Samford Crimson
Volume 59, Number 17 Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama 35209 Friday, February 22, 1974
“A decision no one wanted to make ”
Dr. Wright comments on football decision
By Jerry Armor
“It was a decision that no one
wanted to make. Football
meant a great deal to the
University. We would like to
see it continue, but we just
don't have the money.’’
These are the words and
feelings of Dr. Leslie S. Wright
as relayed to this writer in an
interview obtained in the hope
of clearing up some of the
questions that have been
floating around campus
regarding the dropping of the
football program.
Putting first things first. Dr.
Wright was asked about the
reasons behind and the timing
of the decision. According to
Dr. Wright, the football
program had been under close
study for the past two years
because of the serious financial
situation. There was a move to
Samford represented at
Fantasticks
...Cast in the current Samford production of “The
Fantasticks” are (seated) Dixie Rose and Don Beasley
and (standing, left-right) Charles Sievers and Chuck
Leachman. For tickets contact the Speech Department
office.
AHEA statewide meet
The Alabama Home
Economics Association is
currently holding its annual
statewide meeting in Auburn.
All of the seven member
sections will be represented.
The AHEA is structured to
serve Home Economists in all
fields with sections for Home
Economists in business, the
Extension Service, Home
Economists in Health and
Welfare, instructors in colleges
and universities, homemakers,
instructors in elementary,
secondary and adult education,
and college student members.
The program for the state
meeting is divided into the
various member sections so
that each participant will
receive the maximum possible
information for her (or his)
field.
Samford University is being
represented at the Thursday
and Friday convention by
Karen Powell, Lelia Hadley,
Lynn Stacner, Rebecca
Rogers, Betsy Griffin, Marie
Moody, Cindy Persons, Harriet
Bedsole, Linda Hunt, Mrs.
Funderburke, and Mrs.
Ferguson.
abandon the program this past
July, but because’of the short
notice it would give the players
and coaches, and because of
the hope of raising some ad¬
ditional funds, the decision was
postponed.
All during the fall the
Trustee Athletic Committee,
which has had a burden the last
few years of trying to come up
with $20,000 to $35,000 annually
from outside the University for
football, tried to find financial
support. This continued until
the end of January, but to no
avail.
Dr Wright cited the dismal
fact l hat only $5.240. (X) was
raised last season from gate
receipts for five home games.
This doesn't compare
favorably at all with filling
Legion Field with 74,000 people
at seven dollars a head or with
gate receipts at any State
college campus.
And just because football is
apparently gone doesn't mean
its fund raising is. The Athletic
Committee is still trying to pay
for last season and expects to
secure the funds before the end
of the year. However, this will
be difficult, as always.
Concerning the football
finances. Dr. Wright con¬
cluded, "We've always had to
rely on generosity."
Concerning the scholarship
situation of the players who
choose to remain at Samford,
Dr. Wright said that although
scholarships are awarded on a
year to year basis, the
University has determined
that because the program is
being dropped, the financial
aid will be continued until the
player graduates.
Dr. Wright also confirmed
the report that Samford will
need another fall sport in order
to meet NCAA membership
requirements. Although a firm
decision has not been made,
some of the fall sports under
consideration are cross
country, soccer, wrestling, and
swimming. The final decision
will be based upon finances
and also upon Samford's
ability to compete favorably
with other schools.
In response to a question
about the possibility of part of
the money from the football
budget now being put into
basketball. Dr. Wright said
that it was highly improbable,
citing that the basketball
program was “on solid
footing."'
Dr. Wright explained that
several years ago a group of
Birmingham businessmen
became interested in the city’s
having a major college
basketball team for the new
civic center coliseum and had
Chester Swor, George Bag ley
on week's Chapel slate
Chester Swor, a full-time
religious lecturer and coun¬
selor will be speaking in
Chapel Monday, February
25th. A native Mississippian,
he is formerly the Dean of Men
and Assistant Professor of
English at Mississippi College
and has authored several
books. Several of his books
include Very Truly Yours
(1954), If We Dared! (1961),
Neither Down Nor Out ( 1967 ) ,
The Parent Slant (1971). He
has also co-authored three
books with Jerry Merriman.
To date his books have had a
total of 41 printings and he is
working
«1
several others.
As a full time lecturer, in the
average year his travel
amounts to a minimum of
25,000 miles. Overseas
missions include Europe four
times, Hawaii twice, the Canal
Zone and the Republic of
Panama and Canada. In recent
years, Dr. Swor has given
increasing time to high school
“Character Emphasis
Weeks,” to civic clubs, and to
other nonchurch groups with
character — strengthening
approaches to youth in the
community. In the average
year, he speaks to from 40 to 50
high schools and colleges.
On Wednesday, February 27,
George Bagley, Executive
Secretary — Treasurer of the
Alabama Baptist State Con¬
vention will speak. A graduate
of Howard College and the
Southern Baptist Seminary at
Louisville, Mr. Bagley has
been a dedicated worker for
Southern Baptists, not only
here in Alabama but all over
the world through Foreign
Missions . Because of his varied
work and travels Samford will
be honored to have him speak
Wednesday.
turned to Samford. These men
have guaranteed financial
backing for the team and have
raised the funds for the
program.»
Dr. Wright went on to
mention that a major college
basketball program could be
run with less expense than
even a small college football
program because of the
number of players required.
Regarding Homecoming. Dr.
Wright stated that this is a
great tradition at Samford and
one that will certainly be
continued. An appropriate
Homecoming celebration in
the fall will be planned and will
center around some sports
activity and an outstanding
pageant with a Homecoming
Queen and other aspects of the
program as in the past. The
students are being asked to
come up with some innovative
ideas for this type of program.
A great many other schools
who do not play football still
have a very fine Homecoming
program in the fall. Dr. Wright
stressed the importance of
keeping an event of this type
scheduled for the fall, pointing
out that the spring already had
Step-Sing and the Candlelight
Dinner.
In response to a final
question on the band. Dr.
Wright said that he did not
foresee andy change in the
band. Dr. Wright predicted
that the band might now be
used more in other activities of
the University. “We’ve talked
with Mr. Cornutt and he sees a
great future for the band,” Dr.
Wright explained.
As the interview ended, Dr.
Wright again turned his at¬
tention to the welfare of the
player, saying that it was the
school’s intention that no
player suffer any financial loss
or hardship of any kind. He
also indicated that all players
would be immediately eligible
elsewhere under NCAA rules if
they wished to continue their
careers. He pointed out the
large number of schools that
are on the quarter system and
have not as yet begun spring
practice and he also felt that
any man who was a good
player would be welcome even
if he just arrived for the fall.
“And we’ve got a lot of good
players,” Dr. Wright con¬
cluded.
(Continued on Page Two)
C
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