It's the Sunflower Showdown today: K-State vs. KU in Manhattan. You may have heard something about it, say on ESPN? As you probably know by now, K-State home basketball games are held in Bramlage.
But let's go back to any time between, say, 1951 and 1988, when Bramlage was completed. Back in Ahearn Fieldhouse, when students packed in to the ceilings to watch a KU-K-State game.
Back when the de rigueur attire for a basketball game included suits for men and hats for women.
I can't tell you the date on this game, but a peek at the scoreboard from this enlarged view of the photo, shows that it is definitely a KU-K-State game. Perhaps on Monday I'll call up to our University Archives and ask what game this was and, more importantly, if we won. Stay tuned!
Until then, did you attend any basketball games in Ahearn? Did you play? Were you a cheerleader? Do your parents or grandparents have any good stories? Please share!
All my childhood basketball memories are tied to Ahearn. Steve Henson, Mitch Richmond, Sarge Coleman, Ed Nealy, Ben Mitchell...I could go on forever. Saw the last game ever against Mizzou. Probably the only place where the opposing team's radio announcer (Max Falkenstien for KU) would get booed out of the building. I still think the KU and Mizzou games should be played there every year.
Posted by: Eric | February 03, 2010 at 10:57 AM
This photo was taken at the K-State/KU game during the first season in Ahearn Field House, 1950-1951. K-State beat KU in Lawrence and again in Manhattan, 65-51. The first game played in Ahearn took place on Dec. 9, 1950 when the Cats beat Utah State, 66-56. The Wildcats advanced to the NCAA championship game that season losing to another Wildcat team, those from the Univ. of Kentucky, 68-58!
Information from the Univ.Archives!
Posted by: Tony Crawford | February 03, 2010 at 12:41 PM
So, since this is 1950-51, that means the tallest guy in the center of K-State's starters is Dick Knostman. His #33 jersey is retired in Bramlage, he _still_ ranks in the all-time top 5 in several categories of individual statistics, and he is one of only 12 Wildcats to earn 1st Team All-American honors. He's a native of Wamego, one of K-State's best "local boy made good" stories.
Information from a lifelong k-state hoops fan :-)
Posted by: HoopsFan | February 04, 2010 at 09:30 PM