IU Athletics Announces Five New Sculptures Made Possible by a Major Gift from Bill and Juanita Beach Creating the Indiana Basketball Memories Collection in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall
10/17/2017 3:30:00 PM | General, Men's Basketball
BLOOMINGTON, Indiana – The Indiana University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is pleased to announce the installation of five new sculptures made possible by a major gift from Bill and Juanita Beach to the "For All: The Indiana University Bicentennial Campaign" in support of IU Athletics. Their gift will create and fund the Bill and Juanita Beach Indiana Basketball Memories Collection. The Collection will be housed throughout Simon-Skjodt Assembly Hall, and it is anticipated that there will be future additions to the collection. IU fans will be able to see the sculptures for the first time at Hoosier Hysteria on Saturday, October 21st.
Installation of the sculptures will begin on Tuesday, October 17th and be completed in time for Hoosier Hysteria. The new sculptures and five granite monuments in the Ken Nunn Champions Plaza (see accompanying release) are both being installed this week to coincide with Hoosier Hysteria and the 2017-2018 basketball season.
"One of our longest held passions is our love for IU Basketball," said Bill Beach. "Juanita and I are thrilled that our gift will help future generations of IU fans learn, appreciate, and love the history of IU basketball as we have. We believe that more memorable moments are on the way as the team embarks a great new era, and we hope the Memories Collection does justice to our illustrious past."
In addition to their love for Indiana Basketball, Bill also was the founder of Beach Mold & Tool, Inc. in New Albany, Indiana. Bill and Juanita exemplify what it means to be Hoosiers and have commemorated their love of basketball and Indiana University by establishing The Bill & Juanita Beach Indiana Basketball Memories Collection.
"We cannot thank Bill and Juanita Beach enough for their incredible generosity," said Indiana University Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Fred Glass. "Every Hoosier fan has a favorite story to tell about what Indiana basketball means to them. By highlighting these five sculptures, plus the other elements of the Collection, we hope to spark the stories of Hoosiers for generations to come. The Collection will further enhance Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, one of the world's greatest basketball venues."
The South Lobby is now home to the five new sculptures which highlight iconic moments in, and periods of, IU basketball history. Below is the story behind each of these new bronze sculptures:
The Father of Indiana Basketball
This iconic image of Everett Dean is based on a photograph found in the 1921 edition of the Arbutus. "The Father of Indiana Basketball" was the first player in Indiana basketball history to earn All-America honors in 1921, and he would later lead the Hoosiers to their first Big Ten championship as head coach in 1926. In his 14 seasons as head coach, Dean led IU to three Big Ten Titles. He is in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Two Pioneers Breaking the Unwritten Rule
Based on a 1951 Athletic Department archives photograph of Branch McCracken and Bill Garrett, with help from a 1948 photograph of McCracken, this image represents these two true pioneers, whose contributions reached far beyond the game of basketball. Bill Garrett became the first African-American to play Big Ten basketball as Indiana University through President Herman B Wells and Branch McCracken broke the longstanding unwritten rule that banned African-Americans from playing basketball in the conference. McCracken was an All-American player for the Hoosiers before guiding the program to its first two national championships in 1940 and 1953, while in between serving as a Naval officer in World War II. He is in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Garrett became an All-American as a senior and led IU in scoring and rebounding in each of his three seasons.
Celebrating Perfection
Based on a series of photographs taken separately during arguably the greatest season in college basketball history, this arrangement brings together the starting and senior players from that historic team. Iconic players Bobby Wilkerson, Kent Benson, Scott May, Quinn Buckner, Jim Crews, and Tom Abernethy had reason to celebrate their successful quest for perfection as modeled here from the on-court presentation on March 29, 1976.The 1975-76 Hoosiers finished the season a perfect 32-0 and won the program's third national championship in the process. They were coached, of course, by Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame member Bob Knight. (Coach Knight's request not to be depicted in this sculpture has been respectfully honored.) Indiana's 1976 team remains the last undefeated NCAA men's basketball champion and was selected as the greatest March Madness team of all-time on the 75th anniversary of the NCAA Tournament in 2013.
