Hats Off for a Winning Season
This article describes the beginning of women's intercollegiate sports at ECTTS. This and other articles may be found in the University Archives.The citation for this article is: "Hats Off for a Winning (Basket Ball) Season (1934)," Pieces of Eight, April 1, 1984.
The late A.D. Frank, who was regarded as the unofficial dean of the faculty at East Carolina for nearly 30 years, coached the school's first women's basketball team and achieved a notable, even rousing, success fifty years ago.Because of the enthusiasm generated by the girls' perfect, undefeated season during the first year, 1933-1934, East Carolina's women students for the first time were permitted to go downtown that spring without wearing hats.
A year earlier, President Robert H. Wright had refused Professor Frank's request to organize a girls "basket ball" team on grounds that such boisterous activity would be unladylike on the part of young women preparing to be teachers. In 1933, however, Wright agreed to permit a girls' team for a "trial" period. Professor Frank, as chairman of the Athletic Committee, volunteered to be its coach.
When the season was over, President Wright announced in chapel one April morning that he would give his unqualified support to women's "basket ball." Furthermore, he said, he was rescinding the long-standing rule that East Carolina's women students going off campus must wear hats and gloves.
The announcement received a standing ovation.
