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

[jknezek]

I think its great Canton will submit a bid. I wish them luck. But I still say the odds are better for good weather in Salem than Canton. I used the term odds, not guarantees, for a reason. For example, the average high and low for Salem in early Dec is 52/36 degrees with average monthly percipitation in Nov/Dec between 3.4 and 2.94 inches respectively. The same numbers for Canton, OH are 45/30 and 3.28 to 2.84 inches. Given the game is now being played Friday nights (at least this year), and the average certainly points to warmer BUT ever so slightly wetter weather in Salem. All weather information pulled from weather.com.

Competition is always good and may the best bid win!

[K-Mack]

I've been to Salem every year since 1997, and my recollection is different than Skunks_sidekicks. The weather's really only been an issue that once, but it's rarely ever great. It's mostly chilly and nondescript, which is pretty fitting for about 175 of the D-III programs competing to get to the championship, and par for the course anywhere you hold it in the D-III heavy part of the country.

And you guys are right, Salem earned tremendous respect by cleaning off that field in '09.

I'll be interested to see what Canton comes up with.

FWIW, the games are awarded in 2-year packages, IIRC.

[Bob.Gregg]

I've been to Salem every year since 1997, ...The weather's really only been an issue that once, but it's rarely ever great. It's mostly chilly and nondescript...

The freezing rain and wind of '94 wasn't all that fun.
I vote for returning to Bradenton!....10 of the best days of my life!  Of course, I don't see a Stagg Bowl appearance in W&J's future anytime soon!

[HScoach]

25 degrees and nasty wind wasn't any fun in 1993 either.  Especially when we weren't smart enough to check into the weather forecast in Salem BEFORE we left Ohio.

In regards to the weather, the "average" is definitely better in Salem VA than it is in Canton OH.  But Canton doesn't have near the variability in possible weather conditions that Salem seems to have.  As we leave town on Friday mornings to make the trip to VA, it's usually 30, calm and spitting snow.  And when we get home Sat night/Sunday morning the weather is the same.  30 and snow flurries.    But the weather in Salem could be anywhere between beautiful and down right crazy.

IMHO, Canton's bid has zero chance because of Mount Union.  If they could have done it back in the mid 1990's or early, then it would have a chance.  Now I just can't see any way the NCAA places the game in Mount's backyard.  And besides, Salem does a great job.   

[section13raiderfan]

I would miss my trips to Virginia. They have been most enjoyable. However, there is nothing wrong with Canton being in the same county as UMU. They are not exactly familiar with the field. Have they ever even played there? It would be well attended and supported by the locals...even if Mount wasnt in it. There was some degree of interest among the locals when I attended The Stagg Bowl in the 90s, but that seems to have died down somewhat. There IS all that tournament experience from hosting the state championships to draw upon also. Canton is definitely accessible. Highways, hotels, airport, Pro Football Hall of Fame, nearby malls.....you could do MUCH worse. The pressbox is pro quality for broadcasting...ask ABC.  I say try it, you will like it!  Its only a 2 year contract. Travelwise, I bet it would save the NCAA money since there are more D3 schools in the north. The only bad thing is December Ohio weather. You never know what you are gonna get! Maybe Aloha Studium is available then? 

[section13raiderfan]

I don't think so. I think there's way too much work involved for this to rotate every year. If a new place were to get it, it would need a year just to figure out what needs to be done.

And let's put it this way -- if 20 inches of snow got dumped anywhere else 18 hours before a Stagg Bowl, I don't know if anywhere else could have played that day.

Pat, in Ohio some highschool teams had full legnth tarps before there were artificial surfaces. And for the really big games, helicopters were hired to hover over fields to dry them off after a full night of rain, sometimes lingering until minutes before kickoff to get the job done. You need not worry about site preperation. We shine at that. Stark County Ohio is football crazy, has been for over 100 years. We can handle the job. How about a full legnth field indoor practice facility? Stark County has one of those also. The NCAA might want to take a closer look at us. We could host the Stagg bowl on much less than a full years notice. Im sure of it. Still, Virginia in December is a lovely place!   

[skunks_sidekick]

I won't go into all the bad weather I have personally experienced attending the Stagg Bowl.  Needless to say, from my anecdotal evidence, the weather has been CRAPPY more times than not in Salem.

