Anyone know why the NCAA went from quarters to halves in 1954?

Prior to 1951 the games were 20 minute halves.
From 51-54 they tried quarters.
1954 they went back to 20 minute halves.

Answer to Why the change in 1954:
<LI> They didn't like the quarters they played for 3 years.

Also, there was a huge shortage of quarters in 1954!

I hear a quarter was a lot of money back then...

...A couple gallons of gas, or 2 loaves of bread.
I was seven and only had a dime, ...every Thursday. :)

They had dimes back then? :D

Yeah, they were worth a dollar three niney-eight.

anyone know why they tried the change?

having to much fun
 

it great to see everyone having so much fun...off the top...the view of my bracket looks pretty good,considering it at the bottom of this pond...BktBallref, where did you get those interesting imcons(sp)?

It gave the gamblers in the stands more opportunities to make bets at play stoppages. The point shaving scandals drew attention to this, which is why they went back to halves.

Gee - that almost sounds like it could be true.

An abbreviated
 

The first NCAA basketball committee was headed by a soccer conglomerate from Europe and south America, none of whom spoke English as a native langauge. So they really couldn't read the rulebook that well anyway and thought all games should be in two halves.

In 1951, Pete Rozelle took over NCAA basketball, saying "Americans play real football, the kind that rarely involves the foot actually contacting the ball (but that really isn't important to our story)." He divided the game into quarters like real men play. In 1954, Pete realized that basketball wasn't football and began working his way back into pro football, leaving the way open for the soccer conglomerate to come in and re-write the basketball rulebook once again.

As an aside, during the time Rozelle was in charge, he instituted a parity system whereby the school with the worst record got to offer the first free convertible to prospective recruits. He also developed the concept of Big Monday, but it failed because cable TV hadn't been invented yet, let alone ESPN or Dick Vitale.

Thanks for tuning in to this joint endeavor of the History Channel and ESPN Classic.

Re: An abbreviated
 

Beautiful . . . absolutely beautiful!

Re: An abbreviated
 

This isn't the same guy that invented the QUARTERback is it?

Re: Re: An abbreviated
 

No - it's the same guy who thought he was marrying a tight end but wound up with a wide receiver.

Sorry - couldn't resist.