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Ohio Football Topic
Topic: $10 MILLION GIFT TO LEAD OHIO UNIVERSITY MULTIPURPOSE CENTER
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Ted Thompson
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Posted: 12/17/2010 4:58 PM
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http://www.ohiobobcats.com/genrel/121710aaa.html

So how do I read this? What is this for? IPF?
Athens
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Posted: 12/17/2010 5:19 PM
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That 10 million announced is only part of the construcution total (maybe 50%). A basketball practice facility free standing is about 4 to 8 million for one top of the line. Another clue is that Marching 110 will have practices there and that renovations to the Convocation Center will be done at the same time. This could be a combined IPF/Basketball Practice facility and probably at least an IPF. The next question I think is whether or not the facility is gong to be built adjacent to Peden Stadium (like an earlier design) or the Convocation center. With what they are talking about building I think the best location is halfway between Peden and the Ping Center. That way you can leverage Ping Center parking.
Bobcat Love
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Posted: 12/17/2010 5:21 PM
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So much for the Bobcat LOVE Indoor Practice Facility.....

AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME gift by the Walters. That kind of generosity is beyond words. Big hats off.
Athens
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Posted: 12/17/2010 5:32 PM
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Bobcat Love wrote:expand_more
So much for the Bobcat LOVE Indoor Practice Facility.....

AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME gift by the Walters. That kind of generosity is beyond words. Big hats off.

It will be really interesting to see what is included in the design when complete. An enhanced academic performance center? Could the campus hospital be integrated into it for a sports medicine facility? It sounds like this is 100 percent going to happen in the near future with a final design I would expect by the end of the school year. I would knock out out all the campus needs with one big project myself.

Mike Coleman
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Posted: 12/17/2010 5:34 PM
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Wes wrote:expand_more

I would knock out out all the campus needs with one big project myself.



Looks like they could be headed that way.
bobcat695
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Posted: 12/17/2010 5:37 PM
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This is an awesome announcement.  The Walters are the big donor that we have hoped for.  They just gave to academics first.  I am glad there is some left over for Athletics.  Hopefully this stops some of the FCS talk.  Why would any recruit pick a MAC school other than Ohio now?
MonroeClassmate
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Posted: 12/17/2010 5:41 PM
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Terrific generosity.

Other than the fact some other universities may have a stand alone practice facility for basketball.  Why is the Convo not a perfect place to practice for the round ball teams?  They don't need to practice during graduations and it's not like the 70's where we had awesome concerts on occasion, so what is the attraction to a stand alone facility.  Was DJ considering going elsewhere because Ohio doesn't have one?  This generous gift makes sense to fund the indoor football facility  which is certainly needed if Ohio is bowling on a regular basis.  All the other mentioned uses and perhaps volleyball as well, and of course for cross training basketball players but why for basketball practice?  Isn't shooting at the rim you'll shoot at in the game the ideal home court advantage?
Last Edited: 12/17/2010 5:43:43 PM by MonroeClassmate
Athens
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Posted: 12/17/2010 6:04 PM
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MonroeClassmate wrote:expand_more
Other than the fact some other universities may have a stand alone practice facility for basketball.  Why is the Convo not a perfect place to practice for the round ball teams? 


The basketball practice facility has many uses. It provides meeting and video rooms to the basketball program. Multiple courts for a variety of drills and scrimages. Most importantly by having it you create seperation from those schools who don't in Divisiion 1 basketball. I wonder if the renovations to the Convo will incorporate a basketball practice facility. You could pull the dorms out of there to free up some nice practice space.

 www.golobos.com/view.gal
Last Edited: 12/17/2010 6:22:24 PM by Athens
Jeff McKinney
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Posted: 12/17/2010 6:17 PM
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FIRST...before we start trying to draw up architectural plans...LET'S PRAISE THE WALTERS FOR THEIR EXCELLENT GIFT!  This is what has been needed to really boost our athletic dept. due to the tight budgets...

Second...reference some of tdcz's posts to see why an additional practice gym would be very helpful to both basketball programs.  There are more scheduling conflicts than you are recognizing, MonroesClassmate! 
randy
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Posted: 12/17/2010 7:03 PM
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Thank you to the Walters.!...  This is  a blessing to Ohio University athletics that has never seen before.... Again.  Hopefully this will not only accomodate student athletes representing OHIO, allumnus of OHIO and future BOBCATS. This will rebuild to great representation of the university itself.    There are many proud BOBCATS !  ....... As soon as we continue winning, there will be more of us... OHIO                
Last Edited: 12/17/2010 7:06:13 PM by randy
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Posted: 12/17/2010 7:29 PM
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Jeff McKinney wrote:expand_more
FIRST...before we start trying to draw up architectural plans...LET'S PRAISE THE WALTERS FOR THEIR EXCELLENT GIFT!  This is what has been needed to really boost our athletic dept. due to the tight budgets...

