Anderson Arena Memories - Volume 12
July 28, 2010 | General, Men's Basketball
Soler's dunk, Almanson's shot bring the house down
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, to see the timeline of events 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.
On February 27, 2005, the Falcons beat Miami, 57-56, as Josh Almanson hit a jumper in the final seconds. That alone would make for an exciting afternoon at Anderson Arena. But, much, much more had transpired at 'The House That Roars' on that Sunday ...
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A FEW LINKS
BGSU 57, Miami 56 - HTML boxscore
BGSU 57, Miami 56 - PDF boxscore
Associated Press Game Recap
BGSUFalcons.com Postgame Notes
TV Broadcast of BG-Miami Game Cancelled
BGSUFalcons.com Postgame Quotes
Submit your favorite Anderson Arena memories
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KYLE (former BGSU men's basketball team manager)
I have a lot of memories of Anderson Arena. Throughout my college tenure I was a team manager for the men's basketball team from the 2004-2005 season to the 2007-2008 season. We won numerous games, a handful at the buzzer! We also endured many funny times during practices as well as games that I will cherish forever. Despite having all of these Anderson Arena memories, one sticks out the most.
The backboard shattered and began to rain miniscule pieces of glass onto Soler, the court, and myself! One would think it would take an amazingly hard dunk to break the backboard, but I'm not sure that the next shot to hit the rim wouldn't have had the same effect. The aftermath of the dunk as many Falcon fans may remember was the previously televised game was no longer covered by FSN Ohio. The game was delayed 45 minutes to an hour and the network decided they could not wait that long! The backboard was brought down to the floor and laid in an old rafter banner. Somewhere from the depths of Anderson Arena arose a "new" old backboard and the Anderson Arena staff put that backboard on the pole, attached the pole to the ground as well as the wire security restraints that connected to the corners of the backboard from the ceiling of Anderson Arena. The old backboard was laid outside the back doors to the arena where many Falcon faithful took their piece of Anderson Arena memorabilia. After the game was over, I myself went outside and got a piece of it for myself, even though I had received plenty of it in my hair!
Finally, my parents were at home in southern Ohio, tuned into FSN waiting on the game, taping it for me to watch when I came home the following week for spring break. I called my dad following Mawel's dunk and told him "Dad, Soler just dunked in warm-ups and shattered the backboard on my head!" My dad, of course worried asked, " Are you all right?" After assuring my father that I was fine, I told him I doubted that the game would be televised. Thankfully, my dad stayed tuned to FSN continued to record the channel. After the game my dad made me aware that FSN had been recording a story to show during the game and over the broadcaster's shoulder, FSN had caught Mawel Soler flying through the air and breaking the backboard! The cameraman zoomed in on the backboard, myself, and Mawel for maybe ten seconds before they came on air and said they would not be covering the game.
I still have the tape that I can look back on and laugh. I look forward to sharing this memory with my children to show them Anderson Arena and the day that the backboard shattered in Bowling Green!
In 2005, I attended my first BGSU basketball game. The Falcons were set to play Miami and I was running very late. I expected to have missed a good portion of the game, and even contemplated just going home and making it to the next one. When I walked into the arena, I realized I hadn't missed a minute of regulation.
Stepping through the doors, I saw the shattered remains of the backboard on the Anderson Arena floor, and the athletic facilities staff working feverishly to clean up the mess and get the game going.
The Falcons went on to beat Miami that day on a last-second shot, and I was hooked on BGSU basketball. Not only did I get to see the Falcons win, I got to gloat to my friends who attended Miami. It was a fantastic way to begin my life as a BGSU Falcon athletics fan.
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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-very-distant future. Roll Along!