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THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA

NORMAN -. OKLAHOMA
March 18, 1944

Dr. Forrest C. Allen
Basketball Coach
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas

Dear Doc:-

Thanks to you for your letter to Harold and 1. We both feel deeply
honored.

In spite of the opposition we are getting to your 12 foot basket, I
feel sure that you will have the last laugh. Not now, but it's coming and I'm
convinced that it is the only sound solution. It's going to take time. At
least they are giving the matter some thought---some a little shallow, but the
fine part @f it is that they are opening their eyes.

I have She questionaires back from gixky= ore coaches, and only four
of the group say, “leave the rules as they are". The fumny thing about their
answers is that they all use a goal-tender. All the rest of them say something
should be done to curb this practice. About 85 % of them say to make it illegal
for a defensive man to tough the ball on it's downward flight by awarding a field-
goal. Only two of the group say raise the basket to 12 feet.

Here's the way I have the thing figured out. They can see this goon
take baskets away from them, and it makes them unhappy, in fact very unhappy.
They haven't however, given much thought concerning the damage he is doing on
the offensive basket. They don't stop to realize that when a giant is throwing
the ball down thru the basket he is doing the same thing to you at timt end of
the court. However I've taken this attitude after considerable deliberation.

It is obvious that now isn't the time to push the 12 foot idea of yours, altho
it's before them. They have all said that something should be done about it and
have given various solutions to it. Most of them haven't the vision of the out-
come of moving the baskets up, but if we can eliminate one end of the court, it
will give them a chance to concentrate upon the basket in the future that we want
them to. In other words I feel certain that if we can eliminate goal-tending this
year, it won't be long until they will see how it should be in effect at both
baskets and the only solution will be a-la-Allen. Nes pa? I'm tickled to death
that most of them are vitally interested in getting something done.

I read an account of your talk the other nite and you advocated
that you. were in favor of "freezing" the rules and have a committee (not the
N.C. A. A.) do some work on proposed changes. That's a fine idea, and I
suggested to Hank that we try the proposed suggestion in the rules this year
in relation to goal-tending. He laughed and said, "It's not in the rules".

In other words, I don't believe that any coach that employs a goal-tender as

a defensive weapon will ever agree to sacrifice him in a game. It would be
breaking up his defense which really is asking quite a favor unless youare
fortunate enough to have one yourself. Then of course the man with the taller
Player piayexr would say no. As far as this &ssue is concerned, I believe you