Protests Arise as Coach Refuses to Use Panther

An abortive rally sponsored by the Friends of Harvard Football was quashed by Yard police and Dean Watson yesterday morning, but not before more than 700 copies of a letter by Geoffrey Oldham '09, Chairman of the Friends, were distributed to undergraduates.

The rally and the letters strongly urged football coach John M. Yovicsin to reverse his recent decision not to make use of the talents of quarterback Ronald W. Panther '64. Demonstrations were scheduled for 10, 11, 12, and 1 o'clock, but only the first came off, rather mutedly at that.

According to Oldham's letter, "Ron" Panther was declared eligible to play Ivy League football last Thursday. The letter, addressed to Yovicsin, said, "Your know that Panther shattered every major national freshman record when he played at Ohio State. You are, of course, aware that after he dropped out of school to enter the Armed Force he broke every major services record. And you are cognizant of the fact that he was offered the starting quarterback's job on the New York Giants after his highly impressive series of workouts with that club."

Even after Panther scored four touchdowns and passed for three in leading the JV's to a 48-10 scrimmage victory over the varsity, the letter charged, Yovicsin refused to use him against Yale "You say that it isn't fair to Ted Halaby, Mike Bassett, and Bill Humenuk, who have worked all year just for The Game, to start someone who has been out for the team for only a week--BUT IS THIS MORE IMPORTANT THAN A HARVARD VICTORY?" the letter asks.

Yesterday Yovicsin showed no sign of changing his mind, evidently placing sentimentality ahead of practicality. Apparently he chose to ignore the implications of Brown's "Stop Ron Panther" sign, which students hastily drew and displayed at Saturday's game after word got around that Panther might be eligible. And he was not swayed by an upsurge of Harvard student sentiment.

Ivy League rules are notorioulsy vague on eligibility in cases like Panther's. Usually, a student must use his eligibility within five years after his first matriculation, but there was some doubt about whether Panther's term in the service should count against him. Furthermore, the Ivy code is peppered with exceptions and exceptions, and so forth and Infinitum.

Oldham urged all interested students and alumni to register their objections at the athletic office, TR 6-4486 or EL 4-5150, as soon as possible. "Let Ron Panther lead Harvard to victory this Saturday," he said.