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Topic: Practice Facility?

Topic: Practice Facility?

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Zaleski
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Member Since: 8/23/2010
Location: League City, TX
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Practice Facility?

Posted: 8/23/2011 8:00:53 PM

I was just wondering whatever became of the idea of building an indoor practice facility for the outdoor sports teams to use during inclement weather. I haven't seen or heard much about this of late so I am looking for an update.

SBH
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Post Count: 4,293

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RE: Practice Facility?

Posted: 8/23/2011 8:03:46 PM

I heard they had made significant progress in raising money and felt confident they could begun construction late 2011 or early 2012. Facility location (between Ping and Peden) has been finalized. They were trying to meet a stretch goal for fundraising to add a few bells and whistles to the facility.

Bobcat Grad 86
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RE: Practice Facility?

Posted: 8/23/2011 8:56:23 PM

Will they be able to utilize this for other sports such as woman's track? My daughter is a pole vaulter so I have begun following track and field.

Last Edited: 8/23/2011 8:56:45 PM by Bobcat Grad 86

Zaleski
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Member Since: 8/23/2010
Location: League City, TX
Post Count: 225

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RE: Practice Facility?

Posted: 8/23/2011 9:02:46 PM

That would be where there old Trautwein Field used to stand, right?

Bobcat Grad 86
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RE: Practice Facility?

Posted: 8/23/2011 9:11:42 PM

I guess it would go where the current outdoor practice field is.

http://maps.google.com/maps?rlz=1T4GGLL_enUS384US384&q=CONVOCATION+CENTER+ATHENS,+OH+45701&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wl

Zaleski
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Location: League City, TX
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RE: Practice Facility?

Posted: 8/23/2011 9:14:55 PM

Love your avatar!

Bobcat Grad 86
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RE: Practice Facility?

Posted: 8/23/2011 9:27:29 PM

Zaleski wrote:

Love your avatar!

Thanks! The center of the quake in Mineral, VA was about 30 miles from Richmond. I was in the shower at our athletic center and had just turned the water on when the quake hit. My first thought was the plumbing, the second thought was someone really big was on the second floor treadmill. We had another mild tremor about an hour ago.

Mineral is not too far from Fork Union Military Academy where we have recruited several players over the years. Vinny Testerverde and Eddie George went to Fork Union.

Speaking of track above and Fork Union, my 8th Grade Daughter qualified for the Varsity State Championships for Pole Vaulting for private schools. Kind of weird seeing her rubbing elbows with Fork Union Seniors, some of whom are probably playing Division 1 football this