Bill Snead/Journal-World PhotosIn 1957 seeing Kansas University coaching legend Phog Allen in the stands watching a KU basketball game was akin to catching your old Aunt Pauline dancing in the kitchen with a broom.
You knew it was bound to happen sometime but you just weren’t ready for it.
After 39 KU basketball seasons Allen was no longer calling the shots alongside his players from his courtside seat. With mandatory retirement at age 70 came four seats in the first row of section six in his new shrine, Allen Fieldhouse, which was dedicated 47 years ago Friday.
Now he was sitting with family, fans and friends.
Sometimes, as in the 1959 photo (above, top), Phog would invite his grandson John and his son, Bob Allen, to the games. Bob, a Kansas City surgeon, had played for KU and his famous father from 1939 to 1941. A talented guard, he was twice chosen All Big-Six and played with the likes of Howard Engleman, Ralph Miller, Dick Harp and Don Ebling. They played for the NCAA title in 1940, losing to Branch McCracken’s Indiana ‘Hurryin’ Hoosiers 60-42.
These days, Bob Allen, now 82, sits in the seat once occupied by his father. An additional row of seats was added in the section so the former front-row seats are now row two.
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At the recent KU-Iowa State game he was accompanied by his sons, John, 51; Rob, 56; and Mark, 49. Bob’s wife, Jean, also doesn’t miss many games in the Allen family version of musical chairs.
Some of the KU faithful are convinced that Phog’s spirit still resides in Allen Fieldhouse, inspiring the home team in time of need. With KU’s string of sold-out games and seats being a hot commodity, one can only hope that he hung on to his old wooden folding chair.
Recently, just before game time, as the story goes, a KU fan was sitting in his mid-court seat, and a man approached him and asked if anyone was sitting in the seat next to him.
“No, he says, “this seat is empty.”
“This is incredible,” says the man. “An empty seat when Kansas is playing Missouri?”
“Well, actually the seat belongs to me,” the fan says. “I normally come with my wife, but she passed away. This is the first Jayhawk game we haven’t watched together since we got married in 1967.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. That’s very sad. But, couldn’t you find someone else, a friend or neighbor to take the seat?”
The KU fan shook his head.
“No, they’re all at the funeral.”
Bill Snead/Journal-World PhotosIn 1957 seeing Kansas University coaching legend Phog Allen in the stands watching a KU basketball game was akin to catching your old Aunt Pauline dancing in the kitchen with a broom.
You knew it was bound to happen sometime but you just weren’t ready for it.
After 39 KU basketball seasons Allen was no longer calling the shots alongside his players from his courtside seat. With mandatory retirement at age 70 came four seats in the first row of section six in his new shrine, Allen Fieldhouse, which was dedicated 47 years ago Friday.
Now he was sitting with family, fans and friends.
Sometimes, as in the 1959 photo (above, top), Phog would invite his grandson John and his son, Bob Allen, to the games. Bob, a Kansas City surgeon, had played for KU and his famous father from 1939 to 1941. A talented guard, he was twice chosen All Big-Six and played with the likes of Howard Engleman, Ralph Miller, Dick Harp and Don Ebling. They played for the NCAA title in 1940, losing to Branch McCracken’s Indiana ‘Hurryin’ Hoosiers 60-42.
These days, Bob Allen, now 82, sits in the seat once occupied by his father. An additional row of seats was added in the section so the former front-row seats are now row two.
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At the recent KU-Iowa State game he was accompanied by his sons, John, 51; Rob, 56; and Mark, 49. Bob’s wife, Jean, also doesn’t miss many games in the Allen family version of musical chairs.
Some of the KU faithful are convinced that Phog’s spirit still resides in Allen Fieldhouse, inspiring the home team in time of need. With KU’s string of sold-out games and seats being a hot commodity, one can only hope that he hung on to his old wooden folding chair.
Recently, just before game time, as the story goes, a KU fan was sitting in his mid-court seat, and a man approached him and asked if anyone was sitting in the seat next to him.
“No, he says, “this seat is empty.”
“This is incredible,” says the man. “An empty seat when Kansas is playing Missouri?”
“Well, actually the seat belongs to me,” the fan says. “I normally come with my wife, but she passed away. This is the first Jayhawk game we haven’t watched together since we got married in 1967.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. That’s very sad. But, couldn’t you find someone else, a friend or neighbor to take the seat?”
The KU fan shook his head.
“No, they’re all at the funeral.”
