Posts Tagged ‘Reynolds Coliseum’
02.28.2013 | by Chris Saunders | Filed under Campus Events,NC State History,Sports | Comments: No responses |
Mixed in with the many historic games and concerts Reynolds Coliseum has hosted is one sacred event usually reserved for the sanctuary of a church or the picturesque background of a beach.
It was on this day in 1981 when, after years of courtship and feeling pressure from their respective dens, Mr. and Mrs. Wuf exchanged vows at the halftime of the Wake Forest game. The Demon Deacon, in fact, presided over the ceremony, and then-chancellor Joab L. Thomas gave the bride away.
An article on the NCSU Libraries’ special collections blog explains that the two students who played the parts of the mascots, Chris Belton and Susan C. Smith, came up with the idea for the ceremony, going so far as to involving a young girl and boy to be a part of it, “although reports are unclear if they were children of the Wufs or if they were supposed to fill the roles of ring bearer and flower girl.”
The blog article also points out that the marriage meant Mr. Wuf gained more of a jealous eye during appearances. “Leading up to the wedding and in appearances afterward, Belton and Smith decided to emphasize the relationship of the Wufs more,” the article reads. “For example, when men ‘flirted’ with Mrs. Wuf, Mr. Wuf would come to his wife’s side and defend her honor (all in good fun, of course).
In a time in America where many often cite the statistic that half of marriages end in divorce, we all can learn a thing or two from the Wufs’ bond and devotion to one another. The pair even renewed their vows in a ceremony in 2011 upon the 30th anniversary of the Wufs’ wedding.
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02.13.2013 | by Chris Saunders | Filed under Campus Buildings,Campus Events,Campus Landmarks | Comments: One response |
Louis Armstrong was intent on taking his wonderful world around the states in 1957 as he and his “All Stars” embarked on a U.S. tour.
And on this day 56 years ago, instead of featuring a heated ACC basketball game, Reynolds Coliseum played host to the trumpeter Armstrong and other jazz musicians including Trummy Young and Edmond Hall.
The Technician reported that around 3,500 peopled “watched, applauded, and rocked” their way through the two-and-a-half hour concert. And “Satchmo,” as Armstrong was called, tried to keep up. “We gotta keep it jumping,” he said, according to The Technician.
The Interfraternity Council sponsored the event, which marked a first for Reynolds. “As far as could be determined, ‘Satchmo at the Coliseum’ is the first concert ever to be held at the Coliseum that has not lost a lot of money,” reported The Technician. “Even Vaughn Monroe, at the height of his popularity, was a financial failure. The IFC, therefore, is quite gratified with the results of the concert.”
Apologies to all Vaughn Monroe fans.
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01.31.2013 | by Bill Krueger | Filed under Memories | Comments: No responses |
When we put together our special 125th anniversary issue of NC State magazine, we asked readers to tell us how NC State has transformed their lives. We got so many responses we couldn’t print them all. You can read many of them in the winter issue of the magazine, and here are some of the ones we didn’t have room for. Feel free to add your own memories.
A Proposal at Reynolds
How do you tell just one story about a place that has meant so much to me? It is the place that I forged lifelong friendships. It is where I started to learn that I was better at classes like public speaking and not math. Joining a fraternity seemed like the last thing I wanted to think about. But had I not I would not have been able to be a part of something so great. We lost one of our best friends, and worked so hard to honor him with a scholarship that will continue for many years to come.
My heart found love. Got broken. Looked again for love…and if not for NC State, I would not have found Rose (Grabner ‘95), the love of my life! We come back to reconnect with friends almost every fall and winter at football games and gymnastics meets. I even asked Rose to marry me at the “Sweetheart Meet” in Reynolds Coliseum. I consider myself very lucky to be a part of the Wolfpack family! I have the best of friends, a career and the woman of my dreams. She has blessed me with two wonderful daughters… And we all bleed Wolfpack RED!
—Zach Myers ’97
Speaking in Public
When I enrolled in engineering at NC State, I thought I was safe from any writing or speaking classes. As a shy high school student nothing was more intimidating than speaking before my small class. I was surprised when I learned that public speaking was a required course for an engineering major.
