when was the glass backboard used in college basketball?  Not just the
first usage but general usage in college arenas.  In the movie
Hoosiers, a watcher has said that glass was not used in high school
backboards until the 1970's.  But, Butler Fieldhouse had a glass
backboard in 1952.

Hello Lecarli,

Glass backboards were legalized by the professionals in 1908-09 and by
colleges in 1909-10. Fan-shaped backboards were made legal in 1940-41,
and transparent backboards, although commonly used in public
auditoriums since the mid-1930s, were finally authorized in 1946-47.

Thinkquest
http://library.thinkquest.org/26837/history/basketball/main.htm

Search terms:
"glass backboards"  in college basketball 1909..1952


I hope the information provided is helpful!

Best regards,
Bobbie7

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Clarification of Answer by bobbie7-ga on 06 Aug 2006 08:32 PDT

Glass backboards were installed for the 1949-1950 basketball season in
West Gymnasium in the Iowa State Teachers College (now the University
of Northern Iowa).
http://www.library.uni.edu/speccoll/bh/bhwestgy.html

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Clarification of Answer by bobbie7-ga on 06 Aug 2006 08:56 PDT

From the Basketball Timeline:

In 1948 Rectangular glass backboards made official for college play. 
http://www.ndaadunk.com/dunk_stories/b_a_s_k_e_t_b_a_l_l___t_i_m_e_l_.htm

From the Basketball Timeline:

In 1948 Rectangular glass backboards made official for college play. 
http://www.ndaadunk.com/dunk_stories/b_a_s_k_e_t_b_a_l_l___t_i_m_e_l_.htm