University of Virginia Library

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248

ATHLETIC MATTERS

The President reviewed developments in athletic matters since the October meeting and he
and Mr. Fenwick, Chairman of the Athletics Committee, reported briefly on the Athletics Committee's
meetings of 11 November and 9 December, the 18 November joint meeting with the Finance Committee,
and the three statements issued to the press. The assurance that President Shannon had given to
Mr. Voris, that he could continue as head coach of football for another year, in accordance with
his contract, had been well received, Mr. Fenwick noted, by alumni, press, and public.

On 9 December, Mr. Shannon reported, Mr. Voris had called at the President's Office and
expressed a wish to resign, provided that he be paid his salary for the final year of his contract.
Mr. Voris had appeared before the Athletics Committee on the evening of 9 December and
repeated his proposal, asserting that it was a voluntary action on his part, not suggested by
any official of the University.

Mr. Shannon pointed out that Mr. Voris' proposal necessitated Board action, despite the
President's authority over coaching appointments, because the President cannot expend University
funds for services not rendered. After a general discussion, the Board adopted the following
resolution:

RESOLVED by the Board of Visitors of The Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia
that the resignation of Coach Voris, conditioned upon the University's paying his salary for the
remainder of his contract, be accepted;

RESOLVED FURTHER that the payment be made from funds received from the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Mr. Fenwick, Mr. Camp, and others complimented the President upon his handling of this matter
and upon his thorough study of athletic policy and practices over the past thirty years.

President Shannon said that he planned to appoint a special committee to assist him in the
selection of both a new Director of Athletics and a new Head Coach of Football.

Both the Rector and the President commented on Faculty attitudes regarding the Conference and
the coaching matter. The consensus appeared to be that membership in the Atlantic Coast Conference
should be given a further trial, and so continued for the present.