Professor Baker Wynn taught public speaking and business communication. While none of us were willing participants, he got us started on what had been viewed as a distasteful but required subject. Our transition was not immediate but by the end of the quarter we were not so fearful of being in front of our classmates. We also were starting to learn how to be persuasive in speaking or writing. Good oral or written communication is an important part of most people’s success. In later years I found myself making presentations in 50 countries to both small and large groups of decision-makers. The groundwork Professor Wynn laid was one of the most important things I learned at NC State.
—Ed Morton ’56
Finding Balance
When I was a freshman, I had been hanging out with a friend in University Towers and was walking back to my dorm (Turlington) late one night, most likely past midnight. It was very cold and we were hoping for snow the next day. As I was walking by Tucker Beach, I noticed some people playing ultimate Frisbee. Some of them (who turned out to be friends I had recently made) got a good look at me and called me over to play. There were probably 15 people total playing. The people I didn’t know were very welcoming, and it was just such a fun and random experience. That moment definitely made me feel like NC State was a warm and welcoming family, even on a cold night.
Overall, NC State taught me about life balance. I am so lucky for my wonderful experience there, and I think that it plays a large part in how happy I am with my current life. I majored in chemistry, worked for the university at the NC State Annual Giving from my spring sophomore semester until I graduated, and had a very active social life. I am happy to say that I succeeded in all three facets. I graduated in four years in a very difficult major with a 3.2 GPA and made the dean’s list a few semesters. I loved working to help raise money for the university, and was promoted to help coach other callers while I was there. I was very happy with my group of friends and was still actively making new friends my senior year. I also won a seat as a student senator for PAMS going into my senior year, and became a very avid reader, something that still surprises my parents considering I never read for pleasure growing up.
I’ve been proud of keeping that balance since my time at NC State. I am very passionate about the things I do, and I always do them to the best of my ability, but I understand the importance of not forgetting the other parts of life along the way. It was crucial for my wife and I to keep some balance during the months leading up to our recent wedding so that we didn’t drive each other crazy. Balance and organization has also enabled be to become more involved with NC State by creating time to be a network leader for our small but dedicated alumni group here in Austin, Texas. Our group has had a lot of fun over the past year and I look forward to dedicating more time to developing what we have created so far.
I can’t imagine my life without my experiences at NC State, and am very proud and grateful for my time there.
—Taylor Cooke ’04
Friendly Competition
Here’s a picture of nine girls and four guys who graduated from NC State in 1970, 1971 and 1972. We spent the weekend of Aug. 4, 2012, in Manteo, N.C., having our own Olympic opening ceremony and game competitions. We even had Olympic T-shirts made for the occasion. We were very fortunate that our paths crossed in the late 1960s — and we have all remained friends since then.
—Margaret Seymore ’71
Practical Professors
I enjoyed my time at the College of Forest Resources. Dr. Donald Steensen taught me to take time to evaluate a problem and look for the best and most efficient way to solve it. Dr. Larry Jervis gave me some good hands-on experience. Dr. Maurice Farrier was terrifying in public, but very personable in private — and that taught me to be careful not to always judge people on first impressions. A great experience!
—Thaddeus Banks ’81
Teaching a Teacher
I was able to get a master’s in education with a focus on marketing and business education. What I learned helped me be a better teacher and DECA Advisor.
—John D. Boothe ’04 MR
An Agricultural Education
NC State has been a big player in my success in agriculture. After graduating I went to work for Middle Creek Farms, where I helped in the spraying of crops and other day-to-day operations. In 2008 I had a chance to go to work for Crop Production Services, and currently I am a consultant at Crop Production Services. I call on a lot of resources at the university on a daily basis. NC State taught me a lot.
—Joshua Scott Latham ’05 AGI
A Lasting Impact
NC State has made a lasting impact on my life. I would not be where I am today without the help of some amazing professors who became mentors and are there for me even now. NC State is a great community and is a place that will always be special to me.
—Amanda Birman ’12
Lessons from Kay Yow
My personal history with NC State began when I was 10 years old. I convinced my parents to send me to Kay Yow’s summer basketball camp, and there I had the pleasure of meeting and working with Coach Yow and her amazing staff. I quickly learned the “game of life” was about much more than basketball. I was “transformed” by being exposed to ways of looking at life through Coach Yow’s lens with regards to sportsmanship, leadership and spirituality. She instilled a winning attitude in everyone she coached. As I went on to my undergraduate and graduate studies, and eventually becoming an entrepreneur, I am grateful for my time with Coach Yow.
