Show Logan Utah Monday Nov 30 1970 The Herald Journal— 11 Getting New Home m Luii Aggie Era Will End By Knit McGregor Sports Editor When the Utah State University Basketball team moves into its new home tomorrow night it will mean the end of an era for the Aggies It will mean the end of an era that has seen Utah State move from near obscurity to national prominence as a major basketball power Tlie Big Blue left George “Doc” Nelson with one of the victories ever recorded In the greatest final game of the home schedule for 1970 USU caught the Air 8 Force Academy at the gun to win But in saying goodby many great moments come to mind for the Aggie boosters George Nelson Fieldhouse was constructed in 1939 through the cooperation of the State of Utah the Federal Public Works Administration and a group of public spirited citizens who initiated the project in the interest of the public Besides basketball games of both collegiate and prep teams the fieldhouse was used for concerts plays and even a championship fight between Gene Fullmer and Spider Webb The man for whom the old fieldhouse was named was there as the Aggies begin their climb to national prominence Under the direction of E L Romney Utah State basketball claimed Skyline Championships in 1926 1935 and 1936 During Romney’s 22 years Utah State had but four losing seasons winning 224 games while losing 160 It was under Romney that the Aggie schedule begin to show modem trends with such teams as Southern California and Stanford appearing on the slate But against intrastate rivals it was a difficult period Utah won games by scores of 1 and 30-2-7 in 1921-2- 2 They lost to Utah by one point in 1924 1927 1928 and 1939 But there were highlights too such as when the Aggies swept four games from each of the intrastate rivals in 1926-2- 7 come-from-behin- d 80-7- 43-4- It was also the era when such names as Montana Mines St Charles Piggly Wiggly of Logan Killowatts appeared on the schedule Mt and Kurley Robert W Burnett coached the Aggies to a record 1941-4- 2 D D two season and the had war Young during year teams which won 24 and lost 17 From 1942 to 1946 H B Lee who later became the athletic director at Kansas State University took over Aggie basketball and in two campaigns won 21 and lost 22 6-- 10 Joe Whitesides followed and compiled a 36-5- 4 record before yielding the coaching duties to Coach Cecil Baker following the 1949-5- 0 season Baker took the Staters to 157 victories and 142 losses inducting two highly successful seasons In 195669 Utah State Baker’s last year the team won 18 lost 7 and in 1959-6finished 24-- 5 and third in the National Invitational Tournament During these two seasons Utah State won 15 straight home games Kentucky appeared on the schedule and Utah State moved into major rankings Then came the Andersen era at Utah State an era that still lives and is yet to see its most shining moments Under the direction of Coach LaDell Andersen since 1961 Utah State has moved into contention for the national championship playing in the NCAA playoffs four times a feat unprecedented by an Aggie mentor It was under Andersen that such great players as Wayne Estes Cornell Green Shaler Halimon and Marvin Roberts players played for Utah State All were Estes still holds the school individual scoring record with games of 52 and 48 points Halimon follows with 47 Green with 46 and Max Perry who played under Baker had 45 to tie with Nate Williams who currently is playing for the Aggies Estes also leads in fidd gods field goals attempted rebounds free throws He is the only Aggie to ever score over 2000 career points But other great players have spent their collegiate days playing in the Nelson Fieldhouse: Jerry Schofield Hal Hale Les Powell Bart Johnson Larry Angle Ted Smith Troy Collier Bob Ipsen LeRoy Walker Bill Hull Bert Cook and others 0' all-Amer- ica MARVIN ROBERTS left a forward on the Utah State University cage team and teammate Walter Bees a center attended the same high school in Brooklyn N Y Jack & Leigh's would like to introduce WALTER BEES Junior - Brooklyn N Center — No 44 IN SMITHFIELD INTRODUCES Y and extends Best Wishes to USU on their new Assembly Center and a successful basketball season YOUR GOOD EATIN' HEADQUARTERS QUALITY GROCERIES USDA CHOICE MEATS FRESH FRUITS DELICIOUS BAKERY GOODS fresh from our Junior - Milwaukee Wisconsin 14 Guard --- No PITCHERS IS YOUR in- DISTRIBUTOR FOR store bakery Winter Tires Low Pricesl SAVINGS at Low NOW SHOW RE FRIENDLY SERVICE AS LOW (safety studs available also) SHOP YOUR AG FOOD STORE FOR FOOD BARGAINS DISCOUNT ON ALL NEWTIRESI We're also experts in Front-en- d alignment wheel balancing car maintenance! and (Bear) Wheel and complete tune-u- p TIRE AND SERVICE CENTER Smithfield Utah 43$ SOUTH MAIN 5 h-- ' ' SMITHFIELD 563-611- 6 |