Second...reference some of tdcz's posts to see why an additional practice gym would be very helpful to both basketball programs.  There are more scheduling conflicts than you are recognizing, MonroesClassmate! 
randy
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Posted: 12/17/2010 7:43 PM
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Hopefully this is for you only Jeff..   Otherwise ...  There was an addministration lately representing OUR university Jeff..  Why didnt OUr last president know how to realize that if one extended ....the closest wing of THE PING  CENTER only twice as much twards Peden,,  I remain anymous.... I trust you keep it that way?....  WE. OU could have indoor practice facility for baseball , football, etc.  Bad move.....We are only one of the teams in the MAC to not have one... One wonders why it it is difficult to get a ten mill. donation for OUr athletetes.. I have been around for 41 years... we keep thinking that we are getting better .....hit me back please
ozarkcat
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Posted: 12/17/2010 7:57 PM
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as mentioned on here in the past It may be far more economical to attach arena to Peden in such a way the basic  structure could be used in adding seats (deck) to the stadium in the future such as was done at Eastern Ky.  More bang for the buck and stadium could be enlarged to 30 t0 32,000  or more down the line.  This is a great gift for all sports teams and will help in recruiting.  also, some nonsports campus events can be moved indoors in bad weather without worrying about ruining  surfaces, walls, etc.
randy
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Posted: 12/17/2010 8:07 PM
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I thank you for your response .. but what you dont understand is that im not talking about an addition to Peden.. Have you ever stepped into the Ping center?  I have over 38 years working for O.U. ...   I know what happened and what could have happened to the Ping center.. I am only offering what could have happened .. I am talking about taking the west wing  and made it a bit more.  I choose not to argue with you .. I will show you the drawings  $$$$$$ ?
Mark Lembright '85
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Posted: 12/17/2010 8:14 PM
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randy wrote:expand_more
[QUOTE=Jeff McKinney]FIRST...before we start trying to draw up architectural plans...LET'S PRAISE THE WALTERS FOR THEIR EXCELLENT GIFT!  This is what has been needed to really boost our athletic dept. due to the tight budgets...]


Could not agree more!!  This is great news and could not have come at a better time.  Given this news, no way should we consider dropping down to FCS.  Thank you Mr. & Mrs. Walters!  I don't know what the heck Randy's talking about-I haven't consumed enough Great Lakes Christmas Ales tonight to understand what that guy's trying to say.

Meant to quote Jeff, not Randy.  Maybe I HAVE had enough X-Mas Ales......
Last Edited: 12/17/2010 8:18:11 PM by Mark Lembright '85
The Situation
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Posted: 12/17/2010 8:35 PM
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This news is bigger than a bowl win in New Orleans could ever hope to be.. Thankyou Mr. and Mrs. Walter; this is the break we needed. With an IPF bugeted and the full support of our president, recruiting and success in all outdoor sports will reach new levels we have not seen yet. Is the Walter family eligible for the Ohio athletic hall of fame? They are legends.
Ohio69
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Posted: 12/17/2010 9:11 PM
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HUGE !!!!   HUGE.  HUGE.  

The Walters are just incredibly nice people to boot.  They are the real deal.

My guess is this is built right on top of the current football practice fields.  I just hope its is brick and they figure out how to get a roof on there that fits that campus somehow.

Did I say this was HUGE !!!



cc-cat
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Posted: 12/17/2010 9:27 PM
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Okay.  Let's get to the important stuff.  Robert And Margaret Walter – we need a cool name for the facility and need to honor them.  Thoughts? Robert And Margaret Walker Practice Facility.  Maggie’s Place.  The Mag.




Walter - sorry, I was so excited by the news...

Last Edited: 12/17/2010 10:28:22 PM by cc-cat
bigbobcat
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Posted: 12/17/2010 9:52 PM
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AWESOME!! THANK YOU WALTER FAMILY!!

This is yet another step towards continually building OUr entire athletic program. This project will benefit so many people. Can not thank them enough.


cc cat wrote:expand_more

Okay.  Let's get to the important stuff.  Robert And Margaret Walker – we need a cool name for the facility and need to honor them.  Thoughts? Robert And Margaret Walker Practice Facility.  Maggie’s Place.  The Mag.




