LATE BULLETIN:
The Boston Post this morning will say that without Haley's knowledge a "Bob Haley Fund" was collected by a Harvard graduate to finance Haley through College. Haley accepted this because he believed it came to him as payment for a debt this same Harvard graduate owed to Haley's father.
Just as it was beginning its final week of preseason practice a dumbfounded Varsity football squad learned yesterday that Bob Haley, captain and star quarterback, has been declared ineligible by the Athletic Committee on a charge of receiving financial aid in return for his gridiron services.
Because of this Haley has resigned from the captaincy, leaving the football squad for the moment without a leader. The exact nature of the circumstances causing his removal was unknown last night and H. A. A. and University officials refused to give any details.
All that H. A. A. and University officers would say was that Haley has violated Section 2 of the Eligibility Rules, which means that "because of his ability as an athlete" he has accepted "money...or the equivalent of money" from "others than those on whom he is naurally dependent for financial support".
Haley himself said yesterday that "A rule has been technically violated unknown to me." Some took this statement to mean that the gift of financial support was made by indirect means and never actually reached Haley at all. Others took it to mean that Haley has unwittingly stepped across the Eligibility Rules' strict lines.
Result Final
In either case the result is the same when faced by the curt statement of the Athletic Committee that it "has declared J. Robert Haley '36 ineligible for further intercollegiate competition." From this decision there can be no appeal unless the supposed violation should be proved false, a circumstance which seems extremely remote in view of the importance of the affair and the consideration officials have been giving it for days past.
Players and newspaper correspondents alike suspected something might be wrong when during the past week, Haley was repeatedly reported as "excused from practice" but no reason was given. The nature of the trouble came as a distinct shock to the squad when it was presented with the whole matter before going out to practice yesterday afternoon.
When questoned, Head Coach Dick Harlow expressed great regret. "Bob is a fine boy and has been a great captain", the football chief said. Eddie Casey, who was Haley's coach throughout his college career, likewise expressed great regret. "I am very sorry to hear of this," he said. "He will be a great loss to the team."
Haley's Statement
Haley's own statement said in full: "A rule has been technically violated unknown to me. As the Committee feels that this violation warrants a penalty, there is nothing else for me to do but to tender my resignation as Captain of the Harvard Football Team. This is indeed an extreme disappointment and severe blow to me. However, I entered Harvard University for the purpose of acquiring an education, and I fully intend to continue and to obtain my degree in June.
"To the Football Squad, Dick Harlow and his assistants I wish a successful season, and I will continue to do all in my power to help to attain it."
Athletic Committee Listed
The Athletic Committee, which voted the decision, is headed by William J. Bingham '16, Director of Athletics, as Chairman, and includes as Faculty members Dean Hanford, Chester N. Greenough '98, professor of English, and Arlie V. Bock, Harry K. Oliver Professor of Hygiene. Graduate members of the Committee are William Edmunds '00, George Whitney '07, and Charles C. Buell '23, himself a former captain and star quarterback of the Varsity.
Read more in News
Mr. Jones on "The Modern Drama"Recommended Articles
-
Journalist to SpeakSir William J. Haley, editor of The Times of London, will lecture on "The Press, Broadcasting, and Public Opinion in
-
CAPTAIN HALEYAlthough unfortunate, the action of the Athletic Committee in declaring Captain Bob Haley ineligible was forthright and in accord with
-
FOOTBALL TEAM GIVEN ONLY SLIGHT WORKOUTRounding out three weeks of practice with the lightest workout of the season, the Varsity yesterday swung into its final
-
HERMAN GUNDLACH MADE CAPTAIN OF '34 FOOTBALL TEAMHerman Gundlach, Jr. '35 was chosen leader of next year's football team when the 33 lettermen, Coach Eddie Casey, and
-
VARSITY "A" AND "B" ELEVENS SHOW EXCEPTIONAL PEPApparently the realization that Princeton is practically up in Harvard territory was just what the Varsity needed as tonic, for