STANFORD UNIVERSITY

OFFICE OF THE DEAN OF MEN

STANFORD UNIVERSITY, CALIFORNIA

February 15, 1941

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

Dear "Doc":

Fhank you for your letter of February 11. I felt
quite sure that you had been misquoted, but I don't like
to see statements of this kind broadcast, and that was
why I called the matter to the attention of Floyd Rowe and
sent a carbon of the letter to you.

I am sure that we will all admit that basketball
is one of our most intense games from the standpoint of
the players, the coaches, and the spectators. It was not
my purpose to argue the elimination of the center jump in
my letter to Mr. Rowe because it is only one of many
changes that have been made in the game in recent years.
However, with respect to the statement concerning tall
players, I do not believe that you will find in any report
that I have made to the Rules Committee or the Coaches
Association any mention of the elimination of good tall
men.

I do remember that Dave McMillen of Minnesota
sneeringly reflected upon what he called "the big clowns,"
but he was not one of those who originally advocated the
elimination of the center jump. As a matter of fact, I was
not one of that number but just happened to be one who had
collected some facts in connection with this phase of the
game. I certainly have no desire for any credit, or even |
discredit, for the change in this part of our rules. : ) |

I have not heard from Floyd Rowe as yet, but am
hoping that if he does have any statistics he will present
them. I have a feeling that it would be rather difficult
for him to substantiate the statement concerning the effect
of basketball on stature unless some rather carefully con-
trolled experiments had been carried out, in which basketball
playing was the only experimental factor.

Cordially yours,