Remembering the Field House

[UConn82]

I was struck by the way the press treated Geno in the Duquesne presser. Besides the tournament, I never see the Geno pressers in away games. The home-game pressers are dominated on the press side by the horde, folks Geno knows well.

These guys, mostly Canadians (you can tell by their accents ), were so respectful, almost a bit formal, treating Geno as he deserved to be treated, as the great spokesman for women's college basketball, the elder statesmen who has brought so much to the sport. And he seemed to respond, being very open and insightful.

That got me thinking to the first time I experienced UConn basketball, albeit men's. It was in the late 70's, when I was a grad student at Storrs.

Interestingly, this was just before the Big East was formed. UConn was getting good, with Corny Thompson and Mike McKay, et al. (I date myself, sigh.)

Hmm, the two things I remember the most from those games in the Field House were how hard the benches were and how close I was to the action. I can still see the flow in my mind's eye.

How far we have come with Gampel and the XL Center (called the Hartford Civic Center in my day), and so many games on national TV, etc., etc.

Any memories of the Field House or the "old" days to share?

 

[Blueconn]

I was struck by the way the press treated Geno in the Duquesne presser. Besides the tournament, I never see the Geno pressers in away games. The home-game pressers are dominated on the press side by the horde, folks Geno knows well.

These guys, mostly Canadians (you can tell by their accents ), were so respectful, almost a bit formal, treating Geno as he deserved to be treated, as the great spokesman for women's college basketball, the elder statesmen who has brought so much to the sport. And he seemed to respond, being very open and insightful.

That got me thinking to the first time I experienced UConn basketball, albeit men's. It was in the late 70's, when I was a grad student at Storrs.

Interestingly, this was just before the Big East was formed. UConn was getting good, with Corny Thompson and Mike McKay, et al. (I date myself, sigh.)

Hmm, the two things I remember the most from those games in the Field House were how hard the benches were and how close I was to the action. I can still see the flow in my mind's eye.

How far we have come with Gampel and the XL Center (called the Hartford Civic Center in my day), and so many games on national TV, etc., etc.

Any memories of the Field House or the "old" days to share?

4400 usually packed the joint.

I recall the lighting. During play the stands were much darker than the well illuminated court. And of course it was the warmer light of old-style light bulbs.

In 1973 all home games were at the Field House in Storrs. A battered Field Hockey field before the Library. Hawley Armory still stood and once I was lucky enough to play on its ancient floor.

But getting tickets was blessedly easy for undergrads. Official sale dates were rigorously adhered to at the Ticket Office. 9 am at the Ticket Office in the “lobby” of the Field House. Show your Student ID and get up to 4 (?) tickets for 50 cents each.

Is anyone researching, recording, planning to write re the Field House...or Hawley ?

 

[LasVegasYank]

From UConn82 (I can't get the "Quote button to work) - <<How far we have come with Gampel and the XL Center (called the Hartford Civic Center in my day), and so many games on national TV, etc., etc.>>

Hartford Civic Center was the name of the entire building. The sports venue was named The Veterans Memorial Coliseum. I wonder if they still call it that or did they dump it the same way they dump veterans nowadays.

 

[OldAlum]

I saw many men's games there in the 70's. Recall Tony Hansen, Whelton, Thomas, Abro, etc. It was great fun when I was a student and you got to the ticket office early when tickets went on sale. I think they were $1.
You got to the game early because students didn't have assigned seats. You climbed up on the old wooden bleachers and squeezed in! I think official capacity was 4,465 but of course students found other ways in and the bleachers were usually packed. When the game got going, the bleachers would literally rock! It was a great atmosphere. Big games were against UMass and URI (any one else remember the students' URI chant?). Syracuse and Rutgers were the best of the East. It was exciting if the team got into the NCAA tourney (often didn't) Good times!
I played a little intramural womens BB both there and in Hawley.

 

[UConn82]

Oh, I forgot about getting the tickets.

I lifted weights in the depths of the Field House.

I remember Abro when he came back after the knee injury. Tony Hansen was a bit before my time, but his legend was very alive.

