Che University of Oklahoma
Norman, Oklahoma

March 27, 1940

PHYSICAL EDUCATION FOR MEN

Dre Forrest C. Allen
Manager NeCeAsAe
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas

Dear Dr. Allen:

Congratulationse I tried to worm my way through the mob after the game

to press the flesh but saw the presentation and then gave it up. Ewas
swell to see the Conference come through. You lkmow you would have had
Edwards and Drake to whip had you let us down this late in the season.

I will be glad to contribute a fresh roll of 13" tape to hold that game
crew of yours together for just one more game. I certainly did not "adit
another Coast team in the fi ag this year. I still contend that if a
team goes ahead and gets goo = howd and Fights for that ball under the
backboard, that in the long run they will whip the socks off those one
handed shooters that take 'em just to be shooting. My hat is off to you
BIRDS and just hang tough for this one more same.

In spite of the fact that I have Hugh Ford for another year I do, in all
Sincerity, think that the raising of the goal would do what the elimination
of the center jump was supposed to do, namely, take the premium off the big
mane Granted that the big man in basketball is always going to be in demand,
nevertheless a team is entitled to the shots that they take at the basket
and have barned them without having a six foot ten boy jump and steal the
ball before it even hits. Whether the elevation of the basket will take
effect next year or not, I feel confident trat for. the good of basketball
this step is going to be necessary if we intend to ‘make the progress that
we have made in the last five years. The present height of ten feet was
no doubt set arbitrarily because the running tracks in the old gymnasiums
happened to be this elevation. You know more than L -abdéubvcut inventor’ and
what would be Neismith's attitude on this question ,but I am positive that he
would frown on the goal tending tactics that all of us have employed at some
time or other.

Whether this height should be eleven @ twelve feet I do not know but believe
that an eleven foot basket would be.easier to sell than the twelve foot. There
is no doubt in my mind that the are of disbursement on rebounds would clear

up the congested area under the basket which would of course eliminate a lot
of personal fouls.

This is not for publication but I sincerely believe that the helter-skelter one
handed shots that are directed at the basket on the swing shots with little

or no arch would certainly lose their effectiveness. I understand that Hobby
Hobson has two sophomores at this time both measuring six foot seven and
another measuring six foure So the elimination of the center jump has

1942—THE SEMICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA—1942