First their name is WALTER. Second, since she goes by Peggy, maybe Peggy's Place is more appropriate than Maggie's Place. They are giving $10 million the least we can do is get their name right.
Last Edited: 12/17/2010 9:53:59 PM by bigbobcat
randy
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Posted: 12/17/2010 10:28 PM
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What most do not understand is that.. for instance Marshall can get away with being FCS team or back in the day a D1AA team.. The  althletics departement has revenue.  Due to the fact that they are in Huntington..... With corp. money.... Unless you want to open a factory in Athens and donate a couple mill.
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Posted: 12/17/2010 10:35 PM
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Unless... then send your 6' 4  linebacker son to Athens..... If you graduated from Ohio U. during the "boom" ..  There are chances for your children will have a good oppportunitty for education in Athens .. If either he or she does not make THE OHIO STATE U...... god for bid make try another route ... its worth it.
Mike Johnson
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Posted: 12/18/2010 12:15 AM
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The Situation wrote:expand_more
This news is bigger than a bowl win in New Orleans could ever hope to be.. Thankyou Mr. and Mrs. Walter; this is the break we needed. With an IPF bugeted and the full support of our president, recruiting and success in all outdoor sports will reach new levels we have not seen yet. Is the Walter family eligible for the Ohio athletic hall of fame? They are legends.


The Walters' generosity is to be commended, honored and remembered for decades to come.  Bob was a classmate.  I remember him as quiet, unassuming and seemingly uninterested in sports.  So  bless his ecumenical support of Alma Mater.

The accompanying euphoria is understandable, but I've long wondered just how central to football success are IPFs.  Here in Ohio, for example, Kent has had such a facility for 15-20 years.  I've been inside it several times for meetings and the MAC indoor track championships.  Nice facility.  How much has it done for Kent football?

Akron's IPF is palatial.  What is it doing for Zips football?  What will it do?

Cincinnati rose to unaccustomed football heights - without an IPF and without a practice field.  Now it's getting both and the program is sliding downward.  Will that direction be reversed? 

When schools such as Northwestern and Stanford win, you'd be hard-pressed to credit their facilities.

I'd like to think that an IPF at Ohio will appreciably upgrade football competitiveness.  But to me the central key is coaching, coaching, coaching.  If Coach Solich chooses to stay in harness for a few more seasons, I can see an IPF strengthening his recruiting and on-field success.  If he departs and his successor is closer to the Knorr mold than the Solich or Grobe mold, how much difference will an IPF make?  A fairly sizable body of evidence suggests the answer is not much.   Virtually all big-time football programs with platinum-grade facilities have nonetheless had to endure droughts that ended not with more facilities upgrades but coaching upgrades.

I'll keep my fingers crossed that Coach Solich sticks around a while and is able to capitalize on an IPF. 

 

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Posted: 12/18/2010 1:24 AM
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randy wrote:expand_more
I thank you for your response .. but what you dont understand is that im not talking about an addition to Peden.. Have you ever stepped into the Ping center?  I have over 38 years working for O.U. ...   I know what happened and what could have happened to the Ping center.. I am only offering what could have happened .. I am talking about taking the west wing  and made it a bit more.  I choose not to argue with you .. I will show you the drawings  $$$$$$ ?


randy I know what you are saying it would have been economical to have this as an adjunct to the Ping Center all those years ago but I will say building it now as opposed to 20 years ago will give us a higher quality facility. Ping center was built just after modern designs for rec centers came out and it turned out very nice. Had the Ping Center been build 5 years earlier it would probably have been pretty dated like the aquatics center. The university sounds like its going to do a campus impact study like it conducted with the new student center to maximize its use and really put something together first class.
Athens
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Posted: 12/18/2010 1:35 AM
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Mike Johnson wrote:expand_more
The accompanying euphoria is understandable, but I've long wondered just how central to football success are IPFs.  Here in Ohio, for example, Kent has had such a facility for 15-20 years.  I've been inside it several times for meetings and the MAC indoor track championships.  Nice facility.  How much has it done for Kent football?

Akron's IPF is palatial.  What is it doing for Zips football?  What will it do?  


Hasn't Kent as an athletic department gone to new heights with the facility? Think baseball and softball at Kent State. Then at Akron look at Zips soccer they won the NCAA championship this year.
Athens
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Posted: 12/18/2010 2:06 AM
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ozarkcat wrote:expand_more
as mentioned on here in the past It may be far more economical to attach arena to Peden in such a way the basic  structure could be used in adding seats (deck) to the stadium in the future such as was done at Eastern Ky.  More bang for the buck and stadium could be enlarged to 30 t0 32,000  or more down the line.


The last design I've looked at 4-5 years ago had the IPF going attached to Peden very much like you've described. Boeh wanted it by the soccer field and Hocutt moved it to Peden Stadium. With a skeptical climate on campus toward athletic spending the design may be trending toward more of a student based facility. Then it would make more sense to have it seperate from Peden with a nice entrance facing South Green drive. As for the additional seats in Peden the trend today is for smaller capacities in the MAC. The Michigan schools are are over 30k+ all the other MAC schools are now in the 25-27k range for the football stadium. Marshall made the mistake of going to 38,000 seats and now with the team in the tank its regularly 50% full. I think it would make more sense for Ohio to redo the stands with a higher pitch and flll in the first few rows. Give the home stands a bigger two level look. Add more benchbacks for premium seating potential. You could add 10 more rows a homeside this way and relist the capacity at 27,000. 
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