I attended the Yow camps many times in my adolescent years. Little did I know that I would wind up doing my graduate work at NC State…and eventually working here. In 1987, I was working at my undergraduate alma mater, Elon University, as a designer in the communications office. I loved my job, yet I felt I needed to know more. I needed to study design, not just learn on the job. I began to research various schools and programs across the country. One day, someone said to me, “Have you looked at NC State’s design school? They’re supposed to have one of the best programs in the nation.” I have to admit, I was surprised. A land-grant university full of vets and engineers had a renowned design program? I called the School of Design [before it was the College of Design] and set up an appointment to visit. The second I set foot in Brooks Hall and saw all the students’ amazing work surrounding the galleries and studios, I was sold. I knew I was in the right place. I finished my master’s in graphic and product design and went on to run my own branding/interactive media firm, NIXdesign, in a renovated downtown Raleigh loft for over 18 years.
In addition to our international roster of clients, we worked with many of the university’s colleges and organizations to provide branding, design and interactive media, and I even had the opportunity to play a role in the development of the university’s core brand that exists today. A year and a half ago, a new opportunity presented itself and it was the right time in my life to take it. I am now the director of Marketing Communications at the College of Design and the associate professor of the practice.
NC State University means so many different things to me as I have experienced it at various and key points in my life. I have so much respect for this institution. It is “gritty” and authentic, and the research and innovation that comes from this university is unparalleled. NC State has helped shape my core values, provided me with a world-class education and is a great place to be employed. I believe in the integrity and value of this university and I look forward to continuing to be a part of the collective effort to transform its future.
And… we beat Duke and UNC!!
—Carol Fountain Nix ’91 MS
A Happier Me
I couldn’t believe how much NC State felt like home as soon as I unpacked the first box from my car. Everything here is exactly what I need to be a happier me.
—Tiffany Runyan ’16 (alum to be!)
A Smart Choice
I grew up a Duke fan (I know, I know, just read the whole thing). I had no family connections with Duke, but my best friend was a Duke sports fan. So, in the absence of another persuasive influence, the void was filled with dark blue. When it came time to choose a university, Duke was my top choice. NC State was my backup. Then something changed — I discovered the Park Scholarship. My first visit to NC State –the “backup school” — suddenly turned into a serious examination of an opportunity I didn’t know existed. The campus was alive with a sense of excitement and innovation. The students and faculty were warm and inviting. I could sense that NC State merited serious consideration, and its status as my backup school was in serious jeopardy.
Of course, NC State won me over. My undergraduate education was literally everything I’d hoped it would be. I was fortunate to spread my learning opportunities across campus, with my majors taking me to PAMS (BA, Chemistry) and to the College of Education (BS, Secondary Education, Comprehensive Science Concentration), and my minors taking me to the Music Department (Saxophone Performance) and the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures (Spanish). These diverse experiences prepared me very well for my next step, medical school, and eventually a residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at UNC-Chapel Hill. Yet despite continuing my education elsewhere, my NC State roots and the resultant immersion in an environment of innovation and discovery have changed my perspective of healthcare. While I didn’t earn a degree in computer science, the mobile health trend became apparent to me very early. In January 2010 I released UNC Housestaff, a simple application to help physicians across the hospital stay connected with patients and data that would improve their ability to practice medicine. This subsequently led the establishment of a small but successful app company, G-Whizz! Apps, and my continued interest in the burgeoning field of medical informatics.
Not only did my time at NC State yield a quality education, it also changed the entire trajectory of my life. From music to medicine and education to innovation, my perspectives were forever changed by my experiences there – experiences that I’ve been able to share with my wonderful wife, Kim Bloomfield ’02, and my daughters, Miriam and Catherine (both Class of 2028).
Many years have passed since I applied to NC State as my “backup school” and I’ve often considered where I would be had I made a different decision. Would I have had the opportunity to personally care for a sick child? Would I have had the opportunity to improve care for thousands through improvements to electronic health records? Would I have reached millions through mobile technology? I don’t know, and I don’t want to find out. I chose NC State, and I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
—Ricky Bloomfield, ’04
A Direction for Life
I entered the School of Forestry in September 1953, graduated in 1957, came back to get a master’s in ’62, and a PhD in forest genetics in 1964. During that time, I met and married a “Meredith Angel.” Next month we will celebrate our 54th wedding anniversary with three daughters and three grandchildren. My education set the direction for my career in forest research and management for the next 48 years. For the past 10 years, however, I have enjoyed frequent visits to NC State’s campus to the woodshop in the Craft Center. My education at NC State was definitely life transforming, and my time in the woodshop at the Craft Center has been life preserving.
