LaGRANGE, Ga. — That’s what it feels like, anyway in Mariotti Gymnasium here at LaGrange. It is a building high on character but low on amenities.
I can’t get on the Net here yet so you’ll have to wait for a photo but picture Hoosiers-type seating for maybe 600 people. No word if Hampden-Sydney coach Bubba Smith took out a tape measure and compared it to their gym back in Farmville.
LaGrange SID John Hughes tells me the building opened in 1958. The other athletic facilities are about a half-mile from here and are a lot more modern.
A lot of HSC fans here, probably many connected to Drew Prehmus and Tyler Murray, Tiger seniors from Atlanta.
You can listen on HSC’s radio broadcast from their Web site. If I weren’t typing on my phone I’d say more.
Edit: I’ve added today’s interview, with LaGrange men’s coach Warren Haynes.
[display_podcast]
HSC won 67-53 in a game that wasn’t this close. HSC jumped up 10 early and was never seriously threatened.
Will post more when I can get on the Net.
Not even any padding on the walls beyond the baselines? Ouch.
Happy New Year, Pat. Eat those blackeyes.
Hmm – I thought the padding at the end of the baselines was mandatory. Have to go research that!
It’s there — it’s red and white, the school colors. You can’t really see the white in that photo.
You can see it a little better here:
http://www.pictureprints.net/albums.php?gallery=1997&photo=0105
It’s a little roomier than Macalester’s old gym. Not much, though.
Good comparison.
While I was there I was asked how I would compare the town to others I’ve seen and I had a couple of ideas — folks who are familiar with Beloit, Wis., or Oneonta, N.Y., LaGrange, Ga., has a similar feel.
Pat, are the Beloit and SUNY-Oneonta campuses as hilly as LaGrange’s central core?
Beloit is not, but Hartwick (which is also in Oneonta) is set up from the road.
Driving through LaGrange and to a lesser extent Piedmont’s campus made me thankful there isn’t much ice there. 🙂
I was talking about the town, remember, and LaGrange’s downtown reminded me of Oneonta’s. Beloit struck me as similar in terms of the kind of stores, the way the town spreads out from the interstate and the type (if not style) of homes.
Coach Warren Haynes and I talked about the program, the conference, the gym, recruiting, and the like. I added the podcast above.
Pat, your “ice” comment was my first thought as I walked the LaGrange campus!