For years, an empty red corridor has filled the Floy Lewis Bakes Center. It’s never been an issue; the corridor has always simply been a place to walk through, and nothing more. But in a center of rich history, the empty walls have always stood out, a void in an area of life.
After decades though, Ursinus has committed to a change. As many have likely noticed while walking through the FLB, construction has been ongoing on a new Hall of Fame for Ursinus’s sports legends. It’s a step which Athletics Communications Director Matt Hagy believes will bring new life to the building, and a greater reverence for Ursinus’s past.
“It’s a space that will look much more professional, and will better all-around reflect the traditions here at Ursinus,” Hagy said.
The new Hall of Fame will consist of multiple elements, implementing both technology and man-made elements. To start, Ursinus has installed a new Bear statue in the building, sitting on top of a red painted wall. The Bear has been named the “Sycamore Bear,” due to it being made out of the old sycamore tree, which could be found on Patterson Field. It helps commemorate one of the most unique centerpieces of Ursinus’s field, known as the only football stadium in America with a tree in the end zone.
Hagy also spoke of the new space providing a new form of “interactive experience” to the hallway, commemorating the Hall of Famers. There are rumors of some form of interactive screen which highlights the Hall-of-Famers. “We want them to feel honored and want to come back,” Hagy said. “It should be a much cooler, much more respected experience.”
While the hall is set on bringing a sense of pride for alumni who visit, it also looks to honor those no longer with us. The space is dedicated to the late Bill Racich, a key figure in Ursinus Sports’s history. Racich was the Bears’ wrestling coach from 1980 until his passing in 2018. He helped the wrestling program grow into the Division 3 powerhouse they are today, with the fourth-most wins in all of NCAA wrestling history, including eleven Centennial Conference titles. “He was the gold standard of Centennial Conference wrestling,” said Hagy. “There’s so many people whom he helped shape who they are, I couldn’t think of a better person to have his name represented on a project like this.”
A focus on Ursinus’s past is sometimes seen as simply a way to encourage donations from alumni. To Hagy though, this room represents something more.
“Prospective students can come in here and you can say, ‘if you make a difference here, this could be you someday’,” Hagy said. “It’s an important visual experience.”
The Hall of Fame will be dedicated on Friday, October 10th. On December 8th, its newest inductees will be initiated.