Tournament Dominance
Modeled on one of the most identifiable photographs in IU basketball history, this image of Isiah Thomas's layup during Indiana's win over North Carolina in the 1981 national championship game was featured in the April 6, 1981, issue of Sports Illustrated. The Hoosiers were dominant that March, winning their tournament games by an average of 22.6 points. Isiah Thomas is in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
The Shooter and The Shot
The 1987 Hoosiers were defined by "the shooter" and "the shot." The image of Steve Alford taking a jumper is taken from a photograph in the Athletic Department archives, while the image of Keith Smart captures the most memorable moment in IU basketball history. Indiana's greatest shooter and the program's greatest shot propelled IU to the program's fifth national championship on March 30, 1987.
The Collection also includes memorabilia that was previously put on display following the renovation last season. The items that were previously on display and have been incorporated into the Bill and Juanita Beach Indiana Basketball Memories Collection are:
Assembly Hall Floor (1976-1995)
Located in the North Lobby, this is the center section of the actual basketball court used in Assembly Hall from 1976 through 1995. It was installed following Indiana's undefeated 1976 season. The Hoosiers won the 1981 Mideast Regional in Bloomington on this court en route to IU's fourth NCAA championship. Other outstanding moments on this hardwood include the Hoosiers' run to the 1979 NIT Championship; serving as the host floor for USA Basketball's gold medal Pan-American Games team and the gold medal 1984 U.S. Olympic Men's Basketball team; a 50-game home-court win streak during the 1990s; Calbert Cheaney's basket to become the all-time leading scorer in Big Ten history; and a final record of 237-36 for Hoosier teams playing on it before being decommissioned in March, 1995 for the current permanent game court. This was the second of three courts used in Assembly Hall and was constructed by Robbins Flooring and installed by Cincinnati Floor Company. The display was proudly and professionally prepared and installed by the IU carpentry shop.
Assembly Hall Goals (1971-2001)
Also in the North Lobby, these are the original basketball goal supports that were installed in the fall of 1971 for the opening season of Assembly Hall. These unique supports were in use for games on Branch McCracken Court for 30 seasons until 2001. They were so identifiable by Hoosier fans that one glimpse of them on TV told viewers IU was playing at home. Never anchored to the floor during use, these supports were weighed down by pig iron. They were retired to allow for floor anchoring and easier removal from the court. Unlike these original goals that were fabricated with an intricate truss system to support the hoop, today's goals are anchored to the floor and use a spring-loaded mechanism to support the weight of the support structure.
Assembly Hall Scoreboard (1983-2005)
Located at the top of the escalators in the South Lobby, these components of the center-hung scoreboard were suspended over Branch McCracken Court from 1983-2005. Fair-Play was the manufacturer of this board. As seen on the display, the team names are sliding indicia, displaying INDIANA and VISITORS above the score the majority of the time this scoreboard was in use. The only exception – when all visiting schools' names were put into place on the board when the Hoosiers hosted the annual Indiana Classic each year in Bloomington. During these two-day, four team tournaments, the scoreboard would be lowered before game days and each school's name would be put in place above the proper score indicator. This historic scoreboard has been restored to show the live score and time of every Indiana home game taking place inside Simon-Skjodt Assembly Hall.
Men's and Women's Basketball Trophies
Also in the South Lobby are two trophy cases holding all of IU's Big Ten Men's and Women's Basketball Championship and Final Four trophies.
Artist Brian Hanlon, owner of Hanlon Studios, designed and fabricated the sculptures. He has produced over 300 works in both public and private collections and has a commitment to educating through his work. Hanlon has done several sports themed works including sculptures at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. He has a BA in Art Education from Monmouth University and studied at Boston University from 1988-1990 prior to opening his studio.
IU Athletics thanks Mia Williams, the University Landscape Architect, and Sherry Rouse, IU's Curator of Campus Art for coordinating this project. Hanlon was selected through a competitive campus process overseen by Williams involving proposals and interviews with multiple artists.
