Evening star., 1932-01-10

4 ' L Maryland, to be dedicated
week from Wednesday,
and try to set away from mem
Der of the faculty, athletic staff,
student body or even an alumnuS,
if he's been out there to take a
look!
The Old Line school is so hop
ped up over its new toy little else
is talked about at College Park.
Almost within arms reach of where
this is typed is Harry Clifton Byrd,
assistant to the president, athletic di-
rector and foot bali coach at Maryland,
pounding out piece for the paper.
"Say, Curley" we interrupted. what
about this field house?"
An undemonstTative person as q rule
is Curley Byrd. with nervous energy
distributed over so many lines Of activ-
ity there's little left for verbal en-
thusiasms.
what about it?" the tipping stops
In the middle of word, If we've see
ing right, III tell you what about it.
It's the most complete thing Of its
Kind in the country. There's nothing
quite like it. Not because It's ours,
but"
And so on for a Byrd record in the
realm Of oratory.
A S such things go, the new field
n house truly is a darb. Those who
planned it left out nothing to be
desired and threw In a number OF
surprises. It's something more than
field house. 1t Is perfectly arranged
for all sorts of affairs in which many
people gather and viii be the scene Of
numerous events outside the realm OF
sport.
Because of its manifold purposes
the ingenuity of all connected with the
university has been funked on suit
able name. 1t will be tagged for Gov.
Ritchie of MARYLAND. but whether 1t
will be Ritchie Hall, Field House, Gym,
or something fiossy has yet to be de-
termined. Coliseum, pelestra, audi
torfum and numerous other names
have been rejected.
Primarily the structure is an indoor
stadium. It will seat 1892 for basket
hall and will take care of 5000 when
used for boxing or as an auditorium.
over all the building measures l73
feet In length and l36 feet wide.
The floor in the playing hall Is l3l
feet long and Sc feet wide. The court
will be SO feet long and As feet wide,
giving a margin Of 515 feet between
the playing space and seats on the
side and 16 feet margin at each end.
THERE are dressing rooms and
l. showers for the various athletic
he SiHpC nf the
building beneath the stands and quar-
ters for visiting athletes and rooms for
other purposes in the front and rear.
A room has been set aside for every
branch of varsity sport. There will be
sleeping quarters for As visiting athletes
and a half dozen rooms for coaches
and officials. There's a recreation
room for the faculty, a trophy room
and rooms for this that and the other.
Behind the concrete stands, which are
built up two sides almost to the ROOF,
the structure is veritable honeycomo
of COMPARTMENTS. There are two stories
In the front and three in the back.
The athletic department ofnces Will be
up front.
II cleanliness really be next to godli-
ness. the TerrapinS are in line Tor
wholesale lot of halos. Every dressing
and sleeping room in the place is
equipped with a shower, and there Will
be a laundry plant, to be operated oy
a year-round keeper Of the premises
Most Terrapin varsity athletes, by the
way, are equipped with three Jerseys
and a bountitul supply OF other dry
goods and the annual laundry bill hits
around $500. The Old Liners are
noted for spick and span attire.
NOV RITCHIE will head a list OF
" notables to take part in the deol-
cation January 20, the sport tea
ture of which will be a basket pan
game between Navy and Maryland. On
February 6 the hall will be the scene
of the first Joint program, the basket
hall team meeting North Carolina ana
both engaging Washington and Lee.
Tomorrow night the Terrapins, who
hold the Southern Conference cham
pionship, will play their final basKet
ball game in the old gymnasium, meet
ing Joyola Of Baltimore. the oid gym
when finished in the Fall OF 1928 was
thought adequate for many years TO
come, but the school outgrew 1t in
hurry. 1t will be turned over to
rhvsical education classes and the
r. o. T. c. Leroy Mackert. one OF the
all-time foot ball greats at Maryland,
now is boss of physical education al
College Park and exercises OF some sort
will become mandatory for all students.
TTHE new field house is expected to
i bring a new sport era at College
PARK. It's influence already is strongly
apparent in the buoyant spirit OF stu
dent body and executive staff. The stu
dents two years ago pledged 10 bucks
annually each year for eight years tor
campus improvements and about third
of this will go toward footing the cost
of the field house.
yep. it will be a bright moment In
University Of Maryland history when
Ritchie Hall, Field House or What-1s- 1t
is christened 10 days hence, and, speak
ing Of brightness. we overlooked q
couple of items. The main hall will be
lighted to a degree Of "a candlepower to
the square foot. You who have seen
basket ball games in the old gym may
best appreciate the new, for the former
was iliumined to the extent Of only two
candlepower to the square foot.
Not only will the hall at night be
made as light as day. but the air VIII
be as fresh as the outdoors. The air
that passes through the building will be