It’s better than nothing.
I understand in these tough economic times it’s necessary to find as many ways as possible to help fund
new athletic facilities.
Without the gifts of the Stroh family, Bill Frack, Allen and Carol Schmidthorst, Larry Miles and many
others, Bowling Green State University’s new basketball facility would still be a dream.
Through the generosity of many caring and concerned Falcon fans, the Stroh Center has become reality.
In addition to men’s and women’s basketball, BG’s volleyball team will play there. The building will also
be used for commencements and many other functions.
Lost in all this for a long period of time was the legacy of Harold Anderson.
In this day and age with Internet access available everywhere and 24 hour news cycles all over
television, anything that happened more than a day ago seems quickly forgotten.
So for those who aren’t aware, it’s time for a little history lesson.
Anderson, who was one of the best men’s basketball coaches in the nation, was with the Falcons for over
two decades, rolling up 367 victories.
Anderson’s teams were a force in the National Invitation Tournament when the NIT was more important than
the NCAA tournament. The Falcons played in Madison Square Garden and other major venues against the best
teams in the nation at the time, including St. John’s, DePaul, LaSalle and Notre Dame.
The Falcons, under Anderson, knocked off Loyola of Chicago, then ranked No. 1 in the nation in 1963.
The big-time teams were always wary of BG because Anderson could coach, and he was able to recruit
talented players.
He was inducted into the National Basketball Hall of Fame in 1985.
Those are some of the reasons the basketball venue in Memorial Hall is named Anderson Arena. And there
are also scholarships at BG in Anderson’s name.
Now with basketball and volleyball teams moving to the Stroh Center for the 2011-12 season, Anderson
Arena will become the home for BG’s gymnastics team.
For many attending gymnastics meets in the future, the name Harold Anderson probably won’t mean anything.
I don’t have anything against gymnasts. In fact one of my oldest son’s best friends was a Falcon
gymnast. I truly wish the gymnastics team the best of luck in their new home.
Still it didn’t sit well with me and apparently many others that the Anderson name would not be carried
on to the Stroh Center.
That all changed when some of the powers that be at BGSU made a proposal to put the Anderson name on the
club area at the Stroh Center. It was approved by BG’s Board of Trustees last month and officially
announced by the athletics department today. More details on the Anderson Club can be found starting on
page 9 in today’s sports section.
That’s all fine and good and at least Harold Anderson will be remembered.
Still, and no disrespect to Frack who donated a seven-figure money gift for the Stroh Center and will
have the court named after him, to not have the basketball floor in the Stroh Center named for Harold
Anderson is a total disservice to him, his family and all his former players.
The Anderson Club is all well and good. It just isn’t enough.