring practice because of what Nagel has called " personal reasons." It is believed that another point in question is that the black athlete is not given the right to openly display what he believes. Specifically, the 16 are unhappy with the way Ken Price was reprimanded after he did not stand up for the playing of the national anthem at an Iowa basketball game. DI April 22, 1969