Cole Field House will host the Maryland Madness basketball showcase Oct. 18.
For the first time since 2002, the Terrapins basketball teams will return to Cole Field House on Friday for Maryland Madness, and school officials are busy preparing for their historic homecoming.
From installing new floors to updating the building’s sound system, university maintenance has a long to-do list. Workers began preparing Oct. 7 and aren’t expected to finish until Thursday, but it’s all worth it to breathe new life into the gym that was once a national landmark, said Nathan Pine, a deputy athletic director.
In its heyday, Cole witnessed important events in both university and national history. It opened in 1955, hosted 16 All-American players and the first nationally televised women’s basketball game in 1975, and held the record for housing the most upsets of No. 1-ranked teams in the country. Cole also hosted one of the first modern diplomatic events between the United States and China: a pingpong match in 1972.
The basketball programs moved to Comcast Center in 2002, and Cole transitioned into a space for student activities. The ROTC and new student orientation programs, among others, also took up residence in the building’s office space. The challenge now is to restore it back into shape for basketball, Pine said.
“We have to bring in temporary flooring, floor seating, a sound system, video board, dining services, merchandise and more all throughout the week,” he said.
The preparations displaced some intramural teams that use Cole’s turf field and some classes were moved, though other classrooms and offices have been operating as usual.
“We have had this planned since last spring, so there have been a lot of accommodations made for this event,” Pine said. “That being said, the campus has been tremendous, and we realize that this is not easy for them.”
Cole will not have all the amenities found at Comcast, Pine said, but the trip back in time adds a unique element to the annual Maryland Madness event, and officials expect a full house. He added that the floor will bear close resemblance to the way it looked when it was a permanent basketball arena.
“It’s a great chance for this generation to get a glimpse of what Maryland basketball was like and to honor our history,” women’s basketball coach Brenda Frese said in a news release.
Men’s basketball coach Mark Turgeon previously expressed a desire to have one game in Cole each year, and if all goes well Friday, officials may explore that idea.
“We’re going to have to put some money, scoreboard, court, fix up the seating for us to do that,” Turgeon told
The Washington Post. “Instead of playing a team on Dec. 21 at Comcast, playing a game on Dec. 21 in Cole Field House, I think, we’ll fill it up and fans will be real excited to do it.”
The excitement is not limited to those inside the operation. Sophomore finance and marketing major Chris Papadopoulos said he’s looking forward to reliving the history that has been made in the building.
“It’s exciting to be back at the birthplace of Maryland basketball tradition,” he said. “There’s so much history in that arena, and it will feel good to have it incorporated with our basketball team again. It has been too long since our team has been in that arena.”
As the university’s athletic program changes, junior biology major Shima Ge said it is important to reflect on the past.
“The move to the Big Ten is such a huge change,” Ge said. “The fact that this is our last basketball season in the ACC makes it very fitting that they return to the place where all the classic ACC games were held.”
Pine said a time-lapse video was being shot throughout the assembly so people can see the entire transformation process. He also said Maryland Madness will be on a live video stream at umterps.com, so those who cannot make Friday’s event can watch on their computers.
“It’s a special event for this campus,” Pine said. “And we want to make sure students get as excited as the fans are.”