—Charles D. Webb ’57, ’62 MS, ’64 PHD
Setting a High Standard
Several memories come to mind, but I will always recall the counseling I received from professors like Dr. Tom Shore, Dr. Farmer Smith, Dr. Betty Wilcox, Dr. Gary Moore, and Dr. Joe Clary. They were so patient, kind, and available. After completing my MEd, I was employed as an adjunct to teach methods courses in the schools of Psychology and Education. It was a wonderful opportunity to work with adults and to observe natural teaching talents in so many of our fine North Carolina teachers. NC State faculty and staff were always my support base as an educator. They set a high standard and helped me to accomplish my very best.
—Nancy Langley Raynor ’84 MED
Never Give Up
NC State helped me in so many ways. From the lifelong friends I met, to the realization that anything is possible if I put my mind to it. Jimmy V taught me about never giving up! It’s helped me a lot through the years.
—Mike Piper ’82
Go Pack, Always
I came to NC State a somewhat shy, non-participatory student. I worked in food service below the D.H. Hill library and made awesome fish fillet sandwiches! I was given the opportunity to join a fraternity — Sigma Nu. I remember the night some brothers came to the food service area and said, “You have a pledge meeting tonight.” I had no idea what to expect, but I went. I met lifelong friends at Sigma Nu. We did floats for homecoming, one that we built on top of a car (way before “Animal House”), and we won the Homecoming contest that year. (I think it was 1977.) We held Christmas at our house for underprivileged children, participated in an all night dance-a-thon with then-mayor Isabella Cannon and had some great dancing and parties at our house after every football game! I grew into an outgoing student and extrovert. I held leadership roles within the fraternity, played a multitude of sports and after graduation a fraternity brother helped lead me into the career I have today. I am very thankful to have been at NC State. I have been a member of the Wolfpack Club for 30-plus years now and attend all home football and basketball games, cheering loudly and proudly for the Wolfpack! Now, both my children are NC State graduates, one in 2011, one in 2012. I am blessed to have loved NC State since my youth. I am blessed to have raised my children to love NC State. I am thankful to be a lifelong Sigma Nu and have had all the experiences that have brought me to where I am today. We have the best fans, the best administrators, and a strong Wolfpack Club that I truly value more with each passing year. I can sum up my feeling for NC State: GO PACK, Always!
—Braxton Wesley Smith ’79
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01.28.2013 | by Bill Krueger | Filed under College of Design,NC State History,Sports | Comments: No responses |
We recently talked with Wolfpack track and cross country legend Julie Shea Sutton, who’s also a member of the NC State Athletic Hall of Fame’s inaugural class, for a story in the special winter issue of NC State magazine, which should be arriving in mailboxes later this week. But there wasn’t room in the magazine for our complete interview, so here are more of Shea Sutton’s answers to our questions about running and her time at NC State:
Life as a student in the College of Design: I enjoyed the design school, but I had absolutely no personal or social time. My life was totally studies.
A shocking class at NC State: I remember taking a life drawing class in summer school, not realizing that life drawing was nude drawing. I came in with all my supplies and stuff, and I had missed the whole first week of summer school because I had to run in Japan. I came back, and there was this male model, nude male, up on this platform. I thought it was going to be still life, you know, drawing plants and stuff, maybe a cow or two, and there’s this guy—this kind of Atlas, really well-muscled guy—and I drop my sketch pad and pencils. I’m hyperventilating. I’m drawing everything but, you know, the private parts. The teacher is like, ‘This is life drawing. Get over it. Grow up.’
Meals in the cafeteria: I used to actually eat with the football players, because I could match them bite for bite. I would burn calories. I’d get plate after plate and several glasses of milk in a sitting. They were like, ‘Damn, girl.’
Her weekly running regimen while at NC State: I would run hundred-mile weeks for multiple weeks.
Overcoming adversity: My junior year I had arthroscopic surgery on both knees after I barely got through the cross country season. I was really hurting. Somebody gave me this key to the Coliseum (after the surgery). I could use the Cybex machine, which is for resistance training. And I worked and worked and worked on that. I saw the football players come and go, and I was in my little corner on the Cybex, doing intervals with that machine, and it built my quads up. So I was getting really fit.
