Should the Stagg Bowl find a better site or stay in Salem, Va.

Pat Coleman · August 24, 2011, 11:23:23 PM

I do think the location will be a problem, similar to with Coppell a few years back.

seventiesraider · August 25, 2011, 04:10:09 AM

Fawcett Stadium next to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. 25 miles from Alliance. Would have saved NCAA a ton of money in travel costs and lodging over the past 20 years.

BoBo · August 25, 2011, 11:53:18 PM

Quote from: seventiesraider on August 25, 2011, 04:10:09 AM
Fawcett Stadium next to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. 25 miles from Alliance. Would have saved NCAA a ton of money in travel costs and lodging over the past 20 years.

... but may have cost the NCAA a ton more in snow removal related expenditures, too.

hazzben · August 27, 2011, 10:06:25 AM

Quote from: BoBo on August 25, 2011, 11:53:18 PM
Quote from: seventiesraider on August 25, 2011, 04:10:09 AM
Fawcett Stadium next to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. 25 miles from Alliance. Would have saved NCAA a ton of money in travel costs and lodging over the past 20 years.

... but may have cost the NCAA a ton more in snow removal related expenditures, too.

Exactly. The occasionally snowy Stagg Bowl is a fun and dramatic addition to the National Title game.

Moving it to Fawcett essentially guarantees that we should change the name to "Snow Bowl" and expect that every year ice, cold and/or snow will be on central display. I love when inclement weather throws football games a curveball, but I'm not convinced bad weather or serious cold should be made one of the yearly ingredients for the Stagg.

Toby Taff · August 29, 2011, 10:04:31 AM

Personally I'm in favor of keeping it where it is,but for discussions sake, where is the geographic center of the d3 world using the states along I-35 as the western edge of the area. (I realize d3 goes all the way to CA, but there aren't many teams west of the line between Texas and Minnesota)

wally_wabash · August 29, 2011, 10:31:50 AM

Quote from: Toby Taff on August 29, 2011, 10:04:31 AM
Personally I'm in favor of keeping it where it is,but for discussions sake, where is the geographic center of the d3 world using the states along I-35 as the western edge of the area. (I realize d3 goes all the way to CA, but there aren't many teams west of the line between Texas and Minnesota)

Interestingly, if you look at the D3 map linked in the forum of the same name, it looks like the center of the D3 universe in the area you've outlined is...Centre. If you want to account for the density of schools further north, then the center probably shifts north a little further up into south central Ohio somewhere. But I'm with you regarding keeping it where it is. If it isn't broke...

hickory_cornhusker · August 29, 2011, 12:19:26 PM

I agree with keeping the Stagg Bowl in Salem as long as they are willing to put on a first class experience.

As for the center of D3. Accounting for the higher number of schools to the North and East I would agree with Ohio. Biggest city would probably be Columbus for the geographical center

K-Mack · September 27, 2011, 09:54:33 PM

Pat has often suggested that Columbus, Ohio is the geographic center of D-III, in the sense that living there would put a person in driving distance of 65% of the division and a short flight of 90% of it (made-up percentages mine).

Re: moving the Stagg Bowl to Texas or Ohio, each one of those addresses one of the key concerns (weather or distance) but not the other. Salem isn't perfect in the weather regard, and Ohio would probably draw bigger crowds, but perhaps to a less-enjoyable experience. I think further back on this thread Fawcett is discussed, and it's just too big for D-III. Even Mount Union home games don't draw 10,000 and Fawcett seats 22,364.

I'd be fine with it going to Canton if the city could match Salem's effort though.

Teamski · October 10, 2011, 06:06:49 PM

Quote from: K-Mack on September 27, 2011, 09:54:33 PM
Pat has often suggested that Columbus, Ohio is the geographic center of D-III, in the sense that living there would put a person in driving distance of 65% of the division and a short flight of 90% of it (made-up percentages mine).

Re: moving the Stagg Bowl to Texas or Ohio, each one of those addresses one of the key concerns (weather or distance) but not the other. Salem isn't perfect in the weather regard, and Ohio would probably draw bigger crowds, but perhaps to a less-enjoyable experience. I think further back on this thread Fawcett is discussed, and it's just too big for D-III. Even Mount Union home games don't draw 10,000 and Fawcett seats 22,364.

I'd be fine with it going to Canton if the city could match Salem's effort though.

....And Canton would essentially be a home game for Mount Union.

-Ski

K-Mack · October 13, 2011, 03:34:33 PM

I think that's the point, in the "let's get a big crowd there" crowd. Plus the Pro HOF is there so it's a two-for-one trip for a lot of people.

But yeah, Mount Union barely has to leave Ohio as it is.

Bill McCabe · October 23, 2011, 11:09:24 AM

Was there talk at one time about Frisco, Texas being the site for the game?

Pat Coleman · October 23, 2011, 11:47:49 PM

I don't think so. Coppell was the site that reportedly made a bid. Frisco is about to host the FCS title game for the second time.

skunks_sidekick · October 25, 2011, 09:14:10 AM

I am seeking everyone's honest opinion. Would the NCAA seriously consider a move north to Canton if they put in a winning/competitive bid? Or...would the "weather factor" be the final trump card?

Having connections with the folks that put on most of the sporting events happening in the Stark County area, I can say they would definitely want the game, and would put together a very attractive bid if it there was a realistic chance for them to get the game. Especially with the area temporarily losing the OHSAA football championships in a few years.

Thoughts?

K-Mack · October 25, 2011, 01:42:47 PM

S_S,
Not sure how much of this thread you read, but there's some pretty detailed discussion on Canton in here.

IMO Canton probably has as good a chance as any city besides Salem of getting it, as it's got a facility, the support staff (I assume since it puts on other events), and a D-III-friendly location somewhat.

I don't know if I would put anybody as the odds-on favorite to take it from Salem, but if Canton was strong enough in the other areas, I think it's worth a try. I don't think weather would have it thrown out summarily -- especially when one can reference the Snow Bowl of two years ago in Salem as proof that weather there in December -- really any D-III-heavy territory -- is always going to be dicey. Some places more than others of course, but anywhere in driving distance for the majority of D-III is going to be a cold-weather possibility.

PurpleSuit · October 25, 2011, 03:54:53 PM

As a resident of Canton, I can only really think of one or two recent Stagg Bowls were the weather was dramatically nicer in Salem than back in Canton. I can also think of a few in which the weather was much worse in Salem. I think the weather component is a little over-blown. Canton is south of the Lake Erie snow belt so mid-December is not typically the worst part of the season.

As for Fawcett Stadium, it is indeed larger than Salem Stadium. But Fawcett also has endzone seating that SS does not have. If you were to tarp those with various NCAA/Stagg Bowl/Sponsors logos it would bring the capacity down quite a bit. Combine that with the shorter drive for most of D3 and the HOF, and I would think you would see some "big" crowds. Fawcett would also eliminate having that janky video board that ESPN uses in Salem.

Might have to start pushing the idea on some of the Mount grads that work for the city