Bowling Green State University Athletics
Old, Small and Just Right
November 17, 2005 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 17, 2005
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - BGSU's home court is the most liked - and disliked - in the MAC
Walk into the place when it's empty, and you might wonder what's so special about Anderson Arena at Bowling Green State University.
The joint is old (opened in 1960), small (capacity 4,700) and pretty much devoid of the fancy doo-dads that are standard issue today at many basketball arenas in the Mid-American Conference and other Division I circuits.
In the era of SUV arenas, Anderson Arena is an aging subcompact coupe. On a game night, though, with the Falcons on the floor and a roaring, capacity crowd in the stands, you'll immediately understand why ninth-year BG coach Dan Dakich is convinced his team has the Cadillac of home-court advantages in the MAC.
Going into this season's home opener Saturday against Urbana, the Falcons have a 416-156 record in 45 years at Anderson Arena.
"Some of the arenas in the MAC can be a little quiet and dull," Dakich said. "Our arena is a lot of things, but it's never quiet and dull."
To hear Dakich tell the tale, student rooting sections with nicknames like the Sideline Squad, Anderson Animals and the Flock make for a wilder, woolier atmosphere at Anderson Arena.
"Our students are great here," Dakich said. "There is no barrier between the rooting sections and the floor. They really get into it. As an opponent, you can't sleepwalk your way through a game at our place."
It isn't just Dakich and his players who have strong feelings about the arena that turns into a bobbing sea of orange on game nights.
During the recent MAC men's basketball media day at the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Cleveland, coaches and players were asked to name their favorite and least favorite road venues in the conference.
Anderson Arena received the most votes in both categories. "I can see how that happened," Dakich said.
Romeo Travis, a teammate of Cavaliers All-Star forward LeBron James at Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, now is a junior forward at University of Akron. The East Division Preseason All-MAC honoree chose Anderson Arena as his favorite road venue.
The Zips have a Jan. 29 date at BG.
"That place is a throwback," Travis said with a smile. "You walk in there and feel like you're back in the '60s or '70s. And I love the way the fans are right on top of the floor."
Akron coach Keith Dambrot also has Anderson Arena at the top of his list of MAC road stops.
"It's so hostile there, but in a way that really pushes opposing teams to be at the top of their games," Dambrot said.
Northern Illinois coach Rob Judson knows he'll get an earful from BG super-fan J.D. Pugh when the Huskies visit Anderson Arena on Jan. 11. Pugh is a Bowling Green businessman and longtime season-ticket holder who sits behind the visiting team's bench.
The expected verbal barrage from Pugh notwithstanding, Judson didn't hesitate to name Anderson Arena as his favorite MAC road venue. "That's a great old arena with a great crowd," Judson said.
Anderson Arena had its share of detractors in the media day poll, too. Ohio University senior guard Mychal Green, an East Division Preseason All-MAC selection, had nothing good to say about the league's smallest arena.
"I just don't like the place. It's too much like a high school gym," said Green, who is sure to receive a not-so-warm welcome from the Anderson Animals when the Bobcats visit Feb. 4.
Senior forward John Bowler of Eastern Michigan also identified Anderson Arena as his least-favorite MAC road building.
"Some people think it's good that those fans there are right on top of the floor, but I don't," said Bowler, a West Division Preseason All-MAC selection.
Bowler gets one more chance to rub elbows with the Sideline Squad when the Eagles come to town Feb. 7.
Other MAC venues receiving both pro and con votes in the poll were Miami University's Millett Hall, OU's Convocation Center and Buffalo's Alumni Arena.
Anderson Arena outpolled them all both in the number of votes and range of comments.
As popular as the old place is with BG fans, Dakich acknowledges university officials are "exploring the possibility" of building a new arena with a capacity of about 7,000 fans.
"We probably need a new arena," Dakich said.
"But if you believe in keeping college basketball the way it was intended to be, with a bunch of student-athletes playing the game and thousands of students in the stands enjoying the game, Anderson Arena is your prototype."
