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C H A P T E R 7 • • • The Student Arrives A llen’s arrival on the Kansas campus was big news, and there was more anticipation about the upcoming basketball season than ever before. On October 18, the University Daily Kansan reported that Allen had made his first appearance on the Snow Hall court the previous night. “The ceiling was too low for him to show how well he could throw long goals, but he gave the men some good ideas of how to get into the game,” the newspaper reported. “Allen will be able to play in the games on this year’s schedule, and will make a strong addition to the team. He is one of the world’s champions and is said to be the best goal thrower in the world.” Though not yet affiliated with an official conference, Kansas agreed to follow the rules of the Chicago Conference, the precursor to the Big Ten, during the 1905–1906 season. One of the rules of the conference was that freshman were not eligible to play on the varsity during the first semester, so Allen and another freshman , Tommy Johnson, helped form the school’s first freshman team. The team played the varsity three times, winning once. There were no rules about playing for AAU teams at the same time a player was on a college team, so Allen played for the Kan- The Student Arrives • 87 sas City Athletic Club team that fall, and also over Christmas for the Modern Woodmen team of Independence. The day Naismith, the rest of the team, and all Kansas basketball fans were awaiting, however, was February 8, 1906, when Allen became eligible to join the Kansas varsity. He came off the bench in the second half, helping Kansas to a 40–10 win over the Wyandotte Athletic Club. He had the same role the following day, in a 43–16 Kansas victory over the Independence Athletic Club. Allen’s first start for Kansas came on February 12, in Lincoln against the University of Nebraska. He scored 23 points, leading Kansas to a 37–17 triumph. His best game was also the last game of the season, at home against the school now known as Emporia State. Allen scored 26 points, a school record that would stand until 1915, to power Kansas to a 60–13 win. Kansas finished the season with a 12–7 record, the first and only time during Naismith’s coaching tenure that the squad had a winning record for the year. The last two home games were played before packed stands at Snow Hall. Allen’s importance to the team was so great that the final scheduled game of the year, against Baker, was called off when it was determined that Allen would not be able to play because of an injured hand. In its review of the season, the University Daily Kansan said of Allen, “He is a steady, consistent player who can be depended upon to do all that is possible for the best interests of the team and the university.” Naismith was pleased with the year’s results, not only because he knew a winning record made his players feel better, but because he thought the success of the team would translate into greater attendance at the games and aid the construction of the new Robinson Gym. Naismith wanted the gym for more than just its ability to accommodate the basketball team, of course. It would give him more room for all of his physical education classes and other sports activities, which still held more personal interest for him than did the basketball team. 88 • Chapter 7 Like his older brother, Allen proved to be more than a onesport star. He had played football in the fall, and when the basketball season was over, Allen joined the school’s baseball team, being used as a pitcher and an infielder. Basketball was clearly his priority, however. In addition to playing for Kansas, Allen had been involved with the Baker basketball team that season. Located just 20 miles south of Lawrence in Baldwin City, Baker did not have a coach, and after making inquiries, the school officials asked Allen to work with the team on a part-time basis. Legend has recorded a story, which may or may not be true, about what happened when Allen was set to return to Kansas for his sophomore year in the fall of 1906. According to the story...

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