19th Hole: The Readers Take Over

NOTRE DAME (CONT.): MORE FACTS, PLEASE
Sirs:
I have just read The Facts of the Matter by the Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, president of the University of Notre Dame (SI, Jan. 19), as well as the preceding article, Surrender at Notre Dame (SI, Jan. 5).

Father Hesburgh insists that he did not "surrender" to pressure from the alumni. He stated that he received only two critical letters from alumni during the last football season. But he made no mention whatever of the number of complaints that were received by Mr. Krause, the director of athletics, or the faculty board in control of athletics.

Father Hesburgh implies that Brennan was fired not for losing too many games, but because Notre Dame wanted a stronger man.

Father Hesburgh made no mention of the fact that Brennan's 1958 outfit was one of the most colorful ever to represent the famous university. He made no mention of the fact that Notre Dame was always within striking distance, even in the games it lost. And of course, having made no mention of these facts, Father Hesburgh therefore forgot to explain why, or how, some people could have thought that this team and its coach weren't trying hard enough.

Father Hesburgh made one more very great omission. He forgot to explain why Director Krause told a group of Chicago sportswriters that " Terry Brennan was a better coach this season than he was last year, and he will be at Notre Dame for many, many years to come." This was less than a month before Brennan's firing, when, according to Father Hesburgh, he (Krause) concurred with the decision of the athletic board.

Inasmuch as it now seems apparent that he was in full knowledge of the board's intention to fire Brennan and that he agreed with it, Krause is guilty of doing what many Easterners insist can be done only in Los Angeles: telling someone something one day and then turning around and doing exactly the opposite the next.

The Facts of the Matter might answer the questions raised by the firing of Brennan well enough to suit Father Hesburgh and the inner circle at Notre Dame. But to my way of thinking this article leaves at least half the really important questions unanswered.
CHESTER GILLIS
Santa Monica, Calif.

THE DAVIS CUP
Sirs:
Three cheers and a bien hecho for your suggestion to exhibit the Davis Cup in Peru (SI, Jan. 12).

There is nothing, I think, that can better diminish the anti-U.S. feeling which exists in certain Peruvian elements than to allow the wonderful people of that country a rightful sense of identity.
BRUCE NICHOLSON
Denver

Sirs:
I would like to add my support to your proposal. Though I am a college student, I would be willing to make a small contribution to financing the sending of the Davis Cup to Peru. And if it would do any good, I would be willing to write my Congressman and Senator asking them for their support.
PHILIP HUFF
Gatlinburg, Tenn.