Italy 2001 there was maybe 3000.  Maybe.  And the goalposts at one end blew over during the 4th quarter.

Sold me!  You must have stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

I don't see Coach Eash putting in turf anytime soon.  He's very traditional...IWU didn't have lights until just a few years ago.  The IWU field has been re-sodded about every 3 years for the last 15, I think.  I'm not sure how much that cost would outweigh the cost of new turf.

Turf and sod can both be great surfaces provided adequate drainage.  I'm not sure too many d3 schools have the money to create a natural grass field that would hold up under last weekend's conditions.  Even pro fields get tore up in bad conditions...see Pittsburgh and New England.  Most of the newer artificial fields now-a-days have fantastic drainage.  Judging by those pictures, NCC's field looked to hold up just fine.  It's only a matter of time until all of the CCIW will have Fieldturf.

How does IWU look to fare this week?  I know Aurora isn't a perenially strong program, but going on the road and having to play in a brand new stadium may pose some challenges.

I can't wait for conference play to begin!  Glad to see IWU in the running after so many awful seasons...