The Sports Fan Project

Yeah, yeah, I know I’m not really Phileas Phogg, but since my entire Around the World in 80 Sporting Events retirement project was – in some small way – inspired by French author Jules Verne‘s 1872 work, Around the World in Eighty Days, and since I absolutely love me some alliteration, well, the heading on today’s blog post is on point.

As my dad and I made our way west from Kansas City bound for Lawrence and the University of Kansas for Event 13 of my project – a KU game in its historic Phog Allen Fieldhouse – I began reflecting on the last time I’d attended an on-campus, power conference basketball game as a fan with the students in session.

The answer, I quickly realized, was a long, long time ago … if ever.

My most-recent trip to a power conference game (Nebraska at Indiana on December 29, 2016) did not qualify nor, would I wager, any of the times I staffed University of Michigan games for my former employer, the Ann Arbor News, because I wasn’t attending as a fan. If my foggy (see what I’ve done here;-) memory is correct, I’m guessing it might have been the 1986-87 Louisville (defending NCAA champs) at Indiana (eventual NCAA champs) game, but upon further review, that game was played on December 23 and I’d imagine the students were on break.

So the answer, it would seem, is either never or sometime during my adolescence that I cannot remember.

Either way, what a way to return, in one of the most revered sights in all of NCAA men’s basketball. The folks in Lawrence call it “The Cathedral of College Basketball” and it just might be.

The Exterior

^{Clockwise from left, a statue of 39-year Kansas head coach Forrest “Phog” Allen adorns the plaza outside the Booth Family Hall of Athletics entrance; Dr. James Naismith’s original rules of basketball are displayed on this facade; connected at the back of Allen Fieldhouse is the Wagnon Student-Athlete Center.}

It was bitterly cold the night we attended so I did what any responsible son would do: I left my dad in the parked vehicle with the keys in the event it got too cold for him and set out to take a lap around Allen Fieldhouse before all semblance of daylight was gone.

Candidly, I was expecting more of a Jenison Field House (Michigan State University’s old gym) or Bowen Field House (Eastern Michigan University’s old gym) feel. That is, a large quonset hut-looking structure that you’d swear doubled as an airline hangar in the off season.

While that look may well have been present when Allen Fieldhouse was dedicated in 1955, it’s now obscured by many of the exterior additions/renovations that have occurred. To say it’s received some aesthetic work is no understatement. The most noticeable of which is the Booth Family Hall of Athletics on the east face of Allen Fieldhouse. It’s a 26,000 square foot facility that houses oodles of KU memorabilia as well as the KU Athletics’ Hall of Fame. Originally opened in 2006, it underwent its own renovation within the past year and reopened prior to the start of the 2024-25 season.

Beyond a statue of longtime KU men’s coach Forrest “Phog” Allen – which sits in a plaza in front of the Booth Family Hall of Athletics – there’s only one other noteable feature on the exterior. The verbiage of Dr. James Naismith‘s original rules of basketball are visible on the facade of a enclosed walkway which connects buildings on this complex. Naismith founded the KU basketball program in 1898 and, ironically, sports a career record under .500 at 55-60.

The Booth Family Hall of Athletics

^{Clockwise from upper left, a wide angle shot of the expansive Booth Family Hall of Athletics; this pillar honors KU alum Wilt Chamberlain; Dean Smith’s notice of election to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame (note the Chair of the Board of Trustees, Curt Gowdy); my father and I in front of the of the original Allen Fieldhouse center court; mementos of Danny Manning’s time at KU; a showcase in the Hall of Athletics; the original “Pay Heed” sign; this pillar highlights some of KU’s many Olympians; the Athletic Hall of Fame wall is lengthy; the collection of Championship Trophies adorn this showcase.}

As I wandered into this palatial KU athletic museum on the main concourse of Allen Fieldhouse, I found myself wondering just who the heck this Booth Family was/is.

The short answer is that Gilbert and Betty Booth were longtime Lawrence residents (they actually lived on Naismith Drive just down the street from Allen Fieldhouse) and ardent Kansas supporters. The pair raised a family in this home, sons David and Mark, and daughter Jane, before they died; Gilbert in 1985 and Betty a decade later. This gift was intended, per David Booth, to honor their parents.

“Ultimately it’s about doing something for our parents,” he told KUsports.com shortly after the contriubtion.

From my basic research, David seems to be the driving force behind the philanthropy to the university. He one of the founders – and current Chairman – of Dimensional Fund Advisors that’s clearly done very well. In addition to the donation of nearly $9 million for the facility I stood in at Allen Fieldhouse, he’s also donated $50 million for upgrades to the KU football stadium, and won the auction of the Dr. Naismith’s original rules of basketball for $3.8 million and then donated it to KU. In 2018 he signed the Giving Pledge promising to donate half his wealth to philanthropy.

Apologies for the digression.

How honored are Gilbert and Betty?

Marvelously!

There is showcase upon showcase in this space each filled with artifacts from all variety of Jayhawks’ athletics (not just those contested in Allen Fieldhouse). Additionally, an entire wall in this space features the KU Hall of Fame with photos and basic information about each inductee. Other artifacts abound as well, there is the original Allen Fieldhouse center court for a photo op, the original “Pay Heed” sign (see below for more on this), pillars covered with facts and photos of some notable Jayhawks.

