DU alumni may remember it as the old Sports Authority building on Broadway. Old-timers may remember it as a former Chrysler dealership. However, surely the most entertaining era for this iconic structure was as the Gart Brothers Sports Castle. Continue reading Gart Brothers Sports Castle Undergoes Another Transformation
Category Archives: History & Tradition
The End of Another Academic Year
It’s official – the class of 2021 has graduated and we are at the end of yet another academic year. University of Denver graduates overcame the many ups and downs of COVID-19 while completing their degrees.
Congratulations from LetsGoDU!
We will continue to report on breaking news during the summer and, of course, Go Pioneers.
It’s Always Been that Way
The University of Denver was founded in 1864 and started out as Colorado Seminary. In 1880, the school was renamed to the University of Denver but is still legally operating as Colorado Seminary. But the name that causes the most confusion is the school’s iconic abbreviation, ‘DU’.
But why do we say DU and not UD? Continue reading It’s Always Been that Way
Chancellor Haefner Requests “Community’s Patience” as Pioneer Nickname Remains In Doubt
While University of Denver Jeremy Chancellor Haefner has yet to commit to keeping the Pioneer name, he has asked for “the [DU] community’s patience” to prepare his response to a small group of protesters who are demanding that DU get rid of the Pioneer nickname by February of 2021. Continue reading Chancellor Haefner Requests “Community’s Patience” as Pioneer Nickname Remains In Doubt
Pucks, Pans, and Passion: A Trip into the Heart of Darkness with Hockey Student Section Leaders
Editor’s Note: This article was originally slated to run ahead of the hockey team’s NCHC quarterfinal series with Omaha, which was later canceled along with the rest of the 2019-2020 NCAA season.
If you happen to find yourself in need of a toothbrush, Ilona Kovacs might be able to help you out.
That’s because a student once bribed her with one, in exchange for being able to sit in the first row of the student section. Sitting there allows one to be next to DU Whiteboard, the large dry erase board Kovacs and fellow sophomore Jack Fowle write taunting messages on for the other team. Continue reading Pucks, Pans, and Passion: A Trip into the Heart of Darkness with Hockey Student Section Leaders
Pioneer Flashback: When DU Basketball Was a Regular at Madison Square Garden (Part II)
Our own Puck Swami takes a look back through DU’s rich sports history to the eight times DU men’s basketball played at New York City’s Madison Square Garden in this two-part flashback series. In the first part (here), he covered the first four DU appearances between 1947 and 1959, while in this second part (below) he covers the second four MSG appearances, which occurred between 1959 and 1966.
Pioneer Flashback: When DU Basketball Was a Regular at Madison Square Garden (Part I)
Photo: The old Madison Square Garden (1925-1968) in New York City, seen here in 1932 taking up most of a city block, hosted the DU Pioneers Basketball team eight times between 1947 and 1966.
Our own Puck Swami takes a look back through DU’s rich sports history to the eight times DU men’s basketball played at New York City’s Madison Square Garden between 1947 and 1966 in this first of a two-part flashback series, which covers DU’s first four appearances in New York City.
While DU basketball is known today mostly on the basketball courts of Denver, and around the Summit League, there was once a time when the DU Pioneers were a New York City attraction, playing eight times at the legendary old Madison Square Garden in New York City in the 19-year span between 1947 and 1966. Continue reading Pioneer Flashback: When DU Basketball Was a Regular at Madison Square Garden (Part I)
70 Years of DU Hockey History Part IV: The Current Era – 2013-2019
Our own Puck Swami has authored a four-part historical retrospective for the 70th anniversary of the DU Hockey program. This is Part IV. Part One can be found here, Part II can be found here and Part III can be found here. While these stories run far longer than our usual stories, remember that 70 years is a lot to cover. Enjoy!
Continue reading 70 Years of DU Hockey History Part IV: The Current Era – 2013-2019
70 Years of DU Hockey History Part III: The Gwozdecky Years – 1994-2013
Our own Puck Swami has authored a four-part historical retrospective for the 70th anniversary of the DU Hockey program. This is Part III. Part One can be found here, Part II can be found here and Part IV can be found here. While these stories run far longer than our usual stories, remember that 70 years is a lot to cover. Enjoy!
Continue reading 70 Years of DU Hockey History Part III: The Gwozdecky Years – 1994-2013
70 Years of DU Hockey History Part II: A Temporary Decline – 1970-1994
Our own Puck Swami has authored a four-part historical retrospective for the 70th anniversary of the DU Hockey program. This is Part II. Part One can be found here, and Parts III and IV will follow in the coming weeks. While these stories will run far longer than our usual stories, remember that 70 years is a lot to cover. Enjoy!
Given DU hockey’s successes in the program’s first 20 years, there was no reason to believe that the Pioneer hockey program was about to enter a 35-year period with no NCAA titles. After all, there was plenty of talent in the pipeline. In the early 1970s, DU leveraged its 1960s dominance to attract a number of star players who would move on the NHL — George Morrison, Peter McNab, Bruce Affleck, Rob Palmer, Mike Busniuk, Rich Preston, Mike Christie, Mike Lampman, Vic Venasky and Ron Grahame would all wear the Crimson and Gold in the early-to-mid 70s before moving on to the highest level. Continue reading 70 Years of DU Hockey History Part II: A Temporary Decline – 1970-1994