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When a basketball recruit comes to the University of Maine, they walk through the Alfond Arena and see a great place for hockey.
The walls of the Alfond are decorated with the accomplishments of a prestigious program, but a different winter sport.
As the men’s basketball team continues their hot play, placing them atop the America East Conference, the ring of a true home-court advantage sounds that much sweeter. Skip Chappelle, among other UMaine alumni, hopes a multi-million dollar fundraiser can bring the basketball teams back into the Pit — back into an atmosphere that truly embraces basketball.
There is no one who knows the home-court advantage more than Maine basketball legend Chappelle. Chappelle played guard for Maine from 1958-1962. During his tenure as a sophomore and a junior, Chappelle, with a little help from co-captain Don Sturgeon, went 19-4 and 18-5, the highest two-year winning percentage of any previous Umaine men’s basketball team.
Chappelle finished with 1,352 points in his career, good for 8th on UMaine’s all-time list, and earned a try-out with the Celtics — he was the last rookie cut, losing out to John Havlicek.
Chappelle was also one of the most successful coaches the Black Bears have had, compiling a record of 217-226, good for most wins all-time at UMaine. Chappelle was enshrined in the UMaine Hall of Fame in 1988.
Chappelle played all of his home games in the Pit. In 1961 Sports Illustrated, did a story on the six toughest places to play in the country. Maine was mentioned among those six teams.
“It was like playing for Duke, it was just fantastic,” Chappelle said. “There would be 3,000 people piled into there. In 1960 [and] 1961 every game was sold out in advance and the public couldn’t even get in. For the most part it was just students.”
The fundraiser to renovate the Pit started four years ago. Chappelle got involved just two years ago. One day former Maine Gov. John Baldacci gave Chappelle a call to question about a transfer back to the Pit. Chappelle was a reliable source. After taking advantage of an opportunity to mention his hopes for a renovated Pit, he shared his thoughts on the basketball status at UMaine.
“You can’t bring a recruit into the Alfond — all you see is hockey,” Chappelle told the governor.
A couple weeks later, Chappelle met with Baldacci and Maine Public Utilities Commission Chairman Jack Cashman, among others, to talk about the problems with the Pit.
“I emphasized it is not a healthy environment to play basketball. The governor said, ‘maybe I can help,’” Chappelle said.
Besides basketball environment problems, there are many physical issues with the current state of the Pit. There is mercury in the track, problems with moss in the ceilings and rafters and there are currently no elevators.
Yet, the fundraising effort has made leaps and bounds. It started with $12.5 million, and after the first donation that turned to $14.5 million. Baldacci committed $6.5 million in Pit renovation-related funds. With continued advances in funding, the hope of a renovated Pit seems plausible in four years.
Since the Memorial Gym’s opening in January 1933, University of Maine legends have spoken about its intensity, basketball enthusiasm and the “sixth man” it provided. During its day, it was one of the best.
Hopefully, that day will come again.
Bangor Daily News