Ross Sports Center at full capacity on its opening night, December 1, 1973.

11.  1964-65: The Saint Michael’s men’s basketball team, led by captain Rich Tarrant '65, makes it to the Final Four before losing in the national semifinals.
12.  May 19, 1968: George "Doc" Jacobs, the College's athletic director and successful coach for 21 years, dies of a heart attack in his on-campus home. Then-President Rev. Gerald Dupont SSE appointed Ed Markey ’51 as his successor.
13. 1973:  Title IX legislation is enacted, guaranteeing equal athletic opportunity for men and women. 
Also, the NCAA votes to re-align as a three division organization.  Saint Michael’s officially becomes a Division II school at that time.
14.  July 19, 1973 – The Vincent C. Ross Sports Center is dedicated, a state-of-the-art facility that brought many firsts to the college’s campus, including a swimming pool.  Vincent C. Ross donated the entire $2.5 million to construct the 66,000 square foot facility – the first private donation of $1 million or more in the College’s history.
15.  December 1, 1973 – The Ross Sports Center hosts its first varsity basketball game, when 3,500 fans cram in to watch the Purple Knights lose to Niagara University.
16.  1973-74 – Women’s basketball becomes the first women’s varsity sport, going 2-6 under head coach Sally Watts.
17.  July 1, 1987 – Saint Michael's becomes a member of the Northeast-10 Conference.  It is the first time in the College’s history that it holds membership in a multi-sport league that represents both genders.  Prior to this date, all women’s sports at the College (and all male outside of basketball and ice hockey) operated with independent status, allowing for no championship or NCAA tournament opportunities.
18. October 16, 1987:  Saint Michael's Athletic Hall Of Fame holds its first induction ceremony. Kathleen O'Neil '81 is the first women inducted to the College's Athletic Hall of Fame.
19. November 5, 1988:  The women's field hockey team wins the ECAC Division III Championship, the first championship for a female sport at the College.
20. October 15, 1994: The Kathleen C. and Jeremiah J. Tarrant Student Recreation Center is dedicated.  Made possible by a generous leadership gift from Rich Tarrant ’65 (and named in honor of his parents), the 67,000 square foot Tarrant Center makes a huge and immediate impact on the entire student population.

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Memorable Moments  -  Interviews  -  A Look at the Beginning  -  Record Holders  -  Images