FB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[tigerFanAlso2]

thanks for the feedback. how would rank the odac facilities from top to bottom. My list would look something like this:

1) W&L
2) E&H
3) HSC
4) RMC
5) SU
6) GC
7) BC
8) CUA

[jknezek]

thanks for the feedback. how would rank the odac facilities from top to bottom. My list would look something like this:

1) W&L
2) E&H
3) HSC
4) RMC
5) SU
6) GC
7) BC
8) CUA

It's funny because when I got to W&L in the late 90s we were so far behind. But the school has dumped a fortune into facilities, and when the new natatorium (swimming facility) opens it only gets better. Scaling down Wilson Field and giving it a facelift was a massive improvement. As was the new weight room in the student center, as the old one in the gym was embarrassing. The locker rooms under Wilson were completed right before I arrived and that was the start of fixing some really outdated issues. Adding the new housing behind Wilson should improve the game day atmosphere as it brings the field into campus as opposed to being out of the way. But by and large, I think W&L has done what needed to be done and more. It just cost a small fortune. Now if we will just finally get around to adding softball, and either get some improvements done at Lexington Country Club or build our own course, and add a small field house for the soccer facilities so teams have somewhere to go at halftime, we'd have it all!

[tigerFanAlso2]

Jk

I was referring only to football related facilities but I enjoyed your narrative. I think W&L can afford to spend the $$$$, so what's the holdup. Every college should have its own golf course !!!!

[jknezek]

Jk

I was referring only to football related facilities but I enjoyed your narrative. I think W&L can afford to spend the $$$$, so what's the holdup. Every college should have its own golf course !!!!

Yeah. Somehow I don't think that one is happening. Land for a softball field was laid out in the last master plan, though not funded or planned, so I think that is a matter of some time only. But I think quirky Lexington Country Club is going to remain our home golf course for a while, even as we've now moved on to both men's and women's teams. Kind of a shame, since we generally are very good in men's golf, and every few years, like this year, we are superb, but I bet we could be consistently superb for both men's and women's if we had a less quirky home course. Oh well. Golf isn't really played home/away so much as it is various scattered large tournaments. I can't imagine it would be worth the construction and, especially, maintenance money.

I haven't been around the ODAC in many years, so I can't really compare facilities. But my trip to E&H last year showed some good ones. Given you E&H and W&L at the top, I guess I can infer the rest. Though I do love H-SC without the track. Such a more intimate game day experience.

[hasanova]

I will be the first to say Guilford was awful until about 10 years ago ... field's natural turf and field location were good, but seating, press box, lockers and concessions not so much.

Our current press box, home field seating and visitor seating are light years ahead of where they were, but still not in the realm of W&L, HSC and others.  Players must walk beside the baseball field to lockers in old Alumni Gym ... could be better.  The stadium exterior has gotten a facelift, there are lights and a turf field.  There is a fan zone at concessions with TVs and so forth ... better, but not where I'd like to see it.   It is, however, despite the shortcomings, a good game day experience.

I heard discussions of a fieldhouse on the north end (between football and baseball), that would provide ticket sales, lockers, concessions and an upper tier for viewing parties similar to that at Wake Forest (if any of you have ever been there).    It would be a shared facility with all the sports in the area (M & W soccer, M & W lacrosse, football and baseball). 

All we need is money.  lol

[hasanova]

thanks for the feedback. how would rank the odac facilities from top to bottom. My list would look something like this:

1) W&L
2) E&H
3) HSC
4) RMC
5) SU
6) GC
7) BC
8) CUA

I've been to all eight ... probably pretty close to my assessment.

[tigerFanAlso2]

Hasa

Only two things about the GC experience that needs improving:

1) fans need to stop trash talking players when they walk from the locker to the field
2) can't smoke a cigar

Other than that, I enjoy the GC experience. Work on those two items for me !!!!

[hasanova]

Hasa

Only two things about the GC experience that needs improving:

1) fans need to stop trash talking players when they walk from the locker to the field
2) can't smoke a cigar

Other than that, I enjoy the GC experience. Work on those two items for me !!!!

1.  If the trash talking happens, it shouldn't.  As a Guilford alumnus, former athlete and leader in the athletic booster club, the Quaker Club, I offer my apology.  It's a 200 yard walk from the door at Alumni Gym to the stadium entry ... and right beside a parking lot with tailgaters and through the entry plaza, so lots of opportunities for that to happen.  I can tell you that the majority of Guilford fans are respectful and would not trash talk, but I am not saying we are immune from overzealous fans.  I can also tell you that sort of activity runs counter to Quaker beliefs and would not be condoned by the administration ... but it can be difficult to completely eradicate at Guilford, and for that matter, almost anywhere.

2.  Sorry.  The no tobacco rule is very unlikely to change. 

[tigerFanAlso2]

Hasa

No apologies needed but thanks.

[hscathletics]

Can't have tobacco within a certain number of feet of the field per NCAA rules, so good luck with that.

[tigerFanAlso2]

what the hell is this world coming to ??

[jknezek]

what the hell is this world coming to ??

A world where we try not to poison those around us inadvertently? 

[hasanova]

Just returned from a business trip through eastern Ohio as I also did in March.  Out of pure curiosity and proximity, I stopped by to look at Hiram College in March and both Mount Union and Marietta yesterday.  Nice looking schools and football facilities.  Couldn't help but notice the Dom Capers press box at UMU.  Dom, as many of you know, was the first head coach of the expansion Carolina Panthers back in the 1990s.

I sure hope it's nicer than the Phil Simms Weight room at Morehead State!  This picture does not do justice to how ugly it is. http://image2.stadiumjourney.com/images/stadiums/1768_Phil_Simms_Weight_Training_Center.jpg

It's utilitarian for sure ... no frills here. 

[tigerFanAlso2]

would never smoke a cigar around others, always seek away to an area where NO ONE ELSE is. I have those spots at HSC, obviously will not find one at GC. I have several such spots at W&L, in the woods between the creek and the field. Can see the game and security guards approve. GC and RMC are the only two that are difficult, but what the hell. Once my kids are done, I will not be traveling to the away games anyway.

[jknezek]

would never smoke a cigar around others, always seek away to an area where NO ONE ELSE is. I have those spots at HSC, obviously will not find one at GC. I have several such spots at W&L, in the woods between the creek and the field. Can see the game and security guards approve. GC and RMC are the only two that are difficult, but what the hell. Once my kids are done, I will not be traveling to the away games anyway.

It's been a while since I had a cigar but I used to enjoy them as well, so I'm just giving some gentle ribbing. A buddy and I used to go up on the roof of my 5th floor walk up apartment in NYC when I lived there 10+ years ago and smoke cigars and watch the city lights. Good times. I don't think I've had one in years now though.