THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
COLUMBUS v

DEPARTMENT OF PuysIcAL EDUCATION

L. W. St. Joun, Director November 26, 1938

Mr. Forrest C. Allen

Director of Physical Education
University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas

Dear “Phog":

Thanks for your letter enclosing the placard which advertises
the “National Intercollegiate Basketball Tournament" at Kansas City.
They are evidently making rather elaborate plans. I noted that a number
of the members listed on their “Board of Management" are people whose
allegiance belongs with us. I have already written to "Dutch" Lonborg
suggesting thet he should cut loose from this Kansas City tournament
and throw his lot with us and I am writing to President Owens of the
N.C, A-A-suggesting that he circularize each member of the N.C.A.A. ime
mediately asking for the active support of every member school inthe | \
N.C,AeA. for our basketball tournament. I have no doubt that when it |
comes to a final showdown these coaches,who are at present tied up in
&® general sort of way with this Kansas City tournament, will see that
they belong with us rather then with them. I believe such a letter
from President Owens is an important step at this time.

As to McBride, I can appreciate that he may have some pretty
definite tiewup. I still am in hopes, however, that he can see that
the interests of Kansas City might be equally well served, or better
served, by getting behind the N.C.A.A. project, especially if the —
tournement of the teams West of the Mississippi were to be held in
Kansas Citys I very much hope you can get him to see things in that
light. It might even be not only that playeoff but the final game
for the N.C.A.A, championship, plus the National Association of Basket~
ball Coaches convention might be brought to Kansas City if there were
proper support given to our plans.

Please see McBride at the earliest possible opportunity and
then let me know, because we are holding things up waiting for word
from youe If McBride isn't interested and can't be sold on our tourna=
ment, I would suggest we think perhaps in terms of Denver as a place
for the semiefinal play-off. In any event please get to me just as soon
as possible the names of two other men = if you can't get McBride perhaps
somebody like "Sec" Taylor from Des Moines would fill the bill from the
newspaper standpoint; then perhaps some other man like George Edwards
of Missouri would complete your committee. I am sure you see the need
for rather quick action on our part and I hope you can get some definite
word to me very soon.

By the way, as I indicated in another letter to you, we are
plenning selection committees in each of the N,C.A.A. districts and in
addition to that we are having a general tournament committee on which
I want you to serve. This general committee will be composed of John Bunn,