Closing Ceremonies For Cole To Take Place Sunday
2/28/2002 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 28, 2002
Cole Field House Ceremonies
Sunday, March 3, 2002
'Honoring Our Past - Celebrating Our Future'
The following ceremonies will take place Sunday to commemorate the final basketball game in Cole Field House.
Halftime
Two teams with unique connections to Cole Field House will be recognized.Those include the 1955-56 team, which was the first to play in this venue, and the 1957-58 team, which was the first in university history to advance to the NCAA Tournament. Assisting with the introduction of these team members will be former, long-time University of Maryland public address announcer James Morgan, the original "voice of Cole Field House," who served in this capacity from 1955-1980.
Post-Game
Fans will want to remain in their seats following the conclusion of Sunday's game, as we "honor our past and celebrate our future" with a special ball-passing ceremony which is symbolic of the transition of Cole Field House from a facility used primarily by intercollegiate athletics to one for use by many in the university community. This post-game ceremony will feature current and former Maryland all-conference selections, former head basketball coach Bud Millikan and current coach Gary Williams, five fans who were season-ticket holders at Ritchie Coliseum first, then at Cole Field House and soon to be at Comcast Center, the 2003 men's basketball senior class, and the president of the university's Student Government Association. The ball will be passed to the SGA President, Angela Lagdameo, as the use of the Cole court is turned over to the student body for campus events. Finally, we ask that you join us in the singing of our alma mater, followed by the Maryland "Victory Song" to complete this special evening.
Future of Cole
Cole Field House will remain open and fully occupied in the years to come. Various members of the University community will utilize the office space, along with the ROTC and a number of classes already occupying the facility. You will still be able to visit Cole, walk through the concourse and reminisce.
