University of Virginia Library

Taking It

Intercollegiate athletics is a peculiarly
autocratic business, founded on the premise
that the coach's rule must not be questioned.
Boat-rockers threaten the whole system, and
the athletic establishment moves quickly to
crush them. So the opposition from athletic
circles to the recent activity by those who
think Virginia would be better off with
another basketball coach is not really
surprising.

Some of the more scurrilous opinions
emanating from University Hall would lead
one to believe that the Boot-the-Hoot button
pushers are either Communist radicals, capitalist
quick buck artists, or chronically talk back
to their mothers. But, in the eyes
practically everyone in University Hall, the
are at best boat-rockers. The fact remains that
the Athletic Director and some of Mr.
Gibson's friends in the Student Aid Foundation
(which finances athletic grants) have
successfully attempted to temporarily suppress
the buttons. And, as the season goes on,
there will undoubtedly be new moves to
suppress anti-Gibson leafleting, anti-Gibson
banners in University Hall, etc.

It would seem that the Athletic Department
is trying to have its cake and eat it too.
Coach Gibson's salary and the gymnasium his
team plays in are paid for by student fees and
the support of the public. It's axiomatic in
sports that the paying customer can cheer or
boo as he pleases; apparently the pro-Gibson
forces have adopted a policy where the paying
customer can cheer or do nothing.

Coach Gibson is in a profession which is
naturally liable to criticism from the public.
When he chose to stay here last year rather
than resign under pressure, he chose to expose
himself to the criticism he knew would be
forthcoming this year. If he, or the Athletic
Department can't take it, they should
consider entering another profession.