was a rocking place to see a basketball game in the '80's. It was LOUD. The same acoustics that made it crappy for concerts made the place an ear-splitting experience for hoops.

The atmosphere was awesome during the our best years of in the early '80s. (We may have had the best team in the country then, losing to eventual national champion Louisville in OT (or at the buzzer in regulation; either way, it went down to the wire). We should have beaten them.

I know G. Rollie gets derided on these boards-- it smelled bad, looked bad, wasn't very big, had no amenities, and not enough bathrooms, etc. But it was a scary place for an opposing team to play. It was a true GYM-- with no pretense of being a fancy Arena.

Sitting in the rafters on some of the upper rows your ears would ring from the reflected noise off the roof.

I am waaay in the minority on this one, but G. Rollie had that home court feeling that Reed will never have. Not saying we don't get good crowds at Reed, but just the aura of G Rollie brought out something in the fans that made a game there a far more unique experience.

But then again, I'm a college basketball gym junkie. I've been to dozens of venues for games and my top five list betrays my favoritism to the old classic gyms versus the indistinguishable arenas you see from town to town.

6. Cameron Indoor Stadium- Duke
5. The Palestra- Penn
4. The Barn- Minnesota
3. Hinkle Field House- Butler
2. McArthur Court- Oregon (torn down)
1. Allen Field House- Kansas

These places are all very old and historic. And anyone that likes basketball ought to take the pilgrimage to see a game a each one (although McArthur Court is sadly no more).

G. Rollie wasn't in the class of those on my list, but it wasn't far off. The place had character, and with a little imagination we could have given it a facelift (like Gallager Iba at OSU) where one day it would have climbed into venerable legendary status.

While it seems most people on these forums can't wait to put the wrecking ball to the place, for me G. Rollie will live always as the "Holler House on the Brazos" and I'm sad to see it go.

I am sad to see it go also. Hate the new unimaginative arenas, buildings, etc. Newer
is not always better.

I wish the new Ags could have experience G Rollie at full volume. Truly great home court advantage. Reed reminded me of White Sox fans that lost Comiskey Park and ended up with that US Cellular abomination. They lost a classic old ball park and ended up with a non-descript monstrosity. That experience helped lead to the retro boom we see in new ballparks. New ball park architects don't want to make the same mistake as the White Sox, and cut off all ties with the past.

Not saying Reed is all that bad. Just that there's nothing unique or memorable about the place. One thing about G Rollie, everybody remembers the uniqueness of seeing a game there.

G Rollie

Ah, the Holler House. I'll miss it as it was my first place to see a basketball game played. I remember sitting on the benches and eating a pretzel. These were the days that Barone was coach, so there wasn't as much excitement around the games.

My very first Aggie basketball memory was watching a game at G Rollie on TV. The Ags were down a point and had the ball. The announcer said "get ready for this crowd to get loud if the Aggies take the lead on this possession". Then we scored and it was a ROAR even on TV, coupled with commentary along the lines of "AND THEY GO NUTS".

Yea, the new Ags all 210 of them students would really be loud in G Rollie!


Full Speed Ahead - Fire At Will - Gig'em

"I have never enjoyed any position more than being president of Texas A&M University." Robert Gates 11/08/06

Great rememberance OP. Shelby Metcalf and G. Rollie White were a combination that was made in heaven. We were a successful basketball school in my day. At or near the top of the SWC most years. And we lost to eventual NC Louisville and coach Denny Crum in double overtime in Houston. I think that was an Elite 8 game. I remember watching guys like Wynn Wright, Bill Robinette, John Beasley, Benny Paret, and Eddie Dominguez. The Holler House on the Brazos was more intimidating than any other gym I've been in which includes Hinkle Field House at Butler. Thanks for the Memories, G. Rollie !!!!

Don't forget Mike Heitman, Sonny Benefield, Ronnie Peret, Billy Bob Barnett, Seve Niles, Bill Cooksey, and Randy Matson.

[This message has been edited by SA-AG72 (edited 2/12/2013 5:46a).]

Fat Tony argued better than any coach I've ever.seen. truly gifted.

Remember G. Rollie and all the newspapers drowning out the opposing team's names.

love G Rollie. Would have been fun to have one last game there

G Rollie rocked.
Full Aggie band and 8000+ and the place literally rocked.

Great memories there ... from when it was new forward.

sorta the way I feel about Kyle Field. 85,000 not enough?

I was up in Oklahoma for Aggie baseball last spring. Gallagher-Iba in Stillwater was unlocked, so I walked all over the place. It's an awesome building. It's an old gym which opened in 1938. As I understand it, they took the original roof off at some point and added a 2nd seating level.

I always thought that we should still play one non conference game a year in g Rollie. You know, against Houston baptist or somebody like that where you won't fill up Reed anyway just for old times sake.

Loved G Rollie. When the band played it was incredible.

Really terrific matchups there during the old days of the SWC:
Eddie Sutton's hogs
Abe Lemons' horns

Running the 4-corners offense on Dean Smith's Tar Heels...

Shelby had it going on - those games in that venue were some of my favorite sports memories as a student.

Sure do hate to see G. Rollie go ---

quote:

---

I always thought that we should still play one non conference game a year in g Rollie. You know, against Houston baptist or somebody like that where you won't fill up Reed anyway just for old times sake.

---

I had said this for years.
Would of been really cool to play one early season non conference game each year at GRW.
Those games were fun.. When the FTAB played in there it was loud.

If I am not mistaken, OU played a pre-season non-conf. game at their old fieldhouse. Promoted it as some type of back to the past deal, with some past players, coaches, etc.

Watched many games there courtside as a student. The sideline opposite the team benches were reserved for the students. Best seats in the house.

Loved Jolly Rollie in the early 70's. We sucked at football so BB was the beneficiary of a lot of pent up angst. Hot , loud, intimidating with the seniors along one sideline and the football players under the north basket.
It was such an advantage, Bellard would bring FB recruits to the games, introduce them at halftime one by one and the recruits who gave a Gig em thumbs up would get an ear splitting reaction. That may have been a reason for the NCAA to ban that practice.

Don't forget Mike Mistovich, who did the radio broadcasts. My favorite line of his was "And Beasley hit it!"

Yeah 3-point specialist before they had the 3pt shot, mike heitman, sonny benefield, bob Gobin, Ronnie Perot, Beasley, Matson, billy bob Barnett, 7 Ft Steve Niles. Man they had some real characters and good basketball players back in the day. G Rollie was rocking. FTAB would show up in full force. It was a crazy time back then. Times long gone but not forgotten.

[This message has been edited by Kemo sabe (edited 2/13/2013 5:37a).]