For All: The Indiana University Bicentennial Campaign is taking place on all IU-administered campuses including IU Bloomington, Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis, IU East, IU Kokomo, IU Northwest, IU South Bend, and IU Southeast. The campaign will conclude in December 2019 to coincide with IU's bicentennial year celebration in 2020. To learn more about the campaign, its impact, and how to participate, please visit forall.iu.edu.
Installation of the sculptures will begin on Tuesday, October 17th and be completed in time for Hoosier Hysteria. The new sculptures and five granite monuments in the Ken Nunn Champions Plaza (see accompanying release) are both being installed this week to coincide with Hoosier Hysteria and the 2017-2018 basketball season.
"One of our longest held passions is our love for IU Basketball," said Bill Beach. "Juanita and I are thrilled that our gift will help future generations of IU fans learn, appreciate, and love the history of IU basketball as we have. We believe that more memorable moments are on the way as the team embarks a great new era, and we hope the Memories Collection does justice to our illustrious past."
In addition to their love for Indiana Basketball, Bill also was the founder of Beach Mold & Tool, Inc. in New Albany, Indiana. Bill and Juanita exemplify what it means to be Hoosiers and have commemorated their love of basketball and Indiana University by establishing The Bill & Juanita Beach Indiana Basketball Memories Collection.
"We cannot thank Bill and Juanita Beach enough for their incredible generosity," said Indiana University Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Fred Glass. "Every Hoosier fan has a favorite story to tell about what Indiana basketball means to them. By highlighting these five sculptures, plus the other elements of the Collection, we hope to spark the stories of Hoosiers for generations to come. The Collection will further enhance Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, one of the world's greatest basketball venues."
The South Lobby is now home to the five new sculptures which highlight iconic moments in, and periods of, IU basketball history. Below is the story behind each of these new bronze sculptures:
The Father of Indiana Basketball
This iconic image of Everett Dean is based on a photograph found in the 1921 edition of the Arbutus. "The Father of Indiana Basketball" was the first player in Indiana basketball history to earn All-America honors in 1921, and he would later lead the Hoosiers to their first Big Ten championship as head coach in 1926. In his 14 seasons as head coach, Dean led IU to three Big Ten Titles. He is in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Two Pioneers Breaking the Unwritten Rule
Based on a 1951 Athletic Department archives photograph of Branch McCracken and Bill Garrett, with help from a 1948 photograph of McCracken, this image represents these two true pioneers, whose contributions reached far beyond the game of basketball. Bill Garrett became the first African-American to play Big Ten basketball as Indiana University through President Herman B Wells and Branch McCracken broke the longstanding unwritten rule that banned African-Americans from playing basketball in the conference. McCracken was an All-American player for the Hoosiers before guiding the program to its first two national championships in 1940 and 1953, while in between serving as a Naval officer in World War II. He is in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Garrett became an All-American as a senior and led IU in scoring and rebounding in each of his three seasons.
Celebrating Perfection
Based on a series of photographs taken separately during arguably the greatest season in college basketball history, this arrangement brings together the starting and senior players from that historic team. Iconic players Bobby Wilkerson, Kent Benson, Scott May, Quinn Buckner, Jim Crews, and Tom Abernethy had reason to celebrate their successful quest for perfection as modeled here from the on-court presentation on March 29, 1976.The 1975-76 Hoosiers finished the season a perfect 32-0 and won the program's third national championship in the process. They were coached, of course, by Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame member Bob Knight. (Coach Knight's request not to be depicted in this sculpture has been respectfully honored.) Indiana's 1976 team remains the last undefeated NCAA men's basketball champion and was selected as the greatest March Madness team of all-time on the 75th anniversary of the NCAA Tournament in 2013.
