University Daily Kansan Friday, March 26, 1954
<Kansas' First—This is the first KU football team ever to be organized. It's the 1890 eleven, coached by Prof. E. M. Hopkins. The team played three games that year, against Baler, Washburn, and a YMCA team. It was organized by C. W. Baldridge, who passed the hat to obtain money for uniforms. It's star was O. K. Williamson, considered by old-timers as
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KU Basketball Got Its Start In Snow Hall
The Lawrence skating rink was the scene of the first home game on Feb. 10, 1899. The Y team from Topeka was the opposition and returned home on the losing side, 6-31. Attendance for that opener soared to 50.
As intramural players began to develop, Dr. Naismith picked a varsity team and began scheduling games. The Jayhawkers' first cage contest was held in the spring of 1898 with a YMCA team from Kansas City. KU dropped it. 16-5.
By CHUCK MORELOCK
**By CHUCK MORELOCK**
It was born in the basement of St. hall, gained maturity in a 12,000-square mile and where she stops nobody knows. That's the story of KU basketball down through the ages.
The sport—at Mt. Oread or anywhere for that matter—is relatively new in comparison with football and baseball. It wasn't invented until 1891. The creator was Dr. James Naismith of the Springfield (Mass.) YMCA college, who found basketball was one of the answers to his research program designed to develop new games.
Dr. Naimshim came west to KU in the fall of 1898 to take a joint position as associate professor of physical training and chapel director. Basketball, he said upon arrival in Lawrence, was a result of an effort to invent a game that could be played between the football and baseball season, that would be interesting and easy to learn, and that wouldn't be rough. (Ever watch the elbows fly when six guys go up for a rebound?)
The first gym was in the basement of Snow. It wasn't big enough for games. So KU usually rented a downtown skating rink—a far cry from the soon-to-be-constructed 16,000-seat fieldhouse.
In its Dec. 10, 1893, issue, the University Weekly reported: "Everyone who is at all interested in athletics is now talking basketball yet it does not stop here. Those who hitherto have manifested no interest in any sport of skill and strength seem now to be enthusiastic over the new game; it is talked about at the club; it is discussed in the corridors; it is practiced and played in the gym and on the campus. Even the professors have become actively interested in the game and are giving their recreation time over to this postmeet."
Student and faculty interest picked up immediately. Eight class teams were organized for the purpose of providing material for a future varsity squad The sport soon became the hottest topic of conversation on the campus.
In 1854 Travel to the Kansas Territory Was By Covered Wagon
Yes, back when Kansas first became a territory, our forefathers had to travel long distances over the plains in cumbersome wagons. Imagine the hardships they must have endured. Think of the amount of time they had to spend. In the past hundred years transportation facilities have progressed to such an extent today we are able to travel in just a few hours the same distance that it would have taken the pioneers months to cover.
In 1954 Kansans Travel By Air
Air travel is the smart, modern way. The speed and efficiency of flying saves valuable time. Plan to go by air contact the PIONEER BANK-AIR TRAVEL AGENCY in Lawrence.
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