GW ' s First Basketball Season
From GWUEncyc
Article
By G. David Anderson, University Archivist
Collegiate basketball began at The George Washington University in 1906. The University President was Charles Willis Needham; the yearbook was called "The Mall"; and the campus was located on H and I Streets, between 13th and 15th. (The University moved to its present site in 1912.)
In 1906, the game of basketball was just developing, aided and abetted by the Young Men's Christian Association. Colleges had begun to get into the act in the earliest years of the century and by 1905 they were organizing their own rules committees. On December 20, 1906, the Intercollegiate Basketball League convened a Rules Committee at Columbia University in New York for the purpose of insuring uniformity in administering the rules of college basketball. The rules they were discussing were quite different from the rules of contemporary college basketball. For example, each team was allowed three time-outs per half, but for each additional time-out, a point was deducted from the team's score. Additionally, a center court jump-off took place after each field goal instead of bringing the ball into play from the sideline. Foul, unfair blocking, a problem with many early teams, was given severe penalties by the Intercollegiate Basketball League, which was serious about promoting good sportsmanship.
In the December 1906 University Hatchet an article appeared stating, "There is no reason why a strong basket ball [sic] team cannot be gathered from the quantity of good material at hand. It is true we have no gymnasium and that will be a great inconvenience . . . "In spite of the "inconvenience," Donald Wilhelm, a student from Ohio working toward a Bachelor of Arts in Columbian College, called an organizational meeting on December 13, 1906. At that meeting Wilhelm was confirmed as manager and Pennsylvanian Roy E. Newhouser was elected captain. GW had made its entrance into organized basketball.
The successful creation of the first basketball team depended on several factors. First, there was fund raising, necessary for the rental of playing and practice facilities. The January 10, 1907, University Hatchet reported that "the basketball and track teams have commenced work at the Washington Light Infantry Armory underneath Chase's Theater. The hall is ours from 5 to 7 o'clock every weekday evening." A total of $60.00 was necessary for one year's rental of the Armory. By January 17, 1907, $25.00 had been raised from alumni and $5.00 from the student body, numbering 1500. To raise the remaining $30.00, the fraternities were each assessed $2.50.
A second requirement was the recruitment of student players. Wilhelm and Newhouser sent out a call for candidates to report to them, and by January 1907, The George Washington University had its first men's basketball team. The captain was Roy Newhouser. Forwards included Newhouser, Jessie Eigelberner, Frederick Joseph Rice, and David R. Covell. The center was a fourth year medical student, Augustus Grant Prosperi. Guards included Julian Wythe Whiting, Elbert Colbreth Johnson, Charles Lewis Gable and Louis Nelson Duffey. Frederick Rice was the only player who had prior experience with basketball. The team was staffed by Wilhelm, William Pleasant Wood, a second year medical student from Ohio, and Milton Scott Biddle, a first year law student from West Virginia. It was only after enough students showed up that Wilhelm put the final touches on the "cracker-jack" schedule. The original schedule for the 1907 season included two games apiece with the University of Virginia and Staunton Military Academy, one game each with the University of Maryland, Washington and Lee University, and the College of William and Mary, and three with GW's cross-town rival, Georgetown University. On January 26, 1907, the team traveled to Charlottesville, Virginia, to play an experienced University of Virginia team. Although the George Washington University team was defeated, 18-17, it earned considerable recognition by turning in a creditable performance. On February 2, GW's Buff and Blue overwhelmingly defeated the University of Maryland, 41-19, in the first intercollegiate basketball game ever played in the city of Washington. The team had a new coach, was in fine physical condition and showed a thorough knowledge of the game. Frederick Rice was in top form, scoring 12 of the 19 goals for GW. Teamwork was of a high quality.
The second time the Buff and Blue played the University of Virginia, GW won, 26-23. The University Hatchet reported, "The game was fast and furious from the start to finish with a fair-sized crowd turning out." Rice again was the outstanding player. However, the game was marred by the number of fouls called against GW. Fifteen of Virginia's points were due to free throws.
The team left on a Monday for its final road trip: two games in Staunton and a single game against Washington and Lee in Lexington. A smallpox quarantine in Williamsburg caused the cancellation of the scheduled game with William and Mary. GW defeated the Staunton Military Academy by a score of 50 to 33 on February 19. In the next game, Staunton fielded a team drawn from the YMCA squad, none of whose members were registered with the Amateur Association. Under Association regulations,
GW could not play them. Then, on February 20, the Buff and Blue was leading against Washington and Lee when the team retired from the court thinking the game was over. Washington and Lee returned to the court and scored the winning basket. The dejected GW players went home with a 21-19 loss.
The three-game showdown with Georgetown University was all that was left of the season. Just before the February 27th game, Gable was disqualified and Rice, GW's best player, became ill. Duffey and Johnson replaced them on the court. The first half ended with Georgetown in the lead, 12-7. Then, "Freddie" Rice limped down from the stands and joined the team. His excellent performance brightened GW's prospects until, with just a minute to play; Georgetown was a single point ahead. Georgetown fouled and GW tied the score. With time running out, Whiting shot. The ball sailed high, seeming to hesitate in the air, and dropped in the basket. The George Washington University's Buff and Blue had defeated Georgetown!
Except one freshman victory, February 27th marked the first varsity win ever over the rivals across the creek. In the second game of the series on March 2, Georgetown's Blue and Grey controlled the first half. It looked as if it would be a runaway game. But the Buff and Blue caught fire late in the game and finished just two points behind, 15-13. The March 14 University Hatchet exhorted the University community to support the team in its third game with Georgetown: "Go to this game if you never go to another." The Hatchet's call was successful. A "mammoth crowd" turned out for the March 16th game in the YMCA gymnasium. Each team had one win and this game would be the showdown for the Southern championship.
The Buff and Blue had a victorious first half, 13-4, and continued its fine play point after point until the final score totaled 26 against Georgetown's 10. GW's first men's basketball team had captured the Southern championship and one of the University's proudest traditions was established.
Note:This was first published in Arts and Sciences, CCGSAS Alumni Newsletter.
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Author or Source: G. David Anderson;
Document Location: University Archives
Date Added to Encyclopedia: December 21, 2006
Prepared by: G. David Anderson, University Archivist and Historian
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