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Centre vs. Carson-Newman
In 1922 and 1923 the Centre football team defeated Carson-Newman College by the combined score of 85-0. The scheduled October 11, 1924, rematch was cancelled by Centre at the last minute based on the allegation that Carson-Newman was going to use "ringers" to help defeat Centre, in particular one player listed as S.C. Smith. The two schools would never play each other in football again. This small collection of correspondence sheds light on the nature of football in the 1920's, and the use of "migratory" athletes. John H. Biles, Centre professor of physics, was the chair of Centre's Athletic Board of Control.
- Biles, John H. Letter (October 13, 1924)
- Letter to Centre president R. Ames Montgomery giving reasons for the cancellation of the Centre vs. Carson-Newman football game.
- Merrell, V. Palen. Letter (October 13, 1924)
- Letter to Centre president R. Ames Montgomery asking about cancellation of the game.
- Caldwell, Robert T. Letter (October 15, 1924)
- Letter to Centre president R. Ames Montgomery identifying the real name of the Carson-Newman football player S.C. Smith.
- Montgomery, R. Ames. Letter (October 15, 1924)
- Letter to Rev. V. Palen Merrell (Jefferson City, TN) expalining Centre's reasons for cancelling the game.
- Syracuse University. Letter (October 24, 1924)
- Letter to Centre president R. Ames Montgomery from the Secretary to the Chancellor on the status of former Syracuse players reported as playing for Carson-Newman.
- Sprankle, LeRoy. Letter (November 3, 1924)
- Letter to Centre president R. Ames Montgomery requesting information about S.C. Smith, who "mysteriously appeared upon the scene" at Erwin High School in Tennessee.
- Montgomery, R. Ames. Letter (November 7, 1924)
- Reply to LeRoy Sprankle's letter requesting information about a football player named S.C. Smith.
- Sams, Oscar E. Letter (November 19, 1924)
- Letter from the president of Carson-Newman College to John H. Biles responding to the cancellation of the Centre vs. Carson-Newman football game.
- Montgomery, R. Ames. Letter (October 22, 1924)
- Reply to Oscar E. Sams, president of Carson-Newman.
- Scherer, Tilden. Letter (December 2, 1924)
- Letter to Centre president R. Ames Montgomery from the president of King College about college athletics and his school's game with Carson-Newman. King College was asking about the possibility of scheduling their team for the 1925 season.