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Nate Thurmond swats away a shot by a Miami player in 1962. Thurmond was a Sporting News All-American as a Bowling Green senior.
THE BLADE
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Factoring in high school, college, and a 14-year NBA career, Nate Thurmond played in more than 1,000 basketball games. Yet, 48 years after the fact, the hall-of-famer still savors one game as much or more than any other.
The night was Feb. 16, 1963, and Bowling Green State University fans of a certain age can remember the details vividly. Loyola of Chicago was in town, and Memorial Hall, then one of the showplaces of Midwest college basketball, was packed to the gills. Butch Komives scored 32 points, Big Nate had 24, and Harold Anderson's Falcons routed the No. 2-ranked Ramblers 92-75. Loyola came in 21-0 and several weeks later would win the NCAA championship.
"The madness of that night has stayed with me for a lifetime," Thurmond said via telephone from his home in San Francisco. "It was bedlam. We whipped 'em pretty good, you know, so it wasn't like a last-second shot. There was a lot of time to enjoy it, for the anticipation to build, as the clock counted down."
Thurmond and a host of other Falcon greats will be on hand next Saturday afternoon as BGSU, to borrow its marketing slogan, closes the doors to The House That Roars. A game against Buffalo will be the Anderson Arena finale as the Falcons look forward to beginning the 2011-12 season in the new Stroh Center being built on the southeast edge of campus, near Doyt Perry Stadium.
There have been some wonderful players gracing the old court over the last 50 years and some smart, talented coaches have worked the sideline. There have been a slew of great wins too, like nonconference dandies against Wisconsin in 1966, Michigan State in '90, and an unforgettable 121-101 shootout against Otis Birdsong and Houston's Cougars late in the 1974-75 season. It goes without saying there have been dozens of memorable Mid-American Conference victories.
But if you want to wrap it all into one neat package you need only look at one night and the main figures — the 6-foot-11 Nate Thurmond, the late Howard (Butch) Komives, Harold (Andy) Anderson, and the arena inside Memorial Hall that was dedicated in his honor upon retirement.
"However many games I played in my career there, that's the one night that stands out," said Thurmond, who suited up for 76 games in his three seasons on BG's varsity. "My most vivid memories of the arena all stem from that night, the closeness of the fans and how when it was filled, like for the Loyola game, it was just deafening."
Officially, the 5,734 in attendance that night ranks as just the fourth-largest basketball crowd in the building's history. There was seating for close to 5,500 in those days, and that announced crowd count may have served to keep the fire marshal's blood pressure under control. Old-timers suggest there were 6,000, maybe even 6,500 crammed into the big, brick barn when Loyola visited, and at one time there may have been twice that many who claimed to be there.
"It was standing-room-only already by the time we came out for warm-ups and, man, we were jacked up to play," Thurmond recalled.
The Falcons and their fans have long had that bond. In fact, BG has won all five of the best-attended games in arena history by an average of more than 15 points. The men's all-time record in the gym is 464-189 heading into home contests against Kent and Buffalo this week.
Thurmond, who averaged 17.8 points and 17 rebounds during his BG career, would not be surprised by those numbers. He rarely tasted defeat at home. Komives, who was a year behind him, did even better. The Falcons were 12-0 during Komives' senior year, when he led the nation in scoring with a 36.7-point average, and were 33-1 at home during his three seasons on the varsity. Both were three-time All-MAC players, while Thurmond was a Sporting News All-American as a senior.
"I never saw anybody practice shooting like Butch did," Thurmond said. "I'd be with a group of guys, and we'd stop by the gym on our way to the student union, and Butch would be in there all alone, taking shot after shot. He'd be soaking wet with sweat. We all thought he was crazy.
"I had a little more God-given talent; Butch had the work ethic. I wish I'd had that. I truly do. I know this. Butch earned everything he got. He had a tremendous career at BG and then put in 10 years in the NBA."
Thurmond played pro ball for 14 seasons after being the No. 3 overall pick in the '63 NBA draft by Golden State. He was traded to Chicago before the 1974-75 season, and in his very first game for the Bulls posted the first quadruple-double in NBA history — 22 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists, and 12 blocked shots. Few if any through the years could match his blend of offense, defense, and rebounding.
Imagine those two talents on the same college team. Well, longtime BG fans don't have to imagine it. It was a reality in the early '60s on teams that also were blessed with players like Wavey Junior and Elijah Chatman. At the helm, in the final stages of his 29-year coaching career, was Harold Anderson.
"He never screamed," Thurmond said. "He knew the X's and O's and made sure we were always prepared. But the real advantage he had was that guys looked at him like a father figure. There was great affection. Mrs. Anderson used to tutor some of us. He was a very nurturing coach.
"I can't speak for him. He had an awful lot of wins, but I'm sure that Loyola game was special. It had to be at the top."
It was the 499th victory of Anderson's career. Two nights later, BG beat Notre Dame for No. 500. He retired shortly thereafter, leaving with Nate after the 1962-63 season. And they entered the Basketball Hall of Fame together in 1985, with Anderson being honored posthumously.
It was Anderson's success through the years that prompted BG to build Memorial Hall. It was Nate and Butch who filled it. Now, five decades later, only Thurmond remains to say good-bye.
"It will be a special day," he said. "My time at BG, my coach and teammates, those games in Memorial Hall, all led to a lifetime of great memories."
Contact Blade sports columnist Dave Hackenberg at: dhack@theblade.com or 419-724-6398.
