What a looooooonnnnnnnnnggggg strange trip it's been.
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That Nets-Pacers exhibition was in mid-Oct. 1977. The Nets' first regular season NBA game in NJ was 10/21/77 at the RAC. I attended that game. Maravich torched the Nets for 41 points that night. The Nets played four seasons at the RAC (1977-1981). I've always liked this photo of Pistol Pete at the RAC. It's amazing how many great players have graced the court at the RAC over the years.The first game that I saw at the RAC was a week or 2 before that Rutgers game - a Nets exhibition game vs. the Indiana Pacers... Imagine that the Nets played 2 or 3 seasons of home games on that surface.
What a looooooonnnnnnnnnggggg strange trip it's been.
Mike
I have this program and was there as well
Did you go to the exhibition game before that between Rutgers vs U.S.S.R.? (Soviet national team)
Thanks Mike for the posting. 40 years ago today the first RU game was played at the RAC. Man those years sure have gone very quickly.
And I would note you guys won. 81-76 I think.
Speaking of the floor. I worked concessions/usher for some Nets games when I was at Rutgers.I was at that game and have that game program. The first game that I saw at the RAC was a week or 2 before that Rutgers game - a Nets exhibition game vs. the Indiana Pacers. The floor you see in the picture is a wood floor on top of a cement slab. There is no way a NBA game would be played on that type of floor today. It was rock hard and there is no agent that would let his client / player take that kind of abuse on his legs. Imagine that the Nets played 2 or 3 seasons of home games on that surface.
When Bob Wenzel was the coach they put a portable court on top of that floor which made things much better for the players. Over the years there have been several improvements to the floor and today we have a state of the art floor in the RAC.
YESSSSS!!!! So many posters DO NOT believe it when I bring this up!!! Moved back so the cheer/dance teams had enough space for each member to set up a camp site. THANK GOD Pat Hobss is aware of this and the plans are to MOVE THE STUDENT SECTION BACK closer to the baseline!!
Went to the Russian game and the SHUMike
I have this program and was there as well
Did you go to the exhibition game before that between Rutgers vs U.S.S.R.? (Soviet national team)
Forgot about that one! Thanks!I remember RU beating the Soviet Union national team. I recall that they shut down their star (Belov?) but a guy named Korkia played very well for them. The Soviet Union team had just lost to St. John’s as well, but the Soviet coach was kind enough to say that RU was a better team than St. John’s.
I sat right behind the SHU bench for the game mentioned above. I got to see Bill Rafferty work the officials from the very first seconds of the game, and it was incredible. The very first time a whistle blew, he screamed at the top of his lungs “my guys have just as much a right to win this game as theirs.“ And he never let up after.
Do people use the bathroom more than they did 46 yrs ago....nvmd lol. Young people nowadays can't go 10min without sipping from their hydroflask.RAC opened my sophomore year. Still has the same amount and same bathrooms as 46 years ago........LOL
Best of Luck,
Groz
One of the refs was brought in by the Russians, and he tried to call some stuff against RU that just was wrong...the other refs got together and overruled one of his calls.... something you normally don't see happenI remember RU beating the Soviet Union national team. I recall that they shut down their star (Belov?) but a guy named Korkia played very well for them. The Soviet Union team had just lost to St. John’s as well, but the Soviet coach was kind enough to say that RU was a better team than St. John’s.
I sat right behind the SHU bench for the game mentioned above. I got to see Bill Rafferty work the officials from the very first seconds of the game, and it was incredible. The very first time a whistle blew, he screamed at the top of his lungs “my guys have just as much a right to win this game as theirs.“ And he never let up after.
Class of 1980?RAC opened my sophomore year. Still has the same amount and same bathrooms as 46 years ago........LOL
Best of Luck,
Groz
Students could sit behind the bench back then. I was right behind the SHU bench. I am trying to remember if that was the game where SHU sat where the home team usually sits. I will never forget what a wild man Raftery was up close though.Always thought the USSR game was the first one; somehow had tickets behind our bench. Maybe they let students sit in that section back then. Some of you remember stuff during that game more than I do; just remember what happened during our national anthem.