Project Editor: Bradley Earley, History 470: Digital History, Spring 2008

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The Board Says No To Color Protest

Nebraska Athletic Authorities Say that Ross Can Play

Members Are Unanimous in Adoption of Stiehm's Resolutions

The Nebraska university athletic board at a meeting held in the office of Dr. Clapp, in the armory Thursday morning, decided by a unanimous vote to ignore the protests of the Kansas Aggies and Jayhawker authorities, asking that Clinton Ross, the mammoth Cornhusker guard be barred from the games with those schools because of color. Immediately after the meeting was called to order, Coach Stiehm introduced a set of resolutions asking that Ross be allowed to compete in all Missouri valley as well as other games.

After a very few minutes of discussion the resolutions were adopted. No definite action was taken in regard to notifying the complaining schools, but it was thought that Manager Reed would probably communicate with the coaches or directors and inform them of Nebraska's attitude.

All members of the board were present and not one member opposed the resolutions which went through without a dissenting vote, showing that the Nebraska authorities have taken a decided stand against the drawing of a color line in Missouri valley intercollegiate competitions. Many of the members of the board were in favor of canceling the games with both Kansas and the Aggies in case the montors at these schools attempt to push their claims, saying that the protests were not lodged in good faith. They claimed that the southern players were opposed to competing against Ross not because of color, but that it was an under handed blow to weaken the Cornhusker line up.

Have Played Against Ross

Those taking this view of the matter based their opinion upon the fact that both the Aggies and the Kansas university team have played against Ross during the past two years and on these previous occasions failed to say a word. This gives the whole matter an appearance of prejudice against efficiency rather than against race. Kansas university has a habit of protesting Nebraska football players and it is an old story for the authorities at Lawrence to come up with a grand sob story concerning the cruelty of the scarlet and cream football managers in playing men against them who are not eligible.

However, during the long years in which the schools have met scores of times in athletic competition Nebraska has never uttered even one complaint against any Jayhawker performer. Time and time again the Cornhusker coaches have received authentic word that professional ball players and ringers were being used by the southerners but never has Kansas been asked to bar a member of a team.

Kansas Should Clear Own Skirts

Guy Reed of the university athletics has received information from friends in Kansas that eh Jayhawker team which will take the field against Nebraska is bolstered in a number of places by players who are not exactly in line with the Missouri valley rules and regulations. The absolute proof of these rumors has been offered to the Nebraska manager but he has ignored them, to date.

The resolutions adopted by the athletic board at eh request of Coach Stiehm:

"First, whereas, The university of Nebraska does not discriminate against students on account of race or color."

"Second, whereas, The university of Nebraska athletic board has never barred athletes from intercollegiate competition on the ground of race or color."

"Third, whereas, Mr. Clinton Ross has in the past played versus all conference teams on the present football schedule without protest."

Therefore be it resolved that Mr. Clinton Ross be permitted to participate in collegiate athletic as a representative of the university of Nebraska.