NIC hoops: Like putting Mona Lisa in a garage
Al Williams can toss out plenty of good things about Christianson Gymnasium.
“It’s got character and history, like a lot of the old buildings,” he said. “There are so many memories of great games, like the rivalry with CSI (College of Southern Idaho).
“Those were dates you marked on your calendar.
“We’ve had some fantastic teams play in that gym, even a group that went undefeated in the regular season and was No. 1 in the nation.
“Lot of terrific things where you look back and realize you’ll never forget them.
“Plus,” added the North Idaho College athletic director, “our guys know where all the dead spots are.”
The fact that NIC players can lead opponents to dead spots on the floor, however, is hardly a valid reason to be using an intercollegiate facility that will be 70 years old next year.
That’s not even mentioning that the court is not regulation size, or that the building does not meet legal code for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
THE SCHOOL needs a new gym and, thankfully, its board of trustees has taken the first big step toward funding a modern venue that will be more in line with the ever-changing college itself.
However…
There are still hurdles to clear, designs to be approved and — as always – money to be allocated for what is planned as a 123,000-square-foot facility.
Williams knows this is not a done deal as well as anyone, but he can’t help seeing the future.
“So much of what’s happening in college athletics today about facilities,” he said. “A great building helps recruiting, it gives you a chance to bid for tournaments, it’s available for other events.
“Don’t get me wrong. We’ve had an amazing run in the old gym — we’re still in that run now.
“But to give our student-athletes the very best chance to succeed, a new place that holds 2,000 to 3,000, well…
“Look around and see what other colleges like ours are doing.”
Besides succeeding, Williams did not bother to say, is the notion of getting top-notch athletes on campus in the first place.
NIC legend Rolly Williams attracted terrific players for the men’s team seemingly forever, and made the school a national power.
Current coach Corey Symons and his staff have kept it going — the Cards are 20-2 this year, with their only losses coming to top-ranked teams like City College of San Francisco in holiday tournaments.
MAKE NO mistake: Creaky old gym or not, this year’s team is worth going to see.
You might start by trotting out tonight to see the Cards play Big Bend, with the women’s game tipping off at 5:30 and the men at 7:30.
There will be seats available, since NIC generally draws around 800 fans into Christenson (capacity 1,300 unless you sit in front of the theater curtain).
It’s quite likely that all five starters on this men’s team will sign to play Division I basketball — and say what you want about community college hoops, that’s game.
That’s balling.
Alphonso Anderson already has signed with Utah State, Nate Pryor has committed to Washington, Philip Malatare committed to Montana out of high school (now undecided), several Big Sky schools are after Jerod Greene and RayQuan Evans — a marvelous combo guard — is the target of various Pac-12 and Mountain West programs.
Pryor and Greene are just freshmen.
That’s a lot of talent, no matter what gym they call home.
NIC has a long, long history of excellence in many sports, and Williams — who has been the AD since 2003 — has no intention of letting things slide.
Seeing this exceptional hoops team perhaps run the table and win the Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC) title would continue to stuff an already-crowded trophy case.
But hey…
NIC still desperately needs that new facility, because this isn’t 1949.
Get it done, folks.
Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns for The Press appear on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He also contributes the “Zags Tracker” package on Gonzaga basketball each Tuesday.
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