I failed to realize that there was a track at the Ping Center (have not been inside) which should suffice for the track team to train at during the winter for many of the distance events and the possiblly work on speed training on a turf field at an indoor practice facility.
The track inside Ping is not a traditional field track. it's only about 1/10 of a mile, has a lot of turns, and is more meant for recreational jogging than sports.
Another poor oversight for President Ping. The tiny rec center track goes along with not building an IPF as part of the rec center and construction of half horseshoe seating at Peden Stadium (what in the world was the administration thinking?)
As much as we alumni like to complain about this administration and its predecessors, Dr. Ping had much greater concerns on his plate than whether the athletic programs had the facilities they needed. During his administration, and not due to his actions, Ohio University went through one of its worst financial crises in its history, and was in severe danger in the late '70s of outright closing when the enrollment dropped from nearly 20,000 in 1970 to below 14,000 at the end of the decade. I'm sure the idea of an indoor practice facility was the farthest thing in his mind. His administration brought the University through that crisis and put the University on a firm financial foundation that continues today, in spite of the complaints of the anti-athletics group. It is to Dr. Ping's credit that the Athletic Department survived those years without demotion of Ohio's athletic programs to lower divisions.
Last Edited: 8/27/2011 10:05:52 PM by Jeff Johnson