Bill Snead/Journal-World PhotosIn 1957 seeing Kansas University coaching legend Phog Allen in the stands watching a KU basketball game was akin to catching your old Aunt Pauline dancing in the kitchen with a broom.
You knew it was bound to happen sometime but you just weren’t ready for it.
After 39 KU basketball seasons Allen was no longer calling the shots alongside his players from his courtside seat. With mandatory retirement at age 70 came four seats in the first row of section six in his new shrine, Allen Fieldhouse, which was dedicated 47 years ago Friday.
Now he was sitting with family, fans and friends.
Sometimes, as in the 1959 photo (above, top), Phog would invite his grandson John and his son, Bob Allen, to the games. Bob, a Kansas City surgeon, had played for KU and his famous father from 1939 to 1941. A talented guard, he was twice chosen All Big-Six and played with the likes of Howard Engleman, Ralph Miller, Dick Harp and Don Ebling. They played for the NCAA title in 1940, losing to Branch McCracken’s Indiana ‘Hurryin’ Hoosiers 60-42.
These days, Bob Allen, now 82, sits in the seat once occupied by his father. An additional row of seats was added in the section so the former front-row seats are now row two.
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At the recent KU-Iowa State game he was accompanied by his sons, John, 51; Rob, 56; and Mark, 49. Bob’s wife, Jean, also doesn’t miss many games in the Allen family version of musical chairs.
Some of the KU faithful are convinced that Phog’s spirit still resides in Allen Fieldhouse, inspiring the home team in time of need. With KU’s string of sold-out games and seats being a hot commodity, one can only hope that he hung on to his old wooden folding chair.
Recently, just before game time, as the story goes, a KU fan was sitting in his mid-court seat, and a man approached him and asked if anyone was sitting in the seat next to him.
“No, he says, “this seat is empty.”
“This is incredible,” says the man. “An empty seat when Kansas is playing Missouri?”
“Well, actually the seat belongs to me,” the fan says. “I normally come with my wife, but she passed away. This is the first Jayhawk game we haven’t watched together since we got married in 1967.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. That’s very sad. But, couldn’t you find someone else, a friend or neighbor to take the seat?”
The KU fan shook his head.
“No, they’re all at the funeral.”
Bill Snead/Journal-World PhotosIn 1957 seeing Kansas University coaching legend Phog Allen in the stands watching a KU basketball game was akin to catching your old Aunt Pauline dancing in the kitchen with a broom.
You knew it was bound to happen sometime but you just weren’t ready for it.
After 39 KU basketball seasons Allen was no longer calling the shots alongside his players from his courtside seat. With mandatory retirement at age 70 came four seats in the first row of section six in his new shrine, Allen Fieldhouse, which was dedicated 47 years ago Friday.
Now he was sitting with family, fans and friends.
Sometimes, as in the 1959 photo (above, top), Phog would invite his grandson John and his son, Bob Allen, to the games. Bob, a Kansas City surgeon, had played for KU and his famous father from 1939 to 1941. A talented guard, he was twice chosen All Big-Six and played with the likes of Howard Engleman, Ralph Miller, Dick Harp and Don Ebling. They played for the NCAA title in 1940, losing to Branch McCracken’s Indiana ‘Hurryin’ Hoosiers 60-42.
These days, Bob Allen, now 82, sits in the seat once occupied by his father. An additional row of seats was added in the section so the former front-row seats are now row two.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At the recent KU-Iowa State game he was accompanied by his sons, John, 51; Rob, 56; and Mark, 49. Bob’s wife, Jean, also doesn’t miss many games in the Allen family version of musical chairs.
Some of the KU faithful are convinced that Phog’s spirit still resides in Allen Fieldhouse, inspiring the home team in time of need. With KU’s string of sold-out games and seats being a hot commodity, one can only hope that he hung on to his old wooden folding chair.
Recently, just before game time, as the story goes, a KU fan was sitting in his mid-court seat, and a man approached him and asked if anyone was sitting in the seat next to him.
“No, he says, “this seat is empty.”
“This is incredible,” says the man. “An empty seat when Kansas is playing Missouri?”
“Well, actually the seat belongs to me,” the fan says. “I normally come with my wife, but she passed away. This is the first Jayhawk game we haven’t watched together since we got married in 1967.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. That’s very sad. But, couldn’t you find someone else, a friend or neighbor to take the seat?”
The KU fan shook his head.
“No, they’re all at the funeral.”
