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"Everyone was in awe of it."--Jack
Zane
When Cole opened in 1955, with seating for about 12,000, it was meant to impress.
And it did, says Jack Zane, director of the Walk of Fame, an exhibit commemorating university athletes. Zane was a student when the $3.3 million field house had its grand debut, replacing
Ritchie Coliseum.
"Everyone was in awe of it," Zane says. "It was considered one of the finest arenas in the country."
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In 1966, when the Final Four games came
to Maryland, a national problem was spotlighted. The field house hosted the game that
pitted an all-black starting five from Texas Western against Kentucky's all-white team. Texas
Western upset Kentucky, 72-65, forcing Southern colleges to look seriously
at desegregating their teams.
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Though it's become outdated with no air conditioning or posh luxury suites, Zane
says Cole is still "one of the finest places to watch basketball." |
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Photos and text by Maha
Ezzeddine
Published Friday,
March 8, 2002
Copyright © 2002 University of Maryland College of Journalism
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