Winning the 3,000, 5,000 and 10,000-meter races within 24 hours at the NCAA nationals after the surgery: I was pretty happy, and no one has ever done that since, so that probably was my best running feat ever. Now the races are spread out, but they still haven’t done it. I mean, it was insane.
Being recognized for her accomplishments: The ACC Award (as athlete of the year, in 1980 and 1981) was huge. Probably bigger was the Broderick Cup for being the outstanding woman athlete in all the United States, and going to New York City and going on The Today Show and meeting Bryant Gumbel.
Her favorite running spot when she was a student: Lake Raleigh. It was a wonderful loop. That was one of my favorite tromping grounds. It’s all gone and developed now.
Her running hero: My childhood running hero was Wilma Rudolph. I met her and she was lovely and just very nice and composed. She overcame a lot of adversity to win her gold meals. I thought she was a strong, beautiful woman.
On the use of performance enhancing drugs by runners: That is just plain cheating. I think that’s like a capital crime. It really is, and I think they ought to be prosecuted like criminals.
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01.25.2013 | by Bill Krueger | Filed under Alumni News,CHASS,Sports | Comments: 2 responses |
NC State alum Tim Tew will be at tomorrow night’s basketball game against UNC, but he will have a different vantage point than most fans. He will be watching the game through an inch-and-a-half viewfinder. And his view will be in black-and-white.
Tew is a freelance cameraman based in Gastonia, N.C., who frequently works for ESPN. He is a regular on ESPN’s crew for Monday Night Football games in the NFL and has been on the sidelines for several Super Bowls. But his favorite assignments may still be ACC basketball games.
“The NFL is really hard to beat,” he says. “On Monday Night Football, it’s always a good environment. We’re the only game in town, the only game on TV that night. But I was born and raised in North Carolina, and my earliest interest in any sport was ACC basketball. Even as great as the NFL is, ACC basketball is still my favorite sport to cover.”
Tew got his start in television production as a student at NC State in the early 1980s. He had planned to be an agriculture engineer and design tractors for John Deere, but decided after a few weeks of 7 a.m. math classes in Harrelson Hall that he should consider another major. When a friend told Tew that NC State offered a major in television and motion picture production, Tew made the switch.
One of his first jobs came when Tew was still in school. He videotaped lectures at the College of Textiles that were used for distance learning courses around the country. He also did some sports work for Jefferson Pilot, joining them full time in 1987. He did his first work for ESPN in 1988, and has been working with them ever since.
“I think the stuff I enjoy the most is the chance to do something creative, to have a large audience watch what I do,” he says. “Part of it is working with a group of people to put on a show. The fact that it’s live gives it a certain adrenaline rush. There’s something that’s instantly rewarding in doing something on live tv and doing a good job at it.”
Tew says he typically works with hand-held cameras, as opposed to the larger, fixed cameras that provide the primary game action. He can provide slow-motion and close-ups of the game action or reactions by players and coaches. When he works along the sidelines of NFL games, his footage may be used when referees review a penalty or a play.
“I love sports, but I certainly was never good enough to play at any level above rec league,” Tew says. “It’s a good way to be around sports. But the experience I get when I’m at a sporting event is different from a fan. I have to concentrate on my job. When you’re looking in the camera, your world is very limited visually.”
Tew says he doesn’t typically have much interaction with the players or coaches, but he did have a special Wolfpack moment when he worked at the Super Bowl game in 2000 between the St. Louis Rams and the Tennessee Titans. Tew had been a fan of the Rams because of former NC State quarterback Roman Gabriel, and former NC State football star Torry Holt was a rookie wide receiver for the Rams that year. When the game ended, Tew made his way onto the field to get footage of Rams players celebrating their 23-16 win.
As is his custom at Super Bowls, Tew was wearing an NC State hat. At some point, Tew noticed Holt looking at him and his hat. “He had just won the Super Bowl,” Tew says, “and he comes over to me and sticks out his index finger and starts poking the logo on my hat and chanting, ‘NC State, NC State.’ That was really cool.”
Tew won’t be wearing any NC State apparel or cheering for the Wolfpack when he works the game against UNC tomorrow night at PNC Arena. He is a professional with a job to do.
