George Ferguson column: Armory holds so many memories, but it's certainly time for some TLC

I'm only 36 years old so you'll have to forgive me if I leave out some significant moments in this trip down memory lane.

But there's no doubt that if you were like me, and grew up in Havre, the Armory Gymnasium has to hold some special moments in your life.

It certainly does mine.

My early memories of the grand old gym mostly revolve around basketball. The old Frontier Conference, when teams would play each other on back-to-back nights, those were games everybody went to. The battles with the old UGF Argos and with Rocky Mountain College, those games weren't to be missed and I'm talking Lights and Skylights.

How could anyone overlook those great days? Richie Willis, Thurman Holdsclaw, Deion Jones, Michael Tardy, Nate Achenbach, Buck Merriweather, Sheila Green, Jody Kruta, I could type forever listing off all the greats who've played in our famed gym.

The Skylights winning a national championship, all of the great Lights wrestlers, the champions, the volleyball, the banners hanging, yes the armory has seen it all and, fortunately, I've seen a lot of it with my own eyes in that great gym.

I also have childhood memories of walking through two feet of snow from Highland Park at night just to watch the older kids play pickup basketball in the Armory. And I remember my mom taking us swimming at the old pool when she was getting her degree at NMC back in the day. As a Highland Park kid, the Armory was another place to play.

In recent times, things have been good too. The wrestling greats continue to roll through, the 2005 Skylights had a season to remember and no one will forget last year's magical ride the Northern basketball team went on.

The Armory is still making history.

But I'd love to see some new history too. I'd love to see the Armory get a face-lift.

I've been covering Frontier Conference athletics long enough that I've now been in every gym in the league save LC State and Westminster. And in my opinion, as far as facilities go, MSU-N is falling behind in that regard.

The Armory is dark, the bleachers in some areas are outdated, the basement area where most of the student-athletes have their lockerrooms and training rooms are small, cramped and just downright old.

Now I'm fully aware that to improve these things costs money and lots of it. And I'm also aware that these aren't the best of economic times. But I also know that sports and health and human performance are two important aspects of higher education and the Armory is used for both.

And I also know for a fact that quality facilities on campus attract more students, both athletes and non-athletes.

I also know other schools around Montana are finding ways and resources to improve their facilities and one way or another, I hope Northern and the Armory can do the same because this school and these athletes are an important part of the educational system in Montana.