ORONO – Dick “Rooster” Collins recalls fondly the excitement of playing basketball for the University of Maine in Memorial Gymnasium, which was and still is affectionately known as “The Pit.”

Now, nearly 50 years after the proud son of a St. Agatha potato farmer graduated from UMaine, Collins wants to see that kind of atmosphere return to the aging home of Black Bear athletics.

UMaine President Robert Kennedy on Thursday announced Collins and his wife Anne have donated $1 million to jumpstart a Memorial Gymnasium renovation plan projected at $12.5 million.

“[Collins] was a star basketball player when he was a student at UMaine and he’s never lost his passion for the game,” said Kennedy, who referred to The Pit as one of the most intimidating courts in college basketball many years ago.

The athletics gift was announced in conjunction with the Collins’ $5 million donation toward an $11 million facelift to the Maine Center for the Arts, which will be renamed in honor of the Collins.

“We couldn’t think of a better way to help future generations than with the gift we are making here today,” said Dick Collins, a longtime UMaine benefactor.

Collins, who now resides in Northport, is pleased the gift for athletics is included under “Campaign Maine,” the university’s $150 million, six-year fundraising drive.

The 1959 UMaine graduate is confident the $1 million pledge will help stimulate more giving for the Memorial Gym project.

“We wanted the basketball arena to happen. We had to figure a way to get the support so by doing what we did, solving the problem with the Maine Center for the Arts, we can move ahead and renovate the Memorial Gym,” Collins said. “We’ll find the people who will support it.”

He plans to be actively involved in the fundraising for the renovations, which would include a 3,000-seat basketball arena, locker rooms and athletic department offices.

“It’s easy for me to talk to people about making major gifts,” he added.

UMaine athletic director Blake James praised the Collinses for their generosity.

“Dick and Anne are great supporters of athletics and really have a vision for what Maine athletics can be,” James said. “I think today’s commitment from Dick and Anne will really help move us to the next level.”

James hopes the $1 million will jumpstart serious fundraising for a project that has been in the discussion stages for more than two years. He couldn’t provide a timeline for completing the lofty project.

“We want to make this a reality as soon as possible,” James said. “There is a need for all of our programs to have this project completed.”

Nobody was happier about the announcement than UMaine basketball coaches Ted Woodward and Cindy Blodgett.

“It’s huge, from every angle,” Blodgett said.

“I’m incredibly excited. I know our whole program is,” added Woodward.

Since 1992, UMaine men’s and women’s basketball have played their games atop the ice at Alfond Arena. However, the teams seldom are able to practice on their game court.

“It’s great to practice in The Pit, but you want to be able to practice where you play and make it a home-court advantage,” said Blodgett, who played for the Bears from 1994 to 1998 and understands that dynamic as well as anyone.

Like Blodgett, Woodward stressed the importance of the Memorial Gym building, which serves as the hub of the entire athletic department, not only as the home for the basketball and volleyball programs.

“Really, it’s the center of everything for our student-athletes,” Woodward said. “It has been a wonderful facility for us but, at the same time, this is something that we feel can take all of our programs to the next level.”

And while Memorial Gym is a building rich in tradition, it has long since lost its luster. And facilities are an important factor in attracting the attention of prospective student-athletes.

“When anyone comes to campus, if they’re looking at athletics in general, they always want to see where men’s and women’s basketball play,” Blodgett offered.

The Collins have been longtime benefactors of UMaine athletics and Woodward made sure to point out Dick Collins’ involvement with his program.

“He played in our alumni game,” Woodward said. “On top of all the other things he’s done for the university, he’s a friend to the coaches and the student-athletes and that’s a really special relationship we have.”

While the gym project is in the headlines, the deteriorating condition of the AstroTurf of Morse Field at Alfond Stadium, the home of UMaine football, also is a pressing issue.

James said replacing that artificial surface is a priority.

“It’s a project that we’re working on addressing and we’re confident that we’ll be [making an announcement in the near future]” he said.