Well said.

It's very hard to understand a thing that randy types, but Solich will be around for awhile.  He doesn't plan on taking another job.  He's an Ohio guy who wants to stay in Ohio, or thats atleast what a familt friend told me.

If he's not, I will.  And, its my understanding the Recreation folks fought including athletics big time back then.  Could be "urban legend" though.

This is exactly the kind of thing the experience we all had while spending those special years in Athens generates.  We as Alumni have been indebted to the Walter's for quite some time now; this gesture moves that gratitude to a new level as a Bobcat Athletics fan!

Bob's feelings towards his Alma Mater are no secret here in Central Ohio (Cardinal Health's corporate home).  I have a few friends employed by Cardinal and have heard numerous stories of him stopping in to an office for an extensive chat when he saw an Ohio degree or other decoration on the wall.

Bob, Peggy and the Walter Foundation...THANK YOU from the bottom of our collective hearts as both fans and Alumni!  Your generosity is the final step on the springboard to the next level of competiveness for the variety of programs that will benefit from this facility.  It will forever be known as the foundation of the newly remodeled "Front Porch" of Ohio's First and Finest!

It is not urban legend, the Ping Center was paid for and by the student via student recreation fee. The idea of shutting down any portion of the center for Varsity Athletics was frowned upon - although they did't have any problems shutting down portions for fundraising activities :) 

Wes, you've made the suggestion a few times now to "change the pitch" of the home side of Peden. I honestly don't get it - you do realize that you would eliminate the entry level of the tower, right?  When you increase the pitch, the top of the stands will meet the tower at a different point.  How does that work?

My hope for the design is based on practical, long-term (monetary) considerations and the desire to add some additional sophistication/class to Peden:

1.  Build the IPF directly behind the visitor's stands, allowing you to integrate modern restroom and concessions facilities into the ground floor of the new building.  At the top of the IPF, have one or 2 stories of glassed-in loge seats overlooking the visitor's stands.  This would dramatically enhance the appearance of those stands and look great on TV.  (It would also prevent us from putting a second deck on that side, which I think would be too cost prohibitive anyway.)

2.  If we ever need to add seating, I'd like to see the North side of the stadium closed in with an elevated "U" similar to the two half-shells. This would eliminate the unfinished look of the half-shells and be relatively inexpensive to do. When we need the seating for well-attended games, people will sit there. When those seats are empty, it won't be so obvious to a television audience, as it would if we built a (more expensive) second deck.  Also would like to see the elevated sections extend down to align at bottom with the Phillips and O-Zone seating in the main stands.

I really like your point number 1. Maybe we could start a ring of honor with space between the stands and the loge seats.

I guess future expansion is a consideration so I'm with you on point 2. Plus, I would like the option to tarp those sections for low attendance games.

The Convo has been mentioned as being in the mix for some funds for renovation.  Anyone have any ideas as to what this would entail?

I like SBH's ideas for Peden...

What I'd like to see for the Convo:

-A new scoreboard
-Reupholstered seats
-Club-type seating behind the one basket where there's room
-Whatever improvements needed to locker rooms, etc.

Xlerators rock.