Speaking of UMass and legends, people at UConn in those days spoke in whispers about the stuff Julius Erving did at UMass. Is there tape?

 

[Phil]

From UConn82 (I can't get the "Quote button to work) - <<How far we have come with Gampel and the XL Center (called the Hartford Civic Center in my day), and so many games on national TV, etc., etc.>>

Hartford Civic Center was the name of the entire building. The sports venue was named The Veterans Memorial Coliseum. I wonder if they still call it that or did they dump it the same way they dump veterans nowadays.

Kibitzer was wont to remind us of the actual name of the arena although I haven't seen it in some time so maybe that name is defunct. Too bad.

 

[TRest]

4400 usually packed the joint.

I recall the lighting. During play the stands were much darker than the well illuminated court. And of course it was the warmer light of old-style light bulbs.

In 1973 all home games were at the Field House in Storrs. A battered Field Hockey field before the Library. Hawley Armory still stood and once I was lucky enough to play on its ancient floor.

But getting tickets was blessedly easy for undergrads. Official sale dates were rigorously adhered to at the Ticket Office. 9 am at the Ticket Office in the “lobby” of the Field House. Show your Student ID and get up to 4 (?) tickets for 50 cents each.

Is anyone researching, recording, planning to write re the Field House...or Hawley ?

Hawley is still there, I walked around inside it last spring. I remember standing room only seats on the literal floor along the baseline for a game against BC in 1980. The Fieldhouse was a decrepit place, but I loved it. Still think we should have the state outline at center court as it used to be.

 

[slug25]

As a grad student from 72-76 I often worked crowd control for MBB ($10 per game). Memories include LeeOtis Wilson being drafted out of the intramural league to hit high arc bombs (only worth 2 points, alas), Cal Chapman getting called for traveling on the same move every game, and the team doctor falling asleep on the bench at the game that earned UConn an invite to the NIT.

 

[Kurebeach5]

Oh, I forgot about getting the tickets.

I lifted weights in the depths of the Field House.

I remember Abro when he came back after the knee injury. Tony Hansen was a bit before my time, but his legend was very alive.

Speaking of UMass and legends, people at UConn in those days spoke in whispers about the stuff Julius Erving did at UMass. Is there tape?

I was at UConn when Dr.J was at UMass and really all he could do was jump - but my he could do that !! He worked very hard through the years on his shooting and ball handling to become who he did morph into. BTW, when he arrived at UMass he was 6'3. One game at Curry Hicks cage (when he was leading the nation in rebounding) I decided to keep track of his rebounds, legitimate rebounds (shot has to hit the rim, cannot hit the floor,etc.) and the halftime stats were announced that he had 19 rebounds !! I counted FIVE legit rebounds so I stopped counting in the second half. I also thought UConn's Ron Hrubala did a credible job against him in their match-ups

 

[ctfjr]

Two of my roommates and one of our friends drove from Boston to Storrs for a basketball game and 'party weekend' in January (67?). During the game at the Field House our slightly inebriated friend went outside for some unknown reason and promptly got lost. The rest of us searched the campus for hours after the game but never found him and just went back to the dorm where we slept on the floor. The next morning we found him sleeping in a car parked next to the Field House. We still don't know how he didn't freeze to death. . .

 

[UConn82]

I was at UConn when Dr.J was at UMass and really all he could do was jump - but my he could do that !! He worked very hard through the years on his shooting and ball handling to become who he did morph into. BTW, when he arrived at UMass he was 6'3. One game at Curry Hicks cage (when he was leading the nation in rebounding) I decided to keep track of his rebounds, legitimate rebounds (shot has to hit the rim, cannot hit the floor,etc.) and the halftime stats were announced that he had 19 rebounds !! I counted FIVE legit rebounds so I stopped counting in the second half. I also thought UConn's Ron Hrubala did a credible job against him in their match-ups

Thank you. His jumping was what people spoke about. I surmise it is something like Gabby's physical ability.

 

[CTtoSanDiego]

As a grad student from 72-76 I often worked crowd control for MBB ($10 per game). Memories include LeeOtis Wilson being drafted out of the intramural league to hit high arc bombs (only worth 2 points, alas), Cal Chapman getting called for traveling on the same move every game, and the team doctor falling asleep on the bench at the game that earned UConn an invite to the NIT.