^{A pair of my favorite KU HoF finds: Former coach (and Detroit Pistons coach) Larry Brown as well as Olympic thrower, Al Oerter.}

It is, in my humble opinion, a must-visit sort of place if you’re a sports fan and find yourself near the KU campus. My dad and I agreed the downside about visiting on a game night was not having access to this Fieldhouse until 60 minutes prior to tip off. With an influx of 15,000 fans, it was challenging to see – and linger, if desired – everything one might want to see.

Legends Concourse

Further along the ground level of the Fieldhouse, we were confronted with a throng of people near one of the four entrances to the court. It took me a second, but I finally deduced this was the route from the Jayhawks lockerroom to the floor.

Beyond the crowd outside the lockerroom is the “Legends Concourse” that features photos and information about some of KU’s All-Americans (men and women) through the years. It was a relatively quiet stroll (most folks were in the Booth Family Hall or outside the lockerroom, I guess) and provided an opportunity to study some of the KU greats.

As I looked at many names familiar to me, one that I’d heard of but was unfamiliar with was Clyde Lovellette. My dad was quick to note that he was an Indiana native (born in Petersbug and a product of Terre Haute Garfield High School). One of his teammates at Kansas was a fella named Dean Smith. Both men are now enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Lovellette was the first basketball player to win an NCAA and NBA championship as well as an Olympic Gold Medal, known as the Basketball Triple Crown.

^{Clockwise from upper left, Danny Manning led the Jayhawks to the 1988 NCAA Championship; the view down “Legends Concourse;” Paul Pierce was one of KU’s all-time greats as was Wilt Chamberlain; Clyde Lovellette was one of first Kansas greats; and Lynette Woodard is considered one of women’s college basketball’s all-time greats.}

Naismith’s Original Basketball Rules

You’ll notice we still haven’t set foot inside the actual, you know, part of Allen Fieldhouse you see on TV all the time. And we still had one more stop to make.

The lovely facilities staff member, Sandy, who assisted with our entrance mentioned that Dr. Naismith’s Original Rules of Basketball were on the second level. We certainly couldn’t find them. Maybe it was disappearing museum glass???

Only after asking an Allen Fieldhouse employee did we know to head down a hallway toward the DeBruce Center. There, along a hallway, that featured quote after quote from noteworthy Jayhawks on one wall and massive displays dedicated to Coach Allen and Dr. Naismith on the other did we spot the queue to view the Rules.

^{Clockwise from upper left, KU pays homage to longtime coach Phog Allen; my father checking out Dr. Naismith’s Original Rules; current Coach Bill Self seems to understand the responsibility for coaching in Lawrence; the Original Rules; a tribute to Dr. Naismith.}

I’m not going to say it was anti-climactic, but a button needed to be pushed to illuminate the display for a fixed amount of time and a recorded voice explained what you were seeing (only the recorded voice was difficult hear due to the ambient noise).

Nonetheless, I can now check this off my list of things I’ve seen

A View to Thrill

We entered our section from the third level of Allen Fieldhouse and were in a corner diagonally from the Colorado Buffaloes’ bench. We could have been in the last row of the venue, it would not have mattered one iota as it seemed each of the 15,300 seats was excellent.

As for the interior, it was as seen countless times on television. The massive Jayhawk across the center of court, the student sections behind both baskets, banners aplenty hanging from the rafters, and the KU pep band keeping everyone engaged. It is, truly, a venerable sight steeped in tradition that should be experienced.

We were seated in time for the famed Rock Chalk, Jayhawk chant that dates to the 19th Century and was originated by the university’s science club. It was simultaneously eerie and awe-inspiring and, I’ve heard, it’s known to reverberate hauntingly in the visitor’s lockerroom.

Beyond this cheer, it was evident everyone who attends KU home games is quite familiar with the traditions and what is expected of them as fans.

Anytime an opponent is shooting a free throw the students are fully engaged. Any song performed by the band that might include a call-and-response was supported in full-throat.

Pay Heed … Beware the Phog … What Does it All Mean?

The expression was virtually unavoidable: “Pay Heed, All Who Enter: Beware of ‘The Phog’.”

It was visible on a large banner near the east entrance in the Booth Family Hall of Athletics, it’s also visible in Allen Fieldhouse above KU’s National Championship banners, and portions of it are emblazoned in two of the corners of the facility.

^{The expression “Pay Heed, All Who Enter Beware of ‘The Phog'” is virtually everywhere in Allen Fieldhouse.}

I assumed, incorrectly, that the expression dated to the early days of this venerable 70-year-old gym. Thanks to the beauty of the Internet and search engines, I was able to suss out where it originated.

It turns out it came to life during my lifetime. A handful of fans cooked up the idea leading up to the February 20, 1988, game against Duke. It was Duke’s first – and final – visit to Allen Fieldhouse and was, understandably, the featured CBS game. (Check out Verne Lundquist and Tommy Heinsohn on the call here.)

The original banner (on display in the Booth Family Hall of Athletics) was actually created on a series of shower curtains (swiped from a KU dorm) that were stitched together. The story of how it came to be is, in fact, wildly fascinating and worth reading. Please do so at this link.

Some Final Phog Thoughts

If I lived closer to Phog Allen Fieldhouse I could very easily see myself attending a home game or two each season.

The environment – for an opponent that was 0-13 and in last place in the Big 12 on a cold and soon-to-be-stormy night – was absolutely electric. It exceeded my expectations.

As noted previously, the sightlines were exceptional, it crowded yet spacious, clean, the crowd was well-schooled in what to do, and the band was splendid. Throw in the Booth Family Hall of Athletics and – probably – a few other amenities I didn’t get a chance to discover, I’d say it’s a sports pilgrimage worth making no matter your alma mater.