But Tew says it was easier to conceal his passion for NC State (his son’s middle name is Reynolds, a nod to the spot on campus where Tew met his wife when she was a student at NC State) during the years when the basketball team struggled. “They’ve screwed up everything by being good,” he says. “At the tournament last year, in the game against Carolina, it was a feeling I hadn’t had in a long time. You have to do your job first, but you really want to yell at the ref or tell somebody to play defense. It’s nice to have hope for a change.”
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01.17.2013 | by Chris Saunders | Filed under Campus Buildings,Campus Landmarks,NC State History,Sports | Comments: No responses |
The NC State men’s basketball team played a historic game against High Point in 1948, with the Wolfpack obliterating the Panthers, 110-50. It was the highest scoring game in NC State’s history up to that point, according to an article by Tim Peeler in The Wolfpacker, and it was only the second time in history that a Southern Conference school had scored 100 or more points in a game.
But for all the offense in the contest, it was mostly invisible to the public because the doors to Frank Thompson Gymnasium, which had been home to men’s basketball since it opened in the early 1920s, had been locked amid worry about the building’s structure.
And it was on this day in 1948 that Thompson Gym was condemned.
Peeler wrote that worry over the building’s structure had begun swirling in 1947. Everett Case’s team had been so successful that fans were packing the gym in droves. The Raleigh fire marshal had to cancel the NC State-UNC game that February because of so many fans trying to get into Thompson Gym.
That worry continued into the 1947-48 season, Case’s second at NC State, when a home game against Duke was canceled because, as Peeler wrote, “the building inspector said there were insufficient exits.”
Thompson Gymnasium, with the construction of Reynolds Coliseum in the background. Photo courtesy of NCSU Libraries.
After the High Point game, the Wolfpack played out the rest of the 1948 home schedule at Memorial Auditorium in Raleigh. Reynolds Coliseum opened in December 1949, becoming the home of Wolfpack men’s basketball until the PNC Arena — then RBC Arena — opened in 1999.
In 2009, the Frank Thompson Gymnasium was renamed Frank Thompson Hall, which now houses the Crafts Center and University Theatre, the home for the dramatic arts at NC State.
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12.10.2012 | by Bill Krueger | Filed under Campus Events,Campus Landmarks,NC State History,NCSU Libraries | Comments: 3 responses |
NC State has been known by many names through its 125 years. It was first known as the North Carolina College of Agriculture & Mechanic Arts, a name that stuck until 1917. It then became known as the North Carolina State College of Agriculture & Engineering, or more commonly, “State College.”
But then came a name that few liked and many hated — North Carolina State of the University of North Carolina at Raleigh. The name was changed in 1963 as part of an effort to reinforce the notion that NC State was part of the expanding UNC system.
The 1963 Agromeck shows a student protesting the name change.
The anger over the possible name change spilled out on this day in 1962, following a basketball game against Wake Forest at Reynolds Coliseum. Gov. Terry Sanford, who was in attendance, was booed by Wolfpack fans after the game, according to an account in Historical State, an online archive maintained by NCSU Libraries.
The 1963 Agromeck noted that student government “took a very strong stand” against the name change, but that the “issue was lost.” “Nevertheless, the leaders in student government did their best to fulfill the wishes of the student body,” read the yearbook.
After the outcry from alumni and students continued unabated, the name was finally changed in 1965 to North Carolina State University.
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12.02.2012 | by Bill Krueger | Filed under Campus Landmarks,NC State History,NCSU Libraries,Sports | Comments: No responses |
The NC State basketball team had a great season in 1950 under head coach Everett Case. Led by All-Americans Dick Dickey and Sam Ranzino, the team finished with a 27-6 record and won the university’s fourth straight Southern Conference championship.
It also inaugurated the new William Neal Reynolds Coliseum on this day in 1949 with a 67-47 win over Washington & Lee.
Reynolds Coliseum, named after the president of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., was considered a tremendous upgrade for the basketball program and the university’s ROTC programs, which were also housed in the building.The 1951 Agromeck described the new building, with a seating capacity of 12,014, as “huge.”
When it opened, Reynolds was the largest on-campus facility in the nation, according to NC State Basketball: 100 Years of Innovation, by Tim Peeler and Roger Winstead. The total cost for the building, according to the book, was just under $2.5 million in state funds and donations.
“This mammoth arena, which measures 371 feet by 180 feet, recorded an attendance of 230,000 spectators for the home season,” read the account in the Agromeck. “That mark set a new national attendance record for games played on a college campus.”
