MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[KnightSlappy]

My only negative about possibly adding football: having to get used to the football board.

I would have to guess that the new track, soccer field, and football field would be east of the Beltline.

Yeah, the simplest "on campus" space that Calvin has where they could put three separate facilities is where the cross country course currently resides (in the Gainey area). Football would attract a good crowd there, but I would be afraid that it would kill the soccer crowd.

They could also possibly rework the area between (and around) the current soccer/track facility and the baseball field, but that would compound construction issues.

[realist]

How often do Hope, and the other football schools find that a home football game competes with other fall sports for fans? 

[oldknight]

Calvin's football task force has made an official website with more information on football at Calvin:

http://www.calvin.edu/football/

Interesting.  I really wish that the link worked under question 20 of the FAQ to see the proposed layout. I would have to guess that the new track, soccer field, and football field would be east of the Beltline.

That's what I assumed too, but I had a recent conversation with a Calvin person who told me what is being contemplated is a complete redo at the site of the current soccer/track facility that would incorporate turf fields. It seems that adjacent soccer and football stadiums would be built. The final plan obviously depends on whether football is added. This question is addressed at FAQ 20 to the football link on the Calvin website.

http://www.calvin.edu/football/faq.html#20.costs

I'm also told the next issue of Spark, the Calvin alumni periodical will have a discussion of football.

[bballfan13]

Calvin's football task force has made an official website with more information on football at Calvin:

http://www.calvin.edu/football/

Interesting.  I really wish that the link worked under question 20 of the FAQ to see the proposed layout.  I would have to guess that the new track, soccer field, and football field would be east of the Beltline.

I brought it to their attention that the link is not working and they said they are going to fix it so hopefully it will be up soon. 

As for the stadium locations, from what I have heard is that soccer, football, and the track will all stay on the main campus side of the Beltline, with the possibility of baseball moving across to where the cross country track is.  The new track would be down where the baseball field is currently and the football and soccer stadiums would be located where the track is currently.  That is what I have heard but we will see when the link gets fixed.

[Pat Coleman]

How often do Hope, and the other football schools find that a home football game competes with other fall sports for fans?

There should really never be another home event at the same time as a football game because the football game is going to command pretty much all of your department personnel, especially in sports information. I don't know if that's quite the question you were asking, but hopefully that helps.

[calvin_grad]

Calvin's football task force has made an official website with more information on football at Calvin:

http://www.calvin.edu/football/

Interesting.  I really wish that the link worked under question 20 of the FAQ to see the proposed layout.  I would have to guess that the new track, soccer field, and football field would be east of the Beltline.

I brought it to their attention that the link is not working and they said they are going to fix it so hopefully it will be up soon. 

As for the stadium locations, from what I have heard is that soccer, football, and the track will all stay on the main campus side of the Beltline, with the possibility of baseball moving across to where the cross country track is.  The new track would be down where the baseball field is currently and the football and soccer stadiums would be located where the track is currently.  That is what I have heard but we will see when the link gets fixed.

Link is fixed and you were right.  That's the arrangement.  I noticed the proposed football field has seating for 3000.  That doesn't seem like enough.  I saw that Holland Municipal Stadium seats about 5300.  What about other venues in the MIAA?

[sac]

How often do Hope, and the other football schools find that a home football game competes with other fall sports for fans?

Not very often at Hope, but sometimes its unavoidable.

Hope football games all start at 1pm with the exception of Kzoo at 7pm and Albion for homecoming, the women's soccer games on Saturday's start at noon.  All of the men's soccer games are slated for late afternoon or evening starts due to having lights.  I don't know about other schools. 


Hope's home football weekends.
Sept 10
Football:  Wisc-Lutheran at Hope

Sept 17
Football:  Millikin at Hope 1pm
M Soccer:  Wheaton at Hope 7pm

Oct 8 
Football:  Kzoo at Hope 7pm
M Soccer:  Albion at Hope 5pm
W Soccer:  Kzoo at Hope noon
Volleyball:  Trine at Hope 1pm


Oct 15--Homecoming weekend
Football:  Albion at Hope 2pm
M Soccer: Calvin at Hope 7pm
Volleyball:  Host Midwest Inv.  Tba

Nov 5
Football: Adrian at Hope
M Soccer:  MIAA Tournament  Tba
W Soccer:  MIAA Tournament Tba
Volleyball:  MIAA Tournament Tba


I didn't include golf or cross-country.

[Happy Calvin Guy]

Calvin's football task force has made an official website with more information on football at Calvin:

http://www.calvin.edu/football/

Interesting.  I really wish that the link worked under question 20 of the FAQ to see the proposed layout.  I would have to guess that the new track, soccer field, and football field would be east of the Beltline.

I brought it to their attention that the link is not working and they said they are going to fix it so hopefully it will be up soon. 

As for the stadium locations, from what I have heard is that soccer, football, and the track will all stay on the main campus side of the Beltline, with the possibility of baseball moving across to where the cross country track is.  The new track would be down where the baseball field is currently and the football and soccer stadiums would be located where the track is currently.  That is what I have heard but we will see when the link gets fixed.

Link is fixed and you were right.  That's the arrangement.  I noticed the proposed football field has seating for 3000.  That doesn't seem like enough.  I saw that Holland Municipal Stadium seats about 5300.  What about other venues in the MIAA?