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Published: 2/26/2011 - Updated: 1 year ago
One magical night stands above others for Thurmond
Nate Thurmond swats away a shot by a Miami player in 1962. Thurmond was a Sporting News All-American as a Bowling Green senior.
THE BLADE
Enlarge
| Photo Reprints
The night was Feb. 16, 1963, and Bowling Green State University fans of a certain age can remember the details vividly. Loyola of Chicago was in town, and Memorial Hall, then one of the showplaces of Midwest college basketball, was packed to the gills. Butch Komives scored 32 points, Big Nate had 24, and Harold Anderson's Falcons routed the No. 2-ranked Ramblers 92-75. Loyola came in 21-0 and several weeks later would win the NCAA championship.
"The madness of that night has stayed with me for a lifetime," Thurmond said via telephone from his home in San Francisco. "It was bedlam. We whipped 'em pretty good, you know, so it wasn't like a last-second shot. There was a lot of time to enjoy it, for the anticipation to build, as the clock counted down."
Thurmond and a host of other Falcon greats will be on hand next Saturday afternoon as BGSU, to borrow its marketing slogan, closes the doors to The House That Roars. A game against Buffalo will be the Anderson Arena finale as the Falcons look forward to beginning the 2011-12 season in the new Stroh Center being built on the southeast edge of campus, near Doyt Perry Stadium.
There have been some wonderful players gracing the old court over the last 50 years and some smart, talented coaches have worked the sideline. There have been a slew of great wins too, like nonconference dandies against Wisconsin in 1966, Michigan State in '90, and an unforgettable 121-101 shootout against Otis Birdsong and Houston's Cougars late in the 1974-75 season. It goes without saying there have been dozens of memorable Mid-American Conference victories.
But if you want to wrap it all into one neat package you need only look at one night and the main figures — the 6-foot-11 Nate Thurmond, the late Howard (Butch) Komives, Harold (Andy) Anderson, and the arena inside Memorial Hall that was dedicated in his honor upon retirement.
"However many games I played in my career there, that's the one night that stands out," said Thurmond, who suited up for 76 games in his three seasons on BG's varsity. "My most vivid memories of the arena all stem from that night, the closeness of the fans and how when it was filled, like for the Loyola game, it was just deafening."
Officially, the 5,734 in attendance that night ranks as just the fourth-largest basketball crowd in the building's history. There was seating for close to 5,500 in those days, and that announced crowd count may have served to keep the fire marshal's blood pressure under control. Old-timers suggest there were 6,000, maybe even 6,500 crammed into the big, brick barn when Loyola visited, and at one time there may have been twice that many who claimed to be there.
"It was standing-room-only already by the time we came out for warm-ups and, man, we were jacked up to play," Thurmond recalled.
The Falcons and their fans have long had that bond. In fact, BG has won all five of the best-attended games in arena history by an average of more than 15 points. The men's all-time record in the gym is 464-189 heading into home contests against Kent and Buffalo this week.
Thurmond, who averaged 17.8 points and 17 rebounds during his BG career, would not be surprised by those numbers. He rarely tasted defeat at home. Komives, who was a year behind him, did even better. The Falcons were 12-0 during Komives' senior year, when he led the nation in scoring with a 36.7-point average, and were 33-1 at home during his three seasons on the varsity. Both were three-time All-MAC players, while Thurmond was a Sporting News All-American as a senior.
"I never saw anybody practice shooting like Butch did," Thurmond said. "I'd be with a group of guys, and we'd stop by the gym on our way to the student union, and Butch would be in there all alone, taking shot after shot. He'd be soaking wet with sweat. We all thought he was crazy.
"I had a little more God-given talent; Butch had the work ethic. I wish I'd had that. I truly do. I know this. Butch earned everything he got. He had a tremendous career at BG and then put in 10 years in the NBA."
Thurmond played pro ball for 14 seasons after being the No. 3 overall pick in the '63 NBA draft by Golden State. He was traded to Chicago before the 1974-75 season, and in his very first game for the Bulls posted the first quadruple-double in NBA history — 22 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists, and 12 blocked shots. Few if any through the years could match his blend of offense, defense, and rebounding.
Imagine those two talents on the same college team. Well, longtime BG fans don't have to imagine it. It was a reality in the early '60s on teams that also were blessed with players like Wavey Junior and Elijah Chatman. At the helm, in the final stages of his 29-year coaching career, was Harold Anderson.
"He never screamed," Thurmond said. "He knew the X's and O's and made sure we were always prepared. But the real advantage he had was that guys looked at him like a father figure. There was great affection. Mrs. Anderson used to tutor some of us. He was a very nurturing coach.
"I can't speak for him. He had an awful lot of wins, but I'm sure that Loyola game was special. It had to be at the top."
It was the 499th victory of Anderson's career. Two nights later, BG beat Notre Dame for No. 500. He retired shortly thereafter, leaving with Nate after the 1962-63 season. And they entered the Basketball Hall of Fame together in 1985, with Anderson being honored posthumously.
It was Anderson's success through the years that prompted BG to build Memorial Hall. It was Nate and Butch who filled it. Now, five decades later, only Thurmond remains to say good-bye.
"It will be a special day," he said. "My time at BG, my coach and teammates, those games in Memorial Hall, all led to a lifetime of great memories."
Contact Blade sports columnist Dave Hackenberg at: dhack@theblade.com or 419-724-6398.
Guidelines: Please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. If a comment violates these standards or our privacy statement or visitor's agreement, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report abuse. To post comments, you must be a Facebook member. To find out more, please visit the FAQ.
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