North Carolina State University Athletics
#TBT: Reynolds Coliseum Legacy
12/19/2013 12:00:00 AM
Dec. 19, 2013
The forecast in Raleigh on Saturday, Dec. 14 called for heavy rain and temperatures in the 40s. On a day that brought constant downpours, most people would normally be found indoors. For the NC State basketball community, there was an important game to attend.
More than a full hour from tip-off and the lines to enter the historic Reynolds Coliseum are far beyond the dry cover of the arena. Fans wait patiently for the doors to open, nearly all of them drenched from the cold rain.
This is a special place.
Reynolds Coliseum has a truly remarkable resume. It was the location of the first ever alley-oop (Monte Towe to David Thompson). U.S. Presidents have given speeches, from the likes of John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, Harry Truman, Bill Clinton, and most recently, Barack Obama. American hero Martin Luther King Jr. graced the arena with his presence. The Rolling Stones rocked the coliseum. Elton John performed there as well.
One of the most unique aspects of attending a men's basketball game at Reynolds is the fact that it now only takes place once a year. For all the current and former players who played in the arena, the atmosphere is truly indescribable.
"The crowd was electric, and it was like a barn burner in here," former Pack player Ernie Myers said. "You came in here and when you got here you knew you would have a rough time. You can hardly hear in here, you can barely hear yourself think."
Another extraordinary aspect of Reynolds is its lasting tradition, as evidenced by Myers, who played for NC State's 1983 national championship team.
"I still see some fans that were here when I was playing, it's crazy, they reminisce and come back and it's great," he said.
A few of ESPN's college basketball analysts (including former Duke player Jay Bilas and UNC grad Hubert Davis) were asked to name the toughest place to play in the ACC. They all unanimously agreed--It's Reynolds.
