Basketball History Roster
Biography
Robert McClellan
Beloit Class of 1953, TKE Fraternity, Tennis
Upon entering Beloit College as a freshman in the fall of 1949, little did I realize the magnitude one sports team would have on this rather typical small (1000 students) liberal arts educational institution in the mid-west. 1949 was just two years after completion of the building of Beloit's new Field House. It was a far superior venue than old Smith Gym. The hiring of Dolph Stanley as basketball coach by president Cary Croneis in 1945 and the crowds his teams drew from the local community required a better facility. In my day it became known as “The House that Stanley Built”.
Looking back, now, I can clearly recall the tremendous excitement with this most unusual basketball team. This was all new to me. I had just come from the small Delavan, Wisconsin high school with its typical high school varsity team. Suddenly seeing the discipline, the speed, the fast-break, players dashing down the floor, passing the ball behind their backs to each other and going in for the lay-up. All this to the loud cheering and obvious visiting team's confusion and frustration. We were running up the scores to the point of often outscoring of opponents by 30, 40, and more points. We were routinely scoring 100 points a game. This sports introduction to Beloit College was significant for me. And it certainly was significant for our college and probably the entire Beloit community.
Bontemps, Baptist, Erickson, Houghton, Orr, and others. These were classmates, some were fraternity brothers of mine. This was community. When I was there, Beloit was getting national attention. We were invited to participate in the annual NIT basketball tournament in Madison Square Gardens. We lost to Seton Hall, with their star, 7’0” Walter Dukes, in the opening round by a score of 71-57, but BELOIT COLLEGE WAS THERE! During this time Beloit also set the Chicago Stadium record for points in a game with a 94-60 rout of DePaul. Running up huge scores against our Mid-West Conference teams, plus all this national publicity, was unnerving for our Mid-West Conference opponents. Beloit was kicked out of the conference for "Destroying the Spirit of the Conference". This was all ultimately resolved and things became more normal once again.
Now, looking back 70 years at just this part of my college experience, it's clear how sports helped give me a sense of “belonging” and instilled in me a certain feeling of 'confidence' in being an active part of this environment.
My own sports experiences at Beloit were important to my overall college life. I was part of freshman football for a time, and was on the tennis team. With the availability, at Beloit College, of being able to participate at the varsity team level helped me develop a sense of achievement and self-confidence. There was a definite correlation between my sports experience and my academic pursuits and achievements as well. It was a well-rounded and important personal maturing time for me. I was totally living the Beloit College life.
Knowing how sports can be such a captivating and influencing factor in American life, I can only imagine the underlying effects the Dolph Stanley era contributed to the excellent reputation which Beloit College enjoys today as an outstanding institution of higher learning. Success in sport has a way of bringing notoriety of a positive nature to a campus. It is part of a well-rounded education. Mind and body must work together. |
