Bowling Green State University Athletics
Anderson Arena Memories - Volume 7
June 23, 2010 | General
A potpourri of memories
Throughout the 2010-11 season, the BGSU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics will be celebrating the storied history of venerable Anderson Arena, as we are 'Closing the Doors of the House That Roars' and preparing for the opening of the Stroh Center in the fall of 2011.
To share your favorite memory of Anderson Arena or to keep up with the latest Stroh Center happenings, Click Here. We will be posting some of your fondest memories of Anderson here at BGSUFalcons.com in the coming weeks and months.
Many people have sent in memories of their favorite men's basketball, women's basketball and volleyball contests at Anderson Arena, and some folks have sent in their recollections of concerts they enjoyed at "The House That Roars." Still others have sent us memories of events or instances that can not necessarily be neatly categorized. Here are a few of those memories ...
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LINDA
During the 70's, I thoroughly enjoyed the Bob Seger and James Taylor concerts. My favorite memory, however, is of the Hanneford circus performing in the building with Tommy Hanneford performing a fantastic horseback riding routine, the beguiling Princess Tajana who worked with the lions and tigers, and of the elephants who kneeled down to crawl through the double doors to get into Anderson arena because the doors weren't high enough for them to walk through.
BRETT
I saw some great concerts at Anderson Arena during my time at BG, including The Doobie Brothers, Bob Seger, and Peter Frampton. After the Frampton concert, the campus was filled with music from the Live album blasting from the dorm windows. I saw President Ford speak at the Arena, which is the only time I have seen the President in person. I also saw my first pro basketball game there. The Cleveland Cavaliers, led by BG's own Nate Thurmond, played the Detroit Pistons, featuring Bob Lanier. Bob Lanier had the biggest feet I think I've ever seen.
JOHN
In 1968 I became the University's falconer, in charge of caring for and displaying “Prince Frederick,” the University's live falcon mascot, newly acquired from the prairie wilds of Idaho. I remember sitting with Prince Frederick on my fist during all the home basketball games in 1968-69 and '69-70 on a chair placed on the concrete ledge above the southeast doorway. From that vantage point, everyone in the Arena could see the falcon, which I hoisted high on my elevated fist at appropriate moments.
But the most memorable live falcon mascot events happened only a few times. In my last two years as falconer, I was assisted by falconers David and Bill. Just before the formal start of a basketball game, David or Bill would quietly take one of our other trained hawks up into the dark corner rafters of Anderson Arena. I would walk out on to the court near the north foul line, raise my meat-garnished fist, whereupon David or Bill would release the hawk.
With wings spread, it would swoop at increasing speed right over the heads of startled fans, and at the bottom the hawk would shoot across the arena floor to land regally on my gloved fist, just as the Falcon basketball team was returning to the court to start the game. I quietly called that maneuver the Falcon Fast Break.
MELISSA
One of my most memorable memories from college was when Ronald Reagan came to campus during his 1984 re-election campaign. I was one of the lucky ones who got a ticket to be inside Anderson Arena when he spoke. This was the first time I ever saw a president in person. It was so cool to hear the helicopter land in the field, see him make his entrance and hear him speak. I remember feeling very patriotic.
MARY
I have many memories of Anderson Arena, including:
1) Finally watching my son graduate on May 5, 2007 at Anderson Arena to become an alumnus of BGSU, just like I had on March 17, 1973!
2) Flying up to Ohio from Houston to watch the "Anderson Animals" and the student with the "wild" orange wig (my son!) cheer on the Falcon basketball teams!!!!!
3) Going to the Fifth Dimension Concert in March 1970 with my "future" husband as a date!
AL
In the 1995-96 season I scored 4 points in the Al Smith halftime shootout and lost to a junior high school girl. True story.
DAWNJENE
I always enjoyed walking in and sitting in the chairback wooden seats, watching the volleyball or basketball teams practice in between my classes.
JIM
I can recall the insatiable appetite of a former SID staffer's son and media room pizza.
KEVIN
I remember walking to/from class or a student org meeting and hearing the band playing and the crowd cheering in Anderson during games. The sounds from Anderson carried across the campus. I was always glad to hear Ay-Ziggy-Zoomba echoing across the campus because it made me proud to be a Falcon.
