I have been reading the thread about Commerce Football and wanted to share some thoughts on the facilities and to say, I get it. People are frustrated with the situation but also wanted to shed some light that has not really been reported.
When it comes to "The Hawk" (or Memorial Stadium), I agree that it is frustrating to see a Championship program have to patch up things here and there. That being said, I remember when I got to campus in 2005 as a sophomore. One sided, cinder track, the inside of the stadium looked like a mental patients waiting room. Grass facility with a chain link fece and a scoreboard that has not been replaced in years. A decade later, there have been massive improvements. New surface, new video board, the addition of the 3,500 east side seats. New Track and surface (three times done over) An additional press box and so on. And now the new football facility will really add a shine to it.
That being said, I agree that we need to do something about the steps and the seating as a whole.
We need a new Press box, a new base concrete, and a lot of other cosmetic things, but What the AD McMurray has done has been great in improving the place as much as he can. Remember, we are on a budget. I remember them saying that we would be demolishing the west side and completely rebuilding it (which is what I would want to do) but the new locker room is just phase one of a 3 phase plan. When they named the Field Ernest Hawkins Field one thing the Administration said is that they were going to be adding and renovating a lot of things at the stadium. So far, that has happened.
Also, we keep being told that we are getting a new Basketball facility and the field house will be gone, but we have been told that for almost 7 years now and not even a shovel has been lifted. that being said, one thing I have noticed about Tim McMurray is that he never shows all his cards when he has something planned. He waits until the deal is done and its a sure thing before he talks. I also appreciate that he makes Lemonade out of the Lemons he has been left with because the Athletic Department was in dire straights before he and Ryan Ivey got there.
To add a note to that, if you want to blame someone for the state of some of the facilities, blame previous administrations for their total lack of attention and the acceptance of the status quo. We could (and should) have taken care of these things a LONG TIME ago but the AD's that were here and the Presidents that were with them are the complicit ones in leaving the mess we have to clean up, or putting lipstick on pigs.
That being said, I appreciate all that Tim and his administration have done, and we owe a lot to the Dearly Departed Dr. Dan Jones, who started the ball rolling on getting our facilities in the right direction.
I know I rub WT for fun, but i Saw pictures of your new stadium. You guys are a model on how to keep your school looking nice and sharp for potential recruits and students. Props to the Buffs. (Just need to learn to keep good coaches around)
Anyway, just my two pennies worth of thoughts.
When it comes to "The Hawk" (or Memorial Stadium), I agree that it is frustrating to see a Championship program have to patch up things here and there. That being said, I remember when I got to campus in 2005 as a sophomore. One sided, cinder track, the inside of the stadium looked like a mental patients waiting room. Grass facility with a chain link fece and a scoreboard that has not been replaced in years. A decade later, there have been massive improvements. New surface, new video board, the addition of the 3,500 east side seats. New Track and surface (three times done over) An additional press box and so on. And now the new football facility will really add a shine to it.
That being said, I agree that we need to do something about the steps and the seating as a whole.
We need a new Press box, a new base concrete, and a lot of other cosmetic things, but What the AD McMurray has done has been great in improving the place as much as he can. Remember, we are on a budget. I remember them saying that we would be demolishing the west side and completely rebuilding it (which is what I would want to do) but the new locker room is just phase one of a 3 phase plan. When they named the Field Ernest Hawkins Field one thing the Administration said is that they were going to be adding and renovating a lot of things at the stadium. So far, that has happened.
Also, we keep being told that we are getting a new Basketball facility and the field house will be gone, but we have been told that for almost 7 years now and not even a shovel has been lifted. that being said, one thing I have noticed about Tim McMurray is that he never shows all his cards when he has something planned. He waits until the deal is done and its a sure thing before he talks. I also appreciate that he makes Lemonade out of the Lemons he has been left with because the Athletic Department was in dire straights before he and Ryan Ivey got there.
To add a note to that, if you want to blame someone for the state of some of the facilities, blame previous administrations for their total lack of attention and the acceptance of the status quo. We could (and should) have taken care of these things a LONG TIME ago but the AD's that were here and the Presidents that were with them are the complicit ones in leaving the mess we have to clean up, or putting lipstick on pigs.
That being said, I appreciate all that Tim and his administration have done, and we owe a lot to the Dearly Departed Dr. Dan Jones, who started the ball rolling on getting our facilities in the right direction.
I know I rub WT for fun, but i Saw pictures of your new stadium. You guys are a model on how to keep your school looking nice and sharp for potential recruits and students. Props to the Buffs. (Just need to learn to keep good coaches around)
Anyway, just my two pennies worth of thoughts.
Comment