FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[sac]

Am I the only one who likes that field?

I like it better than the single color fields, but I don't really 'like', like it.

[sac]

Some potentially great news for Hope football today, unfortunately its in a pay article from the Holland Sentinel (or the print version).

Here's the teaser version.......
http://www.hollandsentinel.com/newsnow/x1639218422/Holland-Hope-HPS-look-to-form-nonprofit-to-run-Municipal-Stadium



Looks like a movement is a foot to provide a means to improve Holland Municipal Stadium, which would more than likely result in an artificial field.

[Raider 68]

Some potentially great news for Hope football today, unfortunately its in a pay article from the Holland Sentinel (or the print version).

Here's the teaser version.......
http://www.hollandsentinel.com/newsnow/x1639218422/Holland-Hope-HPS-look-to-form-nonprofit-to-run-Municipal-Stadium



Looks like a movement is a foot to provide a means to improve Holland Municipal Stadium, which would more than likely result in an artificial field.

A big step in the right direction! This should really please Formerd3db as well!

[ThunderHead]

I'm personally glad the all blue field idea got killed at Trine.

Football doesn't need gimmicks like that to sell the sport or make it "interesting". IMO the wow factor wears off very quickly and you're left with an "oh you mean the team that copied Boise State..."

Go Trine!!!

[formerd3db]

That is great news, guys.  I have not talked with our coaching staff for quite some time, however, plan to do so in the near future, well before August camp starts.  As we have all discussed, that stadium needs to get artificial turf - there is no question about that and the appropriateness of it whatsoever.  Yet, unfortunately, the challenge again is that the City of Holland apparently does not want to relinquish control/ownership of the stadium.  IMO, that is not the best scenario for Hope, however, not sure if that will change.  It really would be stupid/ridiculous to have three stadiums within a few hundred yards of each other i.e. the soccer/lacrosse stadium, the current football stadium and any new football stadium that Hope would build on its current football practice field if they were even ever to consider that. 

Obviously, if the City of Holland is going to continue ownership (for Holland High School and other groups as well as Hope), I guess the next best option is this one that they are considering in which at least the artificial turf is installed.  Nearby Zeeland High Schools now have better football stadium facilities than Hope and Holland High School.  We'll see what happens. If they are only talking about installing synthetic turf, then this is feasible more immediately, similar to what Albion is doing right now.

[BOYA87]

its already sad that field turf takes away the sloppy rough mud bowls of November!  Now we want to make the field look all bright and pretty with fancy colors?!  it looks cool, but in terms of a football field, its rediculous!  Paint your bedroom school colors, not your football field!  KEEP IT GREEN!

I know this is fun to watch, but don't tell me these kinds of games are any fun to play


http://www.hope.edu/pr/athletics/img/09dFBPurple2.jpg

Thats football baby!!!  Those games are SOO fun to play in (as long as its not every week).  And this is coming from a former receiver!

[BOYA87]

also, great positive news for the city of Holland and Hope College!

question, do they have a practice field on campus that they utilize and only use the city field for games?  Could be a small detriment to practice all week on grass field and then play home games on turf.

[Raider 68]

That is great news, guys.  I have not talked with our coaching staff for quite some time, however, plan to do so in the near future, well before August camp starts.  As we have all discussed, that stadium needs to get artificial turf - there is no question about that and the appropriateness of it whatsoever.  Yet, unfortunately, the challenge again is that the City of Holland apparently does not want to relinquish control/ownership of the stadium.  IMO, that is not the best scenario for Hope, however, not sure if that will change.  It really would be stupid/ridiculous to have three stadiums within a few hundred yards of each other i.e. the soccer/lacrosse stadium, the current football stadium and any new football stadium that Hope would build on its current football practice field if they were even ever to consider that. 

Obviously, if the City of Holland is going to continue ownership (for Holland High School and other groups as well as Hope), I guess the next best option is this one that they are considering in which at least the artificial turf is installed.  Nearby Zeeland High Schools now have better football stadium facilities than Hope and Holland High School.  We'll see what happens. If they are only talking about installing synthetic turf, then this is feasible more immediately, similar to what Albion is doing right now.

formerd3db,

While consideration of installing turf is a great step, so many other factions are at play that do affect Hope.
It will be unlikely that Hope can have its colors on the field, but I hope I am wrong on this. We all have to see how it plays out!

[DBQ1965]

Re: Hope College football and Holland Stadium, this article was in today's Grand Rapids Press:

http://www.mlive.com/smallcolleges/grandrapids/index.ssf/2011/06/hope_college_city_and_holland.html

Interestingly enough, Grand Valley State also announced expansion plans for Lubber's Field, the Lakers football stadium.

http://www.mlive.com/lakers/index.ssf/2011/06/expansion_renovations_begin_at.html

[ThunderHead]

As much as I'd like to see an all Hope field, I don't think it's fair to Holland High school to go that route.

