The electric atmosphere in the ancient and packed Muncie Fieldhouse during Saturday's Central/Milan contest could have transported a fan back to the 1950s.
That is, minus the pep bands' electric guitars, the players' long shorts and ESPN's cameras.
Still, there were reminders of what the original contest was like. The Central cheerleaders decked themselves in the sweaters and long skirts of that era, and the varsity team sported old-style warmup tops. The crowded student sections traded "We've got spirit" cheers 45 minutes before tip-off.
All people at the scorers' table wore white long-sleeved shirts with gray bow ties. Long-time radio announcer Morry Mannies, calling a game courtside at the Fieldhouse for the first time ever, must have felt young again.
Bobby Plump, who hit the game-winner in the original legendary matchup, certainly felt at home.
"When I walked in and saw all the crowd, all the noise, I walked before the Muncie Central cheerleaders, and they stopped and said, 'Let's give a cheer for Bobby Plump.'" he said before the game. "Now that made me feel good."
In the years following the famous 1954 championship game, neither Plump nor any of the other players had any idea there would be a celebration such as Saturday's event.
"Never in my wildest dreams did I think it would come to something like this," he said. "This is just a marvelous, marvelous reception, and it's wonderful that Muncie Central would host this -- after all, they were the defeated team.
"It's just a great tribute to the tradition of basketball at Muncie Central and what they think of basketball that they would host an event like this and invite Milan back."
Plump and the other original players in attendance were introduced at halftime, along with two cheerleaders and former Milan assistant coach Clarence Kelly. Following Plump were Mary Lou Wood, the widow of former Milan coach Marvin Wood, and two children of deceased Central coach Jay McCreary.
Before the game, 88-year-old Cyrus Birge, one of the `54 game's referees, provided a ceremonial toss-up at center court.
With all of the extra media in attendance, most notably the crew and equipment for ESPN Classic's live broadcast, Central athletics director Tom Jarvis was a busy man and one of the happiest following the game.
"It couldn't have gone any better," he said. "This showed what Hoosier Hysteria is all about. ESPN was great. They were very organized. They put in the money to make a first-class production, and it showed."
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
