A lot has changed in the Sapp Fieldhouse from Feb. 14, 1953, left, and Feb. 15, 2012. In 1953, Creighton won over the Omaha University 89-80. In 2012, UNO defeated Nebraska-Kearney 85-68. LEFT: UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT OMAHA ARCHIVES. RIGHT: CHRIS MACHIAN/THE WORLD-HERALD
The UNO men’s basketball team’s time at the Lee and Helene Sapp Fieldhouse came to close Feb. 15 in a victory over the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Next season, the Mavericks will play in the new Ralston arena. (Click here to see a slideshow of the new arena under construction.) UNO brought back several former players and honored them during the game.
UNO's Caleb Steffensmeier takes a shot against Nebraska-Kearney. Click on the photo to launch a slideshow of the game. CHRIS MACHIAN/THE WORLD-HERALD
The first game at the fieldhouse was held Feb. 23, 1950, against crosstown rival Creighton. The Bluejays won 60-46. Creighton was a regular opponent for UNO (then known as Omaha University), and the Jays own the all-time series with 32-3.
Lloyd Rathburn, city building engineer, assists with the weight testing of the telescoping bleachers at UNO Fieldhouse on Feb. 22, 1950, before the first game. THE WORLD-HERALD
One of the more memorable games for Omaha University came on Feb. 24, 1955. OU won 95-86 over a Creighton team that had future baseball hall of famer Bob Gibson.
Omaha University's Stan Schaetzle fools Creighton's Bob Gibson as he drives to the basket. THE WORLD-HERALD
According to Les Valentine, archivist at the Criss Library at UNO, Chancellor Milo Bail gave students the next day off to celebrate.
Fans enjoy a game at Sapp Fieldhouse in 1953. UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT OMAHA ARCHIVES
The UNO men’s team used the facility for 62 years and boasted a record crowd of 5,200 fans in 1979.
Omaha University's Phil Gradoville, Rockhurst's Dan Klein and OU's Dick Siekman go for a loose ball on Feb. 25, 1958. KEN ZIMMERMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD
This year also marked a new beginning for UNO. While the Mavs are leaving Sapp Fieldhouse, they began the era of Division I play. UNO’s volleyball and the women’s basketball teams will still use the facility. Click here to see more photos of the fieldhouse and a look at former players honored during the final game.
A ticket for the last men's game at Sapp Fieldhouse.
UNO's Mitch Albers is the last UNO player to leave the floor after the Mavs beat Nebraska-Kearney at the Sapp Fieldhouse on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012. It was the final game for the UNO men at the fieldhouse before moving to a new arena in Ralston. CHRIS MACHIAN/THE WORLD-HERALD
The World-Herald library has many more historic photos. If you are interested in purchasing these or other photos, please visit the OWH Store.
A special thanks goes to Jolene McHugh, the normal author of the “From the Archives” for graciously letting a UNO alumus write this piece and for helping to scan many of the images you see.