If Hope wants a stadium that's theirs, per say, they need to find the capital to do that. Otherwise, I don't think playing on a "neutral turf field" is better then playing on the current turf...anything is an improvement, and it will be great to see Hope get it.

Go Trine!!!

[sflzman]

its already sad that field turf takes away the sloppy rough mud bowls of November!  Now we want to make the field look all bright and pretty with fancy colors?!  it looks cool, but in terms of a football field, its rediculous!  Paint your bedroom school colors, not your football field!  KEEP IT GREEN!

I know this is fun to watch, but don't tell me these kinds of games are any fun to play


http://www.hope.edu/pr/athletics/img/09dFBPurple2.jpg

Thats football baby!!!  Those games are SOO fun to play in (as long as its not every week).  And this is coming from a former receiver!

I just never could get why those games were any fun - maybe it's just me being from the PacNW where every field we played at was turf....

[sflzman]

As much as I'd like to see an all Hope field, I don't think it's fair to Holland High school to go that route.

If Hope wants a stadium that's theirs, per say, they need to find the capital to do that. Otherwise, I don't think playing on a "neutral turf field" is better then playing on the current turf...anything is an improvement, and it will be great to see Hope get it.

Go Trine!!!

A Blue and orange field? 

[ThunderHead]

What I mean is a field with "Hope" in the end zones, or maybe their logo center field.

On a grass surface this can be painted on and changed depending on the use of the venue, but obviously with turf, the design is more "permanent".

Go Trine!!!

[formerd3db]

I have several comments in response to all of your recent ones, if I may.

ThunderHead:  The issue for Hope is not being able to have the "capital" to do this.  Believe me, that is not a problem whatsoever - they have it and/or can raise it quite easily, however, the "problem" is do they want to.  There are enough deep pockets of alumni to get this done and quite frankly, I don't see why they just don't do it, other than the fact that the city stadium is right "smack dab" in the middle of Hope's great athletic facilities.  Also, since Hope has traditionally/historically had such a great relationship with the City of Holland, I think that is a major hurdle as they don't want to jepordize that.

As far as being fair to Holland High School, I see that as not really a problem.  If Hope bought the stadium, I'm sure they would work out some sort of fair arrangement with them for use of the field.  Admittedly, Hope was seen by Holland Christian High School as overcharging them for use of DeVos, which is one of the reasons why that h.s. left and raised their own $ to build their new very nice basketball venue on their own school property.  However, that i.e. DeVos is a "different animal".  IMO, Hope should buy the stadium and make a very fair deal with both the City and the h.s. for compensation, for example, the concessions revenue.  We'll just have to see what happens.

sac, sflzman, BOY and DBQ:  I understand your view points on the "excitement" of some of those games on that field.  However, in all seriousness and reality, that turf was/is very, very dangerous and caused many injuries when it got/gets in that condition.  Believe me, I know from personal playing experience there and now being "on the other side of the coin" i.e. sidelines.  As such, as I have said all along, IMO, it is a necessity that they go to the new style synthetic turf.

In addition, it was mentioned about practice fields.  Yes, Hope's practice fields are right next to the football stadium and in between the baseball, football, softball and soccer/lacrosse stadiums.  The football practice fields are very large, however, are in very poor condition and have the same problem as with the stadium turf.  Those would be ideal and easily carpeted also with the new style turf, just as many other universities and colleges have done for their practice fields.  The problem of current status is that Hope and the City are concerned about the extra cost if this is done and then having to bring all that equipment back to do the stadium if they decided to do that.  It is extremely more costly to do it in two steps as opposed to installing all the turf at both sites at one time.  So yes, in that aspect, if Hope installed the new style turf for practice fields, but then played their games on the natural grass in the stadium, that would not be a good situation at all.

I'll have to read the article on Grand Valley's plans for upgrading Lubber's Stadium.  Not sure why they want to do that unless they are going to put in the new style turf - that stadium is great already.  Ah, but I do recall when it was "just a field" with a hill for future stadium seating - but...that was back in the day when we (Hope) would beat them even in scrimmages (and our J.V. teams).  However, you all know that would never happen today (unless Hope got to the level of Mount Union and UWW for one year! ).

I am anxious to see the status of Albion's new field installation.  Is there an outside "cam" continuously showing the construction progress like Trine, Adrian and some of the other schools did when they were constructing their stadiums? 

[formerd3db]

On a sad note, I just saw on the front page here that former Kalamazoo College Head Coach Terrance Brooks passed away two days ago on Monday June 13th.  What a shame, he was way too young.  I did not realize that he had gone to Sacramento State after a couple of years at the other school after he left Kazoo in 2007.  He was kind of a "nomad" assistant coach in that respect, although I understand he rejoined his former teammate who was the head man out there at Sacramento as mentioned in the article and that is totally understandable.

Anyway, I will keep his family in thought and prayer.  Very sad.  Monday was a sad day all around in that respect, as we had to put our beloved cat down due to lingering, progressing illness.  But, of course, that does not compare in any way to losing a good man like Brooks.  Nonetheless, I hate either situation.