University of Virginia Library

Gerry, Denton, Five Others
Placed On ACC Probation

Wahoo Bill Gerry, One Of Seven ACC Players On Probation

Conference Office Moved To Stop Epidemic Of Fist-Swinging

Seven basketball players at
five member colleges have been
placed on probation by the
Atlantic Coast Conference and
the players and coaches have
been told to keep the action a
secret. The Spartanburg (S.C.)
Herald newspaper said today.

The probation measures
resulted from fights during
ACC basketball games this
season.

The action was taken
through a private edict from
acting ACC Commissioner
Norville Neve, handed down
through personal and highly
secretive letters to each of the
five schools, the Herald said.

Players put on probation
reportedly include South
Carolina's John Roche and
John Ribock, Duke's Randy
Denton, North Carolina's Bill
Chamberlain, Virginia's Bill
Gerry and Maryland's Jay
Flowers and sparky Still.

Asked how it felt to be on
probation, Chamberlain told
the Associated Press in an
impromptu interview, "I didn't
know anybody knew about it
except for coach Dean Smith
and myself." Later, though, he
said he was not confirming the
Herald story.

Maryland coach Lefty Driesell,
when asked if two of his players
had been placed on probation,
snapped, "Not two, just one!"

The Herald story said the
probation would remain in effect
until the completion of the current
1970-71 season. If a second offense
is committed, the player will be
suspended automatically.

The edict apparently was
brought on by a brawl which halted
the game between South Carolina
and Maryland three weeks ago.

"Every player in the league who
was involved in a fight has been put
on probation," said one ACC
school official - "Ribock, and
Roche from South Carolina,
Chamberlain and Gerry, Still and
Flowers, all of them have gotten
the ax."

UVa basketball coach Bill
Gibson commented "no comment"
today when asked about Gerry's
probation. "Ask (athletic director)
Steve Sebo or the commissioner,"
he suggested.

Neve ruled South Carolina
would have to play the game or
have its eligibility for post season
play taken away.

It was reported the reason for
extreme secrecy in the matter of
probationary status was to keep
other players in the league from
picking fights with the seven named
performers in an effort to have
them declared ineligible.