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Big Six · 04-23-2006, 06:56 PM

Office of the Director of Athletics
University of Notre Dame
South Bend, Indiana

Mr. and Mrs. Patrick J. O’Farrell
12 Lowell Road
Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts

May 25, 1934

Dear Mr. and Mrs. O’Farrell,

Please allow me first to introduce myself. My name is Elmer Layden, and I have recently been hired by the University of Notre Dame to serve as director of athletics and head coach of the varsity football team.

As I was reviewing the academic performance of Notre Dame’s scholarship athletes, I noticed that your son Michael did not achieve the standard that the University requires of the men who receive athletic scholarships. Michael’s grade point average for the 1933-1934 academic year was 1.75; the University requires its athletes to maintain an average of 2.00. Any athlete who does not meet this standard is ruled ineligible for interscholastic competition.

Michael is obviously a bright young man, and his professors and I feel that he should have no problem at all achieving marks which are considerably higher than those he earned in his freshman year. His solid scholastic record at Deerfield Academy also indicates his potential for academic success at Notre Dame. Michael’s problem appears to be a lack of dedication to his studies rather than a lack of aptitude.

I earned varsity letters in two sports at Notre Dame, as Michael endeavors to do, and am therefore fully cognizant of the difficulties a man faces when he attempts to participate in two interscholastic sports while maintaining satisfactory marks in the classroom. Clarence Kline, who is the varsity baseball coach, and I agree that Michael, if and only if he applies himself properly, will be able to manage this task.

If possible, I strongly recommend to you that Michael remain in residence at Notre Dame for the summer term. If he does so, he can take as many as three courses; if he earns high marks, he will be able to raise his grade point average to or above the 2.00 standard and remain eligible to participate in athletics during the fall semester. I hope that will happen, because I believe Michael could contribute substantially to the success of our varsity football squad this fall.

Please reply and inform me if Michael will be remaining at Notre Dame for the summer, so we may make arrangements for him to remain in his dormitory room.

Sincerely,

Elmer F. Layden
Director of Athletics
University of Notre Dame

04-23-2006, 06:56 PM	#971 (permalink)
Big Six Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Williamsburg, VA Posts: 2,493 Thanks: 145 Thanked 100x in 79 posts	Hit the books Office of the Director of Athletics University of Notre Dame South Bend, Indiana Mr. and Mrs. Patrick J. O’Farrell 12 Lowell Road Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts May 25, 1934 Dear Mr. and Mrs. O’Farrell, Please allow me first to introduce myself. My name is Elmer Layden, and I have recently been hired by the University of Notre Dame to serve as director of athletics and head coach of the varsity football team. As I was reviewing the academic performance of Notre Dame’s scholarship athletes, I noticed that your son Michael did not achieve the standard that the University requires of the men who receive athletic scholarships. Michael’s grade point average for the 1933-1934 academic year was 1.75; the University requires its athletes to maintain an average of 2.00. Any athlete who does not meet this standard is ruled ineligible for interscholastic competition. Michael is obviously a bright young man, and his professors and I feel that he should have no problem at all achieving marks which are considerably higher than those he earned in his freshman year. His solid scholastic record at Deerfield Academy also indicates his potential for academic success at Notre Dame. Michael’s problem appears to be a lack of dedication to his studies rather than a lack of aptitude. I earned varsity letters in two sports at Notre Dame, as Michael endeavors to do, and am therefore fully cognizant of the difficulties a man faces when he attempts to participate in two interscholastic sports while maintaining satisfactory marks in the classroom. Clarence Kline, who is the varsity baseball coach, and I agree that Michael, if and only if he applies himself properly, will be able to manage this task. If possible, I strongly recommend to you that Michael remain in residence at Notre Dame for the summer term. If he does so, he can take as many as three courses; if he earns high marks, he will be able to raise his grade point average to or above the 2.00 standard and remain eligible to participate in athletics during the fall semester. I hope that will happen, because I believe Michael could contribute substantially to the success of our varsity football squad this fall. Please reply and inform me if Michael will be remaining at Notre Dame for the summer, so we may make arrangements for him to remain in his dormitory room. Sincerely, Elmer F. Layden Director of Athletics University of Notre Dame __________________ My OOTP dynasties: The Base Ball Life of Patrick O'Farrell: where it all began The Connecticut Shore League: a fictional league story Three Pals, a Base Ball Story: my newest fictional story Last edited by Big Six; 05-02-2006 at 07:41 PM.