----------
We'd love to hear about your favorite memories of Anderson Arena. Click here to share them with us, and perhaps you will see your own recollections of "The House That Roars" right here at BGSUFalcons.com in the not-too-distant future. Roll Along!
To share your favorite memory of Anderson Arena or to keep up with the latest Stroh Center happenings, Click Here. We will be posting some of your fondest memories of Anderson here at BGSUFalcons.com in the coming weeks and months.
Many people have sent in memories of their favorite men's basketball, women's basketball and volleyball contests at Anderson Arena, and some folks have sent in their recollections of concerts they enjoyed at "The House That Roars." Still others have sent us memories of events or instances that can not necessarily be neatly categorized. Here are a few of those memories ...
----------
LINDA
During the 70's, I thoroughly enjoyed the Bob Seger and James Taylor concerts. My favorite memory, however, is of the Hanneford circus performing in the building with Tommy Hanneford performing a fantastic horseback riding routine, the beguiling Princess Tajana who worked with the lions and tigers, and of the elephants who kneeled down to crawl through the double doors to get into Anderson arena because the doors weren't high enough for them to walk through.
BRETT
I saw some great concerts at Anderson Arena during my time at BG, including The Doobie Brothers, Bob Seger, and Peter Frampton. After the Frampton concert, the campus was filled with music from the Live album blasting from the dorm windows. I saw President Ford speak at the Arena, which is the only time I have seen the President in person. I also saw my first pro basketball game there. The Cleveland Cavaliers, led by BG's own Nate Thurmond, played the Detroit Pistons, featuring Bob Lanier. Bob Lanier had the biggest feet I think I've ever seen.
JOHN
In 1968 I became the University's falconer, in charge of caring for and displaying “Prince Frederick,” the University's live falcon mascot, newly acquired from the prairie wilds of Idaho. I remember sitting with Prince Frederick on my fist during all the home basketball games in 1968-69 and '69-70 on a chair placed on the concrete ledge above the southeast doorway. From that vantage point, everyone in the Arena could see the falcon, which I hoisted high on my elevated fist at appropriate moments.
But the most memorable live falcon mascot events happened only a few times. In my last two years as falconer, I was assisted by falconers David and Bill. Just before the formal start of a basketball game, David or Bill would quietly take one of our other trained hawks up into the dark corner rafters of Anderson Arena. I would walk out on to the court near the north foul line, raise my meat-garnished fist, whereupon David or Bill would release the hawk.
With wings spread, it would swoop at increasing speed right over the heads of startled fans, and at the bottom the hawk would shoot across the arena floor to land regally on my gloved fist, just as the Falcon basketball team was returning to the court to start the game. I quietly called that maneuver the Falcon Fast Break.
MELISSA
One of my most memorable memories from college was when Ronald Reagan came to campus during his 1984 re-election campaign. I was one of the lucky ones who got a ticket to be inside Anderson Arena when he spoke. This was the first time I ever saw a president in person. It was so cool to hear the helicopter land in the field, see him make his entrance and hear him speak. I remember feeling very patriotic.
MARY
I have many memories of Anderson Arena, including:
1) Finally watching my son graduate on May 5, 2007 at Anderson Arena to become an alumnus of BGSU, just like I had on March 17, 1973!
2) Flying up to Ohio from Houston to watch the "Anderson Animals" and the student with the "wild" orange wig (my son!) cheer on the Falcon basketball teams!!!!!
3) Going to the Fifth Dimension Concert in March 1970 with my "future" husband as a date!
AL
In the 1995-96 season I scored 4 points in the Al Smith halftime shootout and lost to a junior high school girl. True story.
DAWNJENE
I always enjoyed walking in and sitting in the chairback wooden seats, watching the volleyball or basketball teams practice in between my classes.
JIM
I can recall the insatiable appetite of a former SID staffer's son and media room pizza.
KEVIN
I remember walking to/from class or a student org meeting and hearing the band playing and the crowd cheering in Anderson during games. The sounds from Anderson carried across the campus. I was always glad to hear Ay-Ziggy-Zoomba echoing across the campus because it made me proud to be a Falcon.
----------
We'd love to hear about your favorite memories of Anderson Arena. Click here to share them with us, and perhaps you will see your own recollections of "The House That Roars" right here at BGSUFalcons.com in the not-too-distant future. Roll Along!
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