As HSCoach so eloquently explained, most times when heading to the Stagg from the Canton, OH area, we left cold but fairly calm conditions, to drive into a cornacopia of "weather fun".  Just to outline a few '00 experiences....

2000 - FREEZING but fairly calm weather against SJU
2001 - GREAT weather for the night game against Bridgewater
2002 - I was all excited because the weather called for sun, and warm temperatures.  The wind HOWLED out of the mountain, and neither team could throw the ball while going in that direction.
2003 - that which won't be discussed (and I wasn't there) 
2004 - did they play a game that year?   
2005 - COLD......SNOW mounds in the parking lot
2006 - decent
2007 - blowing.....rain....sleet.....rain again
2008 - decent
2009 - worst driving conditions ever experienced.  Snow storm of the century?decade? in Salem.  Very bad deal.
2010 - fairly nice (and I wasn't there)

Canton (and Stark County) are experts at dealing with any bad weather, and the volunteers & staff that would be available for the Stagg Bowl would be second to none.  As said earlier, the person/folks who will put together a bid will start working on it in January. 

[smedindy]

How about a dome, like the UNI dome? Seats 16,300. No weather to worry about.

[jknezek]

I always thought weather was part of football. I mean, it's the same for both teams on the field right?

[Pat Coleman]

How about a dome, like the UNI dome? Seats 16,300. No weather to worry about.

For kicks, about a year ago I actually got a look into what it takes to use the UNI dome. They charge some pretty high fees to use that building. Without going into specifics, I don't think it's a good fit.

[Ralph Turner]

I won't go into all the bad weather I have personally experienced attending the Stagg Bowl.  Needless to say, from my anecdotal evidence, the weather has been CRAPPY more times than not in Salem.

As HSCoach so eloquently explained, most times when heading to the Stagg from the Canton, OH area, we left cold but fairly calm conditions, to drive into a cornacopia of "weather fun".  Just to outline a few '00 experiences....

2000 - FREEZING but fairly calm weather against SJU
2001 - GREAT weather for the night game against Bridgewater
2002 - I was all excited because the weather called for sun, and warm temperatures.  The wind HOWLED out of the mountain, and neither team could throw the ball while going in that direction.
2003 - that which won't be discussed (and I wasn't there) 
2004 - did they play a game that year?    
2005 - COLD......SNOW mounds in the parking lot
2006 - decent
2007 - blowing.....rain....sleet.....rain again
2008 - decent
2009 - worst driving conditions ever experienced.  Snow storm of the century?decade? in Salem.  Very bad deal.
2010 - fairly nice (and I wasn't there)

Canton (and Stark County) are experts at dealing with any bad weather, and the volunteers & staff that would be available for the Stagg Bowl would be second to none.  As said earlier, the person/folks who will put together a bid will start working on it in January.

I remember the weather in Salem.  It was pretty nice... a whole lot nicer than the week before in Alliance in north east Ohio.

Man, the week before, it was cold and dreary and snowy.. It took a 17-point 4th quarter come-from-behind smash mouth hard nosed football effort for UMHB to win that game.  And what a TD catch by Sharp with 0:48 secs left! 

I am glad to help our posters remember the weather in Salem that year.  Anytime I can help, just let me know. 

[section13raiderfan]

Gee thanks Ralph....I almost had that play erased from memory, and you had to remember it for me.  I still get angry about that one. The least MHB coulda done was win it all after that! That game was the tale of 2 halves.

[skunks_sidekick]

Ralph,

Those poor UMHB fans!  College guys and gals (my sig other saw the gals) huddled in the bathrooms by the heaters just about frozen solid!  I will say that was one cold game, no matter where you were from, or who you were. 

Yah Ralph.......back to therapy for me!     I had successfully blocked that game out of my mind........knock the ball down...just knock....it.....DOWN!   

[smedindy]

How about a dome, like the UNI dome? Seats 16,300. No weather to worry about.

For kicks, about a year ago I actually got a look into what it takes to use the UNI dome. They charge some pretty high fees to use that building. Without going into specifics, I don't think it's a good fit.

Was just an idea - now back to your regular programming! 

[K-Mack]

I always thought weather was part of football. I mean, it's the same for both teams on the field right?

This.

Not only is it a part of football, but it's common for the 15/16ths of D-III that comes from the Northeast, mid-Atlantic and upper midwest.

* -- fractions may have been embellished to enhance point-making.