Will they allow tailgating on Morningside Dr? 

[Knight2Day]

Calvin's football task force has made an official website with more information on football at Calvin:

http://www.calvin.edu/football/

Interesting.  I really wish that the link worked under question 20 of the FAQ to see the proposed layout.  I would have to guess that the new track, soccer field, and football field would be east of the Beltline.

I brought it to their attention that the link is not working and they said they are going to fix it so hopefully it will be up soon. 

As for the stadium locations, from what I have heard is that soccer, football, and the track will all stay on the main campus side of the Beltline, with the possibility of baseball moving across to where the cross country track is.  The new track would be down where the baseball field is currently and the football and soccer stadiums would be located where the track is currently.  That is what I have heard but we will see when the link gets fixed.

Link is fixed and you were right.  That's the arrangement.  I noticed the proposed football field has seating for 3000.  That doesn't seem like enough.  I saw that Holland Municipal Stadium seats about 5300.  What about other venues in the MIAA?

Will they allow tailgating on Morningside Dr?

Tailgating has been going on on Morningside for quite some time even if it hasn't been school sponsored :-D

As for the placement, from what I understand, the new soccer facility will occupy the available space next to the current soccer field (current practice field), the football stadium/track would be where the soccer field currently is and the baseball field would stay put.

[Civic Minded]

I have walked from a football game to a soccer game at Hope on days when they overlap (and one was holding my interest less than the other).  Fortunately for Hope, each sport draws well independently, so there isn't a sense of one pulling great numbers of fans from the other, and having the sites within a few yards of each other makes attending some of each game entirely possible.

[calvin_grad]

As for the placement, from what I understand, the new soccer facility will occupy the available space next to the current soccer field (current practice field), the football stadium/track would be where the soccer field currently is and the baseball field would stay put.

Knight2Day, check the link provided in the FAQ section question 20.  The track is going down where the baseball fields are and the baseball field is moving across the Beltline.  The football and soccer fields will be next to each other where the current practice field, soccer field, and grassy area are currently lcoated.

[Dark Knight]

As for the placement, from what I understand, the new soccer facility will occupy the available space next to the current soccer field (current practice field), the football stadium/track would be where the soccer field currently is and the baseball field would stay put.

Knight2Day, check the link provided in the FAQ section question 20.  The track is going down where the baseball fields are and the baseball field is moving across the Beltline.  The football and soccer fields will be next to each other where the current practice field, soccer field, and grassy area are currently lcoated.

You talk as though this is a done deal. I think it's reasonably likely that this proposal will get out of committee with a positive recommendation, but then it goes to PPC -- planning and priorities committee -- people who have real financial responsibility. They'll no doubt have to consider the cost of educating those 49 extra students, not just apply their tuition to a new stadium. If it gets through PPC it goes to the college board -- with an entirely different crew of people making decisions and an entirely different political situation. Is it still half CRC ministers and/or classis representatives?

Of course, the proposal would also have to run through the development office. If there are any major donors who are football fans, that could also make a difference. IMHO a major difference.

[calvin_grad]

As for the placement, from what I understand, the new soccer facility will occupy the available space next to the current soccer field (current practice field), the football stadium/track would be where the soccer field currently is and the baseball field would stay put.

Knight2Day, check the link provided in the FAQ section question 20.  The track is going down where the baseball fields are and the baseball field is moving across the Beltline.  The football and soccer fields will be next to each other where the current practice field, soccer field, and grassy area are currently lcoated.

You talk as though this is a done deal. I think it's reasonably likely that this proposal will get out of committee with a positive recommendation, but then it goes to PPC -- planning and priorities committee -- people who have real financial responsibility. They'll no doubt have to consider the cost of educating those 49 extra students, not just apply their tuition to a new stadium. If it gets through PPC it goes to the college board -- with an entirely different crew of people making decisions and an entirely different political situation. Is it still half CRC ministers and/or classis representatives?

Of course, the proposal would also have to run through the development office. If there are any major donors who are football fans, that could also make a difference. IMHO a major difference.

I know it's far, far from a done deal.  Just some poor choices on my part on some verb tenses.   

[realist]

Thanks for the answers on my question regarding events competing with football.  If Calvin were to add football I am sure this is just one of the many things that would have to be considered when scheduling events, and times.  I do think as one adds more sports and events the possiblitity for conflicts must increase.
From the Calvin alums., etc. that I have spoken with it seems the idea of adding football is intriquing, but many want to see a more fleshed out financial plan.  Several not keen on going into debt to build a football venue.  Major concern is many think after the inital novelty of having a football team wears off attendance is going to tail off quickly unless the W's start coming.  It would have been nice if the FAQ on recent D3 schools adding football had given us some indication how long it took the various schools to become competitive.  Since Hope is one of the football programs being used for comparison I am sure Hope's recent struggles will not go without comment.  That is not a knock on Hope.  Just if a seasoned program can struggle it must be just that much harder for a startup program to achieve parity.

[Pat Coleman]

Realist -- I would suggest you (and other Calvin fans) read D3football.com's Around the Nation this week. You have good timing:
http://www.d3football.com/columns/around-the-nation/2011/taking-the-field-just-part-of-the-battle

In addition, Keith's piece links to a story I wrote in 2005 about adding football:
http://www.d3football.com/notables/2005/adding-football-why-and-how