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University of Iowa football boycott suspension newspaper articles, 1969

1969-05-19 Des Moines Register Article: "What's Fate of 16 Black Athletes?"

MANY QUESTIONS FEW ANSWERS AT IOWA - DMR May 19 (pg15 t ?) 

What's Fate of 16 Black Athletes?
By Buck Turnbull 
(Register, Staff Writer)

IOWA CITY, IA - Now that spring practice is over where does the University of Iowa football team go from here in the complicated and confusing situation involving 16 black players who quit the squad?
   Ask that question around the campus and you will probably get 16 different answers about what should be done.
   Perhaps the most prevalent opinion is all 16 made their own choice, were warned of the consequences, yet still applied undue pressure of a partial boycott (four of 20 blacks did not go along) , thus dismissing themselves- and that's final. 

But is it? Or should it be?

Maybe the athletes were misguided especially the freshmen who might not have realized the full import of their actions. 
  Should one mistake-where threats replaced negotiation and reason-be permitted to damage or ruin their careers?

Open Mind
Many don't feel this is right a believe at least some of the blacks will return to the squad next fall if other team members elect to have them back. 
   The man in the best position to say what the outcome is going to be, \coach Ray Nagel, indicated Sunday he doesn't have a closed mind on the subject.
     " My doors are open," said Nagel. " I am willing to discuss anything with anybody." 
    
  Does he himself have any immediate steps in mind before the spring semester ends, such as a squad meeting?
  " No I have nothing planned at this time," replied Ray "and I don't really care to elaborate on the matter.
     " I'm not trying to hide anything, either by not expanding on the situation. It;s just this is such a touchy and sensitive subject that anything I day might be misinterpreted and I  don't want that."

No Decision
Since rumours are rife (that some will be voted back but others won't) , to avoid summer-long speculation it would seem in the best interest of all concerned the situation be resolved this spring and a definite announcement made before school is out.
  Apparently no concrete 
IOWA -
Please turn to Page Three

decision has been reached although it will be difficult for Nagel to change his stand and maybe harder yet for the players who went through the drudgery of spring drills to accept some of their departed teammates back next fall. 
   But to clear the air all 16 should be told now if they'll ever be allowed to rejoin the Hawkeyes. 
   At least then there will be no further conjecture and the 16 can make their own plans, since some undoubtedly will want to transfer elsewhere to play football if the Iowa answer is a final "no."
    Nagel reiterated Sunday his pleasure with Saturday's intrasquad game,l which the Black team (composed mostly of first-stringers) won over the Whites with a 32-point second half 46.7

End Drills
The performance was heartening enough Ray decided to forego the final two practice sessions he could have held this week.
   " We're not so good that we don't need the practice." he hastened to point out. 
  " The main reason we decided to stop now is that anything we would do after a spring game would be a kind of anti-climax.
 " Also, we're only a week away from final exas and the players can use the time to study."
   " If there had been a breakdowns in any major areas, we would have gone into the extra week But I thought our over-all team effectiveness was good."
  
DMR 
May 19, 1969

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MANY QUESTIONS FEW ANSWERS AT IOWA - DMR May 19 (pg15 t ?) What's Fate of 16 Black Athletes? By Buck Turnbull (Register, Staff Writer) IOWA CITY, IA - Now that spring practice is over where does the University of Iowa football team go from here in the complicated and confusing situation involving 16 black players who quit the squad? Ask that question around the campus and you will probably get 16 different answers about what should be done. Perhaps the most prevalent opinion is all 16 made their own choice, were warned of the consequences, yet still applied undue pressure of a partial boycott (four of 20 blacks did not go along) , thus dismissing themselves- and that's final. But is it? Or should it be? Maybe the athletes were misguided especially the freshmen who might not have realized the full import of their actions. Should one mistake-where threats replaced negotiation and reason-be permitted to damage or ruin their careers? Open Mind Many don't feel this is right a believe at least some of the blacks will return to the squad next fall if other team members elect to have them back. The man in the best position to say what the outcome is going to be, \coach Ray Nagel, indicated Sunday he doesn't have a closed mind on the subject. " My doors are open," said Nagel. " I am willing to discuss anything with anybody." Does he himself have any immediate steps in mind before the spring semester ends, such as a squad meeting? " No I have nothing planned at this time," replied Ray "and I don't really care to elaborate on the matter. " I'm not trying to hide anything, either by not expanding on the situation. It;s just this is such a touchy and sensitive subject that anything I day might be misinterpreted and I don't want that." No Decision Since rumours are rife (that some will be voted back but others won't) , to avoid summer-long speculation it would seem in the best interest of all concerned the situation be resolved this spring and a definite announcement made before school is out. Apparently no concrete IOWA - Please turn to Page Three decision has been reached although it will be difficult for Nagel to change his stand and maybe harder yet for the players who went through the drudgery of spring drills to accept some of their departed teammates back next fall. But to clear the air all 16 should be told now if they'll ever be allowed to rejoin the Hawkeyes. At least then there will be no further conjecture and the 16 can make their own plans, since some undoubtedly will want to transfer elsewhere to play football if the Iowa answer is a final "no." Nagel reiterated Sunday his pleasure with Saturday's intrasquad game,l which the Black team (composed mostly of first-stringers) won over the Whites with a 32-point second half 46.7 End Drills The performance was heartening enough Ray decided to forego the final two practice sessions he could have held this week. " We're not so good that we don't need the practice." he hastened to point out. " The main reason we decided to stop now is that anything we would do after a spring game would be a kind of anti-climax. " Also, we're only a week away from final exas and the players can use the time to study." " If there had been a breakdowns in any major areas, we would have gone into the extra week But I thought our over-all team effectiveness was good." DMR May 19, 1969