Tournament Dominance
Modeled on one of the most identifiable photographs in IU basketball history, this image of Isiah Thomas's layup during Indiana's win over North Carolina in the 1981 national championship game was featured in the April 6, 1981, issue of Sports Illustrated. The Hoosiers were dominant that March, winning their tournament games by an average of 22.6 points. Isiah Thomas is in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
The Shooter and The Shot
The 1987 Hoosiers were defined by "the shooter" and "the shot." The image of Steve Alford taking a jumper is taken from a photograph in the Athletic Department archives, while the image of Keith Smart captures the most memorable moment in IU basketball history. Indiana's greatest shooter and the program's greatest shot propelled IU to the program's fifth national championship on March 30, 1987.
The Collection also includes memorabilia that was previously put on display following the renovation last season. The items that were previously on display and have been incorporated into the Bill and Juanita Beach Indiana Basketball Memories Collection are:
Assembly Hall Floor (1976-1995)
Located in the North Lobby, this is the center section of the actual basketball court used in Assembly Hall from 1976 through 1995. It was installed following Indiana's undefeated 1976 season. The Hoosiers won the 1981 Mideast Regional in Bloomington on this court en route to IU's fourth NCAA championship. Other outstanding moments on this hardwood include the Hoosiers' run to the 1979 NIT Championship; serving as the host floor for USA Basketball's gold medal Pan-American Games team and the gold medal 1984 U.S. Olympic Men's Basketball team; a 50-game home-court win streak during the 1990s; Calbert Cheaney's basket to become the all-time leading scorer in Big Ten history; and a final record of 237-36 for Hoosier teams playing on it before being decommissioned in March, 1995 for the current permanent game court. This was the second of three courts used in Assembly Hall and was constructed by Robbins Flooring and installed by Cincinnati Floor Company. The display was proudly and professionally prepared and installed by the IU carpentry shop.
Assembly Hall Goals (1971-2001)
Also in the North Lobby, these are the original basketball goal supports that were installed in the fall of 1971 for the opening season of Assembly Hall. These unique supports were in use for games on Branch McCracken Court for 30 seasons until 2001. They were so identifiable by Hoosier fans that one glimpse of them on TV told viewers IU was playing at home. Never anchored to the floor during use, these supports were weighed down by pig iron. They were retired to allow for floor anchoring and easier removal from the court. Unlike these original goals that were fabricated with an intricate truss system to support the hoop, today's goals are anchored to the floor and use a spring-loaded mechanism to support the weight of the support structure.
Assembly Hall Scoreboard (1983-2005)
Located at the top of the escalators in the South Lobby, these components of the center-hung scoreboard were suspended over Branch McCracken Court from 1983-2005. Fair-Play was the manufacturer of this board. As seen on the display, the team names are sliding indicia, displaying INDIANA and VISITORS above the score the majority of the time this scoreboard was in use. The only exception – when all visiting schools' names were put into place on the board when the Hoosiers hosted the annual Indiana Classic each year in Bloomington. During these two-day, four team tournaments, the scoreboard would be lowered before game days and each school's name would be put in place above the proper score indicator. This historic scoreboard has been restored to show the live score and time of every Indiana home game taking place inside Simon-Skjodt Assembly Hall.
Men's and Women's Basketball Trophies
Also in the South Lobby are two trophy cases holding all of IU's Big Ten Men's and Women's Basketball Championship and Final Four trophies.
Artist Brian Hanlon, owner of Hanlon Studios, designed and fabricated the sculptures. He has produced over 300 works in both public and private collections and has a commitment to educating through his work. Hanlon has done several sports themed works including sculptures at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. He has a BA in Art Education from Monmouth University and studied at Boston University from 1988-1990 prior to opening his studio.
IU Athletics thanks Mia Williams, the University Landscape Architect, and Sherry Rouse, IU's Curator of Campus Art for coordinating this project. Hanlon was selected through a competitive campus process overseen by Williams involving proposals and interviews with multiple artists.
For All: The Indiana University Bicentennial Campaign is taking place on all IU-administered campuses including IU Bloomington, Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis, IU East, IU Kokomo, IU Northwest, IU South Bend, and IU Southeast. The campaign will conclude in December 2019 to coincide with IU's bicentennial year celebration in 2020. To learn more about the campaign, its impact, and how to participate, please visit forall.iu.edu.
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