I was at UConn from 71-75... played against Lee Otis in intramurals, before he moved up to varsity. He was scoring 40+ per very short intramural game, almost all from WAY downtown. I remember Chapman, as well as Joey Whelton and Tony Hansen...

 

[geordi]

I was there through 1967. I remember coach telling us not to take a recruit into the Field House if it were raining. The roof was a veritable sieve. The floor was dirt - or rather mud - when it rained.

 

[BroadwayVa]

I was struck by the way the press treated Geno in the Duquesne presser. Besides the tournament, I never see the Geno pressers in away games. The home-game pressers are dominated on the press side by the horde, folks Geno knows well.

These guys, mostly Canadians (you can tell by their accents ), were so respectful, almost a bit formal, treating Geno as he deserved to be treated, as the great spokesman for women's college basketball, the elder statesmen who has brought so much to the sport. And he seemed to respond, being very open and insightful.

That got me thinking to the first time I experienced UConn basketball, albeit men's. It was in the late 70's, when I was a grad student at Storrs.

Interestingly, this was just before the Big East was formed. UConn was getting good, with Corny Thompson and Mike McKay, et al. (I date myself, sigh.)

Hmm, the two things I remember the most from those games in the Field House were how hard the benches were and how close I was to the action. I can still see the flow in my mind's eye.

How far we have come with Gampel and the XL Center (called the Hartford Civic Center in my day), and so many games on national TV, etc., etc.

Any memories of the Field House or the "old" days to share?

Corny Thompson --(could be another Thompson) invented the phrase in the old Yankee Conf: Jam the Rams. Uconn was playing the Ram's --the wife and I got to the game a bit late and were in the midst of RAM's---when the cheering started--the wife shouted out---JAM THE RAM--no need to say how that went over with our bench mates (bleachers)--but she was just aglow with glee.
I liked the drafty old, hard wooden bench seated, cold or hot, Uconn Field house---and the parking lot in the winter--felt like the artic--January games were risky for my old pickup at least once --it would not start in that below zero parking lot.

 

[JustinesGuy]

I was struck by the way the press treated Geno in the Duquesne presser. Besides the tournament, I never see the Geno pressers in away games. The home-game pressers are dominated on the press side by the horde, folks Geno knows well.

These guys, mostly Canadians (you can tell by their accents ), were so respectful, almost a bit formal, treating Geno as he deserved to be treated, as the great spokesman for women's college basketball, the elder statesmen who has brought so much to the sport. And he seemed to respond, being very open and insightful.

That got me thinking to the first time I experienced UConn basketball, albeit men's. It was in the late 70's, when I was a grad student at Storrs.

Interestingly, this was just before the Big East was formed. UConn was getting good, with Corny Thompson and Mike McKay, et al. (I date myself, sigh.)

Hmm, the two things I remember the most from those games in the Field House were how hard the benches were and how close I was to the action. I can still see the flow in my mind's eye.

How far we have come with Gampel and the XL Center (called the Hartford Civic Center in my day), and so many games on national TV, etc., etc.

Any memories of the Field House or the "old" days to share?

Yes. My pick up games with and against some of the women. Played against shea who was tough as nails and I got abused down low by Rigby. I know but what can I say I'm only 6ft. I did even it out with some nice jumpers.

Played intramural there and nearly a few fights. Good times.

 

[Monte]

When in high school, my fellow players and I thought it was a gigantic and wonderful arena.
We played there 2 different years in the State High School Tournament.

 

[itsasport]

I grew up in Willimantic. My father took me to games as a kid. You'd walk into the huge, dark and unheated space, across the dirt floor to the imposing free-standing bleachers and the brightly lit court.

I remember watching Toby Kimball, and, particularly Wes Bialosuknia. In those pre 3 point days, the other players would set up around the key , and Wes would come dribbling down court alone, take a couple of steps across the mid-court line, and then launch a shot...swish.

