It’s sacrilege that it was torn down. It was more commonly known as maroon gymnasium, instead of McCarthy Gym, when McCarthy was there. Very few people now remember how many huge games were played in that building.
If old Yankee Stadium can be torn down, so can McCarthy Gym. I know you and many others had good memories there and history was made, but its service has come and gone and there was no way to rehabilitate it to make it serviceable on prime real estate. I think you will see a nice memorial to the building in the future
No I wasn’t a student but my Dad took me to a lot of games in there when Babe was Coach. My Dad was there the night they put a dead skunk under Kentuckys bench.
I don’t think I ever threw anything. I was there one night when a referee got hit in the eye with a piece of ice. He deserved it. That was in the early concept years of referees protecting Alabama.
Were you there the night we beat Alabama in 3 overtime’s? Jack Boldin got a rebound turned and threw it one handed 80 something feet. Nothing but net. There used to be an X painted on the floor marking the spot where he turned the ball loose. I don’t remember the year but it would have been mid to late 1960’s. It was still there in the mid 1970’s.
Those were some elite players that you played with in the pick up games. Of course Ray White had to go and rob a bank on the Australian trip. Geeez. Up until the early 1960’s cowbells we’re allowed in there. No wonder old people can’t hear….. the Hump has been like being in church compared to the old gym.
I guess that was before my time. I was there from 71 - 75 and 77-78, but I remember one of my brothers talking about it and he was there from the mid 60's.
Yeah, Hooker had amazing length with his arms. He could defend passing lanes easily. Almost couldn't get a pass by him. Ray White was high in several games. He was a regular "Mary-Jane" client. The most fun was playing one on one with Peck. I held my own surprisingly. Wiley was not a good outside shooter. I was. So I hurt him with making shots that were pretty far out. Didn't have a 3 pt. line in those days, but I think several of my made buckets were probably outside of that line had it been there. He beat me mostly by backing me down close to the basket and scoring with close-in baskets. Giving up 3-4" on him was tough, but I did better than I thought I would. Felt like I gained some respect from him with my play and we became casual temporary friends when we played. Often wonder what happened to him. He got a first round NBA pick I think, but I didn't follow him much. Not even sure if he's alive today.
We are not against campus progress. Just taking a little trip down memory lane to remember some good times. When I was a little kid I went to a lot of games in there with my Dad. He is gone now. It was a special place to me and lots of others.
My roommate and I played 2 vs 1 goofing around with Cameron Burns in there one day. I beat him of the dribble once and he let me have the layup ( I was actually really quick back then). A little later I beat him again. The 2nd time he followed me to the basket and pinned my layup against the back board. The pulled it away and slammed it back off the board just to make sure I knew he could. It was humbling and awesome.
I got to play intramural bb there when I was in school and refine my dribble drive which made me realize I had better stick to engineering.
My Dad was going to STATE back then and I remember stories from him about Babe.
