Long Live the Pit

Korrin B.

March 6, 2010 - 9:00 PM

My freshman year, I went to every single men's basketball game at the historic MacArthur Court. Our team was on fire that year and my two friends and I even took a road trip up to Spokane to watch our team play in March Madness that year. I have some amazing memories from that year that I will carry with me forever. I'll always remember the campouts outside of the building, unconcerned that we were sleeping on cold cement. I'll always remember the ever so crude chants against the opposing team that would be started by the unruly student section. Mac Court was a special place. It had a soul unlike many sporting arenas.

My following of Ducks basketball fell off a bit throughout the years after I was a freshman. This year, I kept wanting to go to games, but was always busy with other things. However, I did manage to make it to the game tonight. It was the last PAC-10 men's basketball game to ever be played at Mac Court. I had to be there! And to make it even better, despite a rocky season, the Ducks took a victory in this game against the Washington State cougars. It was a great way to end an era. The students rushed the court in one last hurrah.

I'm excited that during my fifth year next year, I will get the opportunity to experience the new Matthew Knight Arena. I hope that our students are able to take it and make it into something special and unique like they have with Mac Court for so many years. Although I have been a tad bitter toward the athletics program lately, I almost must express my gratitude for it for what it does to create a sense of community. Our school's sporting event should be just that - a place to create and celebrate community.