103
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103
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Transcription
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this spring. With the opening of several additional courts east of the athletic field, the training of a larger squad will be possible.
BASKETBALL
Basketball was introduced into the University in the winter of 1895-96 by Dr. Clark, who was at that time director of the gymnasium. In those days there were seven men on a team. The very earliest games were played with the Y. M. C. A. and other local organizations. Basketball has grown greatly in popular favor until it is now one of the most popular of the sports. Nebraska succeeded in the early years in winning most of the games played with other Missouri Valley colleges. In the early 1900's, Nebraska began to play with the Western Conference colleges and as a whole was generally on the short end of the score. Dr. Clapp became director of the gymnasium and professor of physical education in 1902. Basketball flourished under his guidance, and, though still losing to Western Conference teams, our boys made excellent records in the Missouri Valley competitions. Our small court in Grant Memorial Hall always proved a handicap, when our basketball teams journeyed to the larger courts of Minnesota, Wisconsin, or Chicago. After "Jumbo" Stiehm took charge of the team, we won two successive Missouri Valley championships and in 1915 gave Minnesota a double drubbing. The lack of a suitable gymnasium is alone responsible for the fact that Nebraska has not made a record in basketball as good as that made in football.
The largest High School basketball tournament in America is held under the auspices of the University of Nebraska. As many as 130 teams have competed in a single tournament. As a consequence, good material is very plentiful and as soon as a good gymnasium is supplied, we will take our rightful plane in basketball among the colleges of the middle west.
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