 

[UConn82]

Corny Thompson --(could be another Thompson) invented the phrase in the old Yankee Conf: Jam the Rams. Uconn was playing the Ram's --the wife and I got to the game a bit late and were in the midst of RAM's---when the cheering started--the wife shouted out---JAM THE RAM--no need to say how that went over with our bench mates (bleachers)--but she was just aglow with glee.
I liked the drafty old, hard wooden bench seated, cold or hot, Uconn Field house---and the parking lot in the winter--felt like the artic--January games were risky for my old pickup at least once --it would not start in that below zero parking lot.

Oh, the parking lot. I parked in the "F" lot when I was in grad school. In the winter, the wind always blew in my face walking up the long, long hill to the buildings. I still think I am cold from that wind.

 

[jcoton56]

The last game I saw at the field house was against St. Peters. Corny Thompson and company. It was like gyms all over. Springfield, Worcester, Prov, etc. seemed like every New England town had a field house with a barrel roof which leaked.

 

[BroadwayVa]

I grew up in Willimantic. My father took me to games as a kid. You'd walk into the huge, dark and unheated space, across the dirt floor to the imposing free-standing bleachers and the brightly lit court.

I remember watching Toby Kimball, and, particularly Wes Bialosuknia. In those pre 3 point days, the other players would set up around the key , and Wes would come dribbling down court alone, take a couple of steps across the mid-court line, and then launch a shot...swish.

WES===the Popper--could regularly drop in a TWO from half court. His range was memorable. Bill Corley, Bobby Boyd, Tommy Penders, most were true Student athletes-. Toby was the first Uconn kid I remember ever going pro-he did it in Italy.-How about the WALKER that got UConn to the NIT's in the Garden??

 

[BroadwayVa]

Yes. My pick up games with and against some of the women. Played against shea who was tough as nails and I got abused down low by Rigby. I know but what can I say I'm only 6ft. I did even it out with some nice jumpers.

The Big Rig: "I don't foul em --I roof em". Playing against Shea in pickup games was taking body, soul, and life itself into her hands--she played for BLOOD and WINs. She and her best bud--Svetie regularly played "pickup games" against guys, and won. So you were lucky to survive. Nice story!!!!

 

[ctfjr]

Ahh, reading more of these great snippets jogged my memory. After Jim C was here a couple of years he took UConn to the NIT which he won. My friends and I were truly over the edge. Unfortunately my seats for the games at the Field House were what we could charitably call 'limited visibility'. We were along the corner entry and back far enough that we could only see slightly more than 1/2 of the court. Didn't stop us from being totally out of our minds during the games!

 

[itsasport]

During a game against Rhode Island, the UConn students started to chant-

"U...R...I. U..R...I"

I wondered why they were cheering for the hated opponents.

Then they completed with- "U..R..I..N.. E....sssssssssss"

 

[JustinesGuy]

Thank u! Shea had black mouth guard in and all. It's something I'll never forget. I got such a respect for them and looking back on it was really one of the cooler things I got to do. The girls were so nice. I got to hang with Amy Duran, Sue Bird a bit. Very reserved, respectful, and kind people.

 

[CL82]

I've posted it before but my most vivid memory of the fieldhouse is the cloud of "smoke" that hung in the air. When the place was jumping the noise would literally shake the dust from the rafters. I'd never want to go back and Gampel is a great place to play, but being at those old fieldhouse games is a great memory. Packed to rim with enthusiastic students and unbelievably loud, it was a great home court advantage.

[Oh and 82, you and I probably lifted there at the same time. So thanks the for the spot!]

 

[cohenzone]

My 4 years were 1963-67, matching Wes B., Tom Penders, Bill Holowaty Ron Ritter (good guy) and coach Fred Shabel, and over lapping Dom Perno, Dan Hesford, Ed Slomczenski and Toby Kimball (1 to 3 years ahead of me) and Bill Corley, a year behind me. Some of our best teams until the Calhoun Era.

The Field House was jammed no matter the opponent. UConn opened every season against AIC and without focusing on it, I know I would have seen Calhoun play for them Students had the best seats along the sidelines, lower deck and the end zones. It was not unusual for a game to be date night for students.

