Rickie Johnson and Dick Luedke were introduced to Horton Field House in 1981, Johnson as a freshman on the Illinois State basketball team, Luedke as the newly hired “Voice of the Redbirds” for Bloomington’s WJBC Radio.
Likely, they were told how unique and raucous the home of Redbird basketball could be. Maybe they heard of how All-American guard Doug Collins became a Sports Illustrated cover boy there in the early 1970s, or how the 1977 Redbirds knocked off No. 3-ranked UNLV, or the epic battles against Larry Bird and Indiana State in the late 70s.
What they discovered – what so many already knew – was you had to hear Horton Field House, not hear about it. The noise generated was otherworldly, and not a single decibel could escape Horton’s clutches.
Johnson got a sense of it in a season-opening Red-White scrimmage. He got the full effect later in his freshman year against rival Bradley.
“That was the first time I said, ‘I can’t hear myself,’” Johnson said. “You could almost see it in a way, if that makes any sense at all. It kind of throws your equilibrium off.”
From his perch in the press box, Luedke found the noise so loud at times, he had to turn WJBC’s crowd microphone down to zero. Otherwise, listeners would not hear the broadcast.
“I think it was partly the folks who were there and how intense they were in their love for Rickie Johnson and the Redbirds,” said Luedke, who ultimately broadcast more than 1,000 Redbird games. “But it also was the vibration that went on in that particular building.
“It was unlike any arena that I had been in before then and I had been in several. I think it’s unlike anything I’ve ever been in, and that includes a lot of college basketball arenas.”
The vintage Horton hysteria was in contrast to Johnson’s first trip there. Also a track star in high school, he had meets on weekends. Thus, his recruiting visit to ISU came on a Monday.
It was not just any Monday. President Ronald Reagan was shot in Washington, D.C., casting a pall over the country. When Johnson was taken to Horton by his recruiting host, then-Redbird guard Dwayne Tyus, the place was eerily quiet.
“I’m looking around and I said, ‘Boy,’” Johnson said. “I knew the history of it. I knew they didn’t lose there very much. When you first look at it, you get a sense of nostalgia, but at the same time you’re thinking, ‘How old is this place?’”
Opening in 1963, Horton was a bit of a phenomenon because it shared the press box with football’s Hancock Stadium. Johnson found that to be “cool,” but even in 1981, Horton had an old-school feel.
That proved to be part of its charm. The confines were uncomfortable for visiting players and coaches, as evidenced by ISU’s .796 winning percentage there from 1963-88.
“It truly was a homecourt advantage,” said Matt Taphorn, a standout guard from 1984-88. “The crowd just really got on top of the court. You could feel the vibration in the field house. When the north end zone bleachers were in there and they were rocking back and forth, it was just an amazing environment.
“I used to tell people I was nervous to walk up the north end zone bleachers when there was nobody in those stands. I can’t imagine sitting and watching a game with those being filled. It would have been terrifying.”
The bleachers stretched high behind the north basket. As a student from 1976-80, a good chunk of my time was spent in those rickety wooden stands. Indeed, there was a terrifying aspect, but it also was exhilarating and intoxicating.
Memorable games
Horton was the site for any number of memorable games. Many came in the Collins years, including his 57-point game against LSU-New Orleans in 1973 with Sports Illustrated’s Curry Kirkpatrick in attendance.
In the 1960s, the Redbirds were a force under Coach Jim Collie in the College Division (now Division II). The move to Division I in 1970 took flight with Collins and led to the aforementioned win over UNLV and the games against Bird.
Arguably, the most meaningful game came in March 1983, when Johnson and the Redbirds defeated Tulsa to earn ISU’s first NCAA Tournament bid.
The Missouri Valley Conference Tournament championship game was televised nationally by CBS and Johnson, a sophomore, was named the Chevrolet Player of the Game by the CBS broadcast crew. His career-high 22 points included a steal and roof-raising dunk in the first half.
Johnson learned that morning his mother, who did not make many games, was coming from Indianapolis to see him play.
“I was like, ‘Whoa,’” Johnson said.
Johnson’s roommate, Raynard Malaine, added 18 points. Both came off the bench to lead the 84-64 win over Nolan Richardson’s Golden Hurricane.
“I think I could have drop-kicked the ball in the basket,” Johnson said. “As loud as it was … and I’m a pretty hyper guy … that game I was so calm. The crowd wanted that game (as much) if not more than the players.”
Luedke recalls it vividly, especially Johnson’s early dunk that put ISU ahead 18-16. Johnson celebrated enthusiastically, jumping and waving his first.
“You were celebrating like no athletes did back then,” Luedke said to Johnson. “Today, it is so common. Rickie showed all of us how to do that, and everybody’s doing it today.”
Among the cheering fans was Taphorn, a junior at Pekin High School. He soaked in an atmosphere he called “electric.”
“I think that led to a great degree of me choosing to come to ISU,” Taphorn said.
Another memorable game was in 1985, when Michael Jordan played in an exhibition to benefit the Special Olympics. Jordan teamed with local WBNQ Radio on-air personalities against a squad that included Johnson and several other former Redbirds.
Jordan had just completed his rookie season with the Chicago Bulls. He scored 71 points in a 93-90 victory. Johnson had two dunks against him and has photo evidence in his family room. When he attempted a third, Jordan shut him down.
“He put me and the ball against the backboard,” Johnson said. “He stepped over me and said, “I know this is your house. But don’t ever try to embarrass me.’ I said, ‘My fault, man.’ That was really cool.”
ISU’s final game at Horton before moving to Redbird Arena (now CEFCU Arena) was in December 1988, when DePaul edged the Redbirds in a controversial finish.
Earlier that year, Taphorn starred in what appeared would be the final Horton game. However, construction delays meant ISU did not play its first game at Redbird Arena until January 1989.
Taphorn had a career-high 27 points in an 87-62 win over Butler on Feb. 24, 1988. He sank 7 of 9 from 3-point range and 9 of 11 shots overall, leading the Redbirds to a team and field house record .698 field goal percentage. Included was one of his two career dunks.
“It was just one of those games where myself and Jeff (Harris), Tony (Holifield) and Cliff (Peterson) all really had a strong game,” Taphorn said. “The four seniors went out on a high note. It was a fun game.”
Return to Horton
Last season, ISU played its first game at Horton since 1988. The Redbirds edged Southern Illinois Edwardsville, 77-71, before a noisy and appreciative crowd that included Taphorn, Johnson and Luedke.
Luedke, who has retired, did play-by-play on WJBC through the first media timeout, then sat in the upper stands beneath the press box.
“I felt like I had gone into the time machine and gone back to when I was in my 30s broadcasting Redbird basketball games when Rickie Johnson played for the ‘Birds,” Luedke said. “It was so emotional. And they won a close game. I kind of was in tears by the end of the game. It was a wonderful, wonderful experience.”
The event was such a hit, ISU will play another Horton game at 6 p.m. Saturday against Norfolk State.
The facility still houses offices, classrooms, an indoor track and has been used often over the years for practices by multiple ISU athletic teams. While it is best known for basketball, Horton Field House remains a viable venue.
Its place on campus, and in hearts, is secure.
“It’s something we hope can still be here 50 years from now,” Johnson said.