That included some fans who, for the first game, had to sit on cement tiers because all of the seats had not yet been installed, according to an account in Historical State, an online archive maintained by NCSU Libraries.
Scene from the first game at Reynolds Coliseum. Photo courtesy of Historical State.
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11.12.2012 | by Bill Krueger | Filed under Campus Events,Sports | Comments: No responses |
A little more than four decades ago, female students faced widespread discrimination in college sports, academic programs and other university services across the country. It wasn’t until the adoption of Title IX in 1972, which prohibits discrimination based on gender in educational programs receiving federal funding, that women finally began to see the same opportunities as male students on university campuses.
Thanks to the efforts of Athletics Director Willis Casey, NC State welcomed its first women’s varsity sport two years later with the Wolfpack women’s basketball team. In honor of Title IX’s 40th anniversary this year, NC State will host several events this week to recognize the positive impact the law has made for Wolfpack students.
Starting today, campus organizations such as Women in Science and Engineering, the Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity, NCSU Libraries, the Department of Athletics and the Women’s Center will offer activities and programs open to the campus community and the public. The events, which will conclude on Thursday, are free.
To kick off the week’s festivities, visitors can attend an informal gathering entitled “What Does Title IX Mean to You?” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today in the Brickyard. Participants will have the opportunity to have their photo taken for an upcoming display and share their thoughts on the landmark law.
From 7-8 p.m. Tuesday, Heidi Grappendorf, scholar-in-residence at the Women’s Center, will host a documentary screening in the D.H. Hill Library auditorium about Title IX followed by a discussion of the law’s impact on universities across the country.
For alumni, the highlight of the week may be Wednesday’s panel discussion, featuring Joanne Woodard, vice provost for Institutional Equity and Diversity; Michelle Lee, associate athletic director; and Grappendorf. The discussion, which will take place in the D.H. Hill Library assembly room from 3-4 p.m., will highlight Title IX’s contributions to women’s athletics.
The Wolfpack women’s basketball game against the Longwood Lancers will cap off the week of commemorative events at 7 p.m. Thursday in Reynolds Coliseum. During the game, women’s athletic contributions to the university will be recognized with video messages from campus leaders like Chancellor Randy Woodson and Director of Athletics Debbie Yow.
NC State magazine also has a look back in the current issue at Title IX’s implementation on campus and the effects of the legislation on women’s sports at NC State.
“Celebration of the 40th anniversary of Title IX provides an opportune time to reflect on the positive changes it has brought about, especially the increased participation of women in intercollegiate athletics and academics at NC State, and to recognize the need for continued progress toward equity,” said Woodard, a coordinator of the Title IX anniversary events.
–Jamie Gnazzo
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11.10.2012 | by Chris Saunders | Filed under Campus Buildings,Campus Landmarks,NC State History | Comments: No responses |
The Rolling Stones, propelled by the winds of the British Invasion at their backs, released three albums in the United States in the first half of 1965 and toured the States in the second half of that year. The band was establishing its own sound and songwriting prowess as it inched away from simply covering old blues standards by Bo Diddley and Muddy Waters. Rather, the Stones’ sound was being born in songs like “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction” and “Get Off of My Cloud.”
And on this day 47 years ago, the Rolling Stone brought those songs and more to Reynolds Coliseum to play on NC State’s campus.
But what has become a part of the famous arena’s music tradition didn’t impress everyone that night. Jim Lewis, a critic in The News & Observer, panned the performance and suggested that the Stones had come to just make some money for a gig by “wailing several of their popular songs” for 5,000 people.
“‘This Could Be The Last Time’ the Rolling Stones come to Raleigh,” Lewis wrote in 1965, “but England’s second-class Beatles left town after Wednesday night’s performance at Reynolds Coliseum $12,500 richer.”
Lewis instead celebrated the other bands on the bill, like the Embers, Patti LaBelle and her Blue Bells, and the Vibrations. “The program had other entertaining groups whose music surpassed anything England’s native sons attempted,” he wrote.
But Lewis was incorrect, according to one witness who was on the front row as a freshman that November night.
“It was quite an event to be at, especially coming from eastern North Carolina,” says Alumni Association Executive Director Benny Suggs. “The Stones were cranking. And they still are. And guess what? So am I, thanks to NC State.”
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