The lights were shut off over the stands and only shone over the court. My freshman year, when freshmen couldn’t play varsity, the frosh team was so good, students packed the place early and got in free with a student ID (imagine, the game was played for students, not donors.). Because that led to overcrowding, the next year students were charged fifty cents and have been paying ever since. There was no women’s team, several years before Title IX changed things.

When students stomped on the bleachers, you could see the dust rise. Games with arch rival URI were always close and we’re always for the YanCon leadership with UMass a wannabe. The game my senior year with Rutgers when Wes dueled Bobby Lloyd, both in the top 3 scoring nationally with 40 to 39 points and knocked Rutgers out of a tournament bid (NIT I think, the NIT was a big deal then), was a classic.

I don’t believe I missed a single home game. One word on Kimball. Hands down the best rebounder in school history and maybe college history. Boy could the men use him now. About 6’9” with broad shoulders and sharp elbows, he was a nice guy but tough as nails on the court. He set an NCAA tournament record in a memorable losing game to St. Joe’s of Philadelphia with 29 rebounds. He was also a reliable scorer with a short hook shot. He played several kind of unremarkable years in the NBA. Not quite fast enough for a high level of play and trouble getting the hook shot off as a 6’9” center.

Not sure about the others, but sadly Toby , Wes and Bill Corley (excellent shooter, very quick who at 6’7” could jump out of the building) have all passed away.

 

[UConn82]

Thank you to all the posters on this thread. This is a great Christmas present. I hope some more posts come in.

I wanted to learn more about Wes and Kimball, etc. These guys were legends when I was at UConn. Hearing such moving details about the Field House and the players from people who were there 10-15 years before is truly a "wanted present."

I have a few more such posts up my sleeve.

 

[cohenzone]

WES===the Popper--could regularly drop in a TWO from half court. His range was memorable. Bill Corley, Bobby Boyd, Tommy Penders, most were true Student athletes-. Toby was the first Uconn kid I remember ever going pro-he did it in Italy.-How about the WALKER that got UConn to the NIT's in the Garden??

Toby played in the NBA for the old San Diego team and later the Celtics. Maybe some others. I remember him getting late into a TV game for the Celts and clunking 2 foul shots with Bill Russell laughing on the bench. I actually have a Kimball bubble gum card from when he played in SD. Have to hunt it down, but I know I still have it somewhere. One of the great political upsets of all time. Toby I think had been Jr. class Pres and seemed a shoe-in for Senior Pres. The twin brother of a guy in my dorm, Joe Dolan ran against him in a pretty sophisticated campaign and beat him. The Dolan brothers played football at my hs, Weaver of Hartford, 2 of the more unlikely gridders you've met, but Joe was a decent running back. They convinced me to run for student Senate and I was probably the only candidate with a campaign manager. I was unknown and came in 3rd out of 18 with the top 12 being elected from the Jr. class. Piece of cake for the Dolans after unseating Toby who was truly popular.

I'm not so sure Wes was hitting from half court, but 25-30 feet for sure. If the 3 point line had existed, he probably would have been guarded differently, but at guard he was a rangy 6-2 as were many college forwards at the time. In the ABA he led the league as a rookie in 3 point%, but his role changed drastically when one of the all time prolific scorers in pro history, Rick Barry, famously jumped from the NBA to the ABA on Wes’s team and pretty much was the show. I don't know if they still have it, but in the spring UConn used to hold a week long charity drive, that included a carnival mid-way in the Field House. One of the "skill" games was making 2 of 3 foul shots into an 11 foot high hoop over a water tank with a female student on a dunking stool to take a bath if someone could pull it off. She was high and dry for a long time. Then I witnessed Wes walk up. OK, he was a great foul shooter something like a crazy 99/101 on his frosh team and some streak of over 30 on the varsity. But you'd think even he would have to adjust to a hoop a foot higher. Nope. Hit the first two and into the drink.

 

[UConn82]

This is a great post. Thank you, cohenzone.

 

[Kurebeach5]

My 4 years were 1963-67, matching Wes B., Tom Penders, Bill Holowaty Ron Ritter (good guy) and coach Fred Shabel, and over lapping Dom Perno, Dan Hesford, Ed Slomczenski and Toby Kimball (1 to 3 years ahead of me) and Bill Corley, a year behind me. Some of our best teams until the Calhoun Era.

The Field House was jammed no matter the opponent. UConn opened every season against AIC and without focusing on it, I know I would have seen Calhoun play for them Students had the best seats along the sidelines, lower deck and the end zones. It was not unusual for a game to be date night for students.

The lights were shut off over the stands and only shone over the court. My freshman year, when freshmen couldn’t play varsity, the frosh team was so good, students packed the place early and got in free with a student ID (imagine, the game was played for students, not donors.). Because that led to overcrowding, the next year students were charged fifty cents and have been paying ever since. There was no women’s team, several years before Title IX changed things.

When students stomped on the bleachers, you could see the dust rise. Games with arch rival URI were always close and we’re always for the YanCon leadership with UMass a wannabe. The game my senior year with Rutgers when Wes dueled Bobby Lloyd, both in the top 3 scoring nationally with 40 to 39 points and knocked Rutgers out of a tournament bid (NIT I think, the NIT was a big deal then), was a classic.

I don’t believe I missed a single home game. One word on Kimball. Hands down the best rebounder in school history and maybe college history. Boy could the men use him now. About 6’9” with broad shoulders and sharp elbows, he was a nice guy but tough as nails on the court. He set an NCAA tournament record in a memorable losing game to St. Joe’s of Philadelphia with 29 rebounds. He was also a reliable scorer with a short hook shot. He played several kind of unremarkable years in the NBA. Not quite fast enough for a high level of play and trouble getting the hook shot off as a 6’9” center.

Not sure about the others, but sadly Toby , Wes and Bill Corley (excellent shooter, very quick who at 6’7” could jump out of the building) have all passed away.

My 4 years were 1963-67, matching Wes B., Tom Penders, Bill Holowaty Ron Ritter (good guy) and coach Fred Shabel, and over lapping Dom Perno, Dan Hesford, Ed Slomczenski and Toby Kimball (1 to 3 years ahead of me) and Bill Corley, a year behind me. Some of our best teams until the Calhoun Era.

The Field House was jammed no matter the opponent. UConn opened every season against AIC and without focusing on it, I know I would have seen Calhoun play for them Students had the best seats along the sidelines, lower deck and the end zones. It was not unusual for a game to be date night for students.

The lights were shut off over the stands and only shone over the court. My freshman year, when freshmen couldn’t play varsity, the frosh team was so good, students packed the place early and got in free with a student ID (imagine, the game was played for students, not donors.). Because that led to overcrowding, the next year students were charged fifty cents and have been paying ever since. There was no women’s team, several years before Title IX changed things.

When students stomped on the bleachers, you could see the dust rise. Games with arch rival URI were always close and we’re always for the YanCon leadership with UMass a wannabe. The game my senior year with Rutgers when Wes dueled Bobby Lloyd, both in the top 3 scoring nationally with 40 to 39 points and knocked Rutgers out of a tournament bid (NIT I think, the NIT was a big deal then), was a classic.

I don’t believe I missed a single home game. One word on Kimball. Hands down the best rebounder in school history and maybe college history. Boy could the men use him now. About 6’9” with broad shoulders and sharp elbows, he was a nice guy but tough as nails on the court. He set an NCAA tournament record in a memorable losing game to St. Joe’s of Philadelphia with 29 rebounds. He was also a reliable scorer with a short hook shot. He played several kind of unremarkable years in the NBA. Not quite fast enough for a high level of play and trouble getting the hook shot off as a 6’9” center.

Not sure about the others, but sadly Toby , Wes and Bill Corley (excellent shooter, very quick who at 6’7” could jump out of the building) have all passed away.

When folks talk about Kimball's "lack" of success in the NBA, let's keep in mind when he was drafted there were NINE teams in the league. Admittedly there probably was a "quota" system to minimize the number of African-Americans playing, but still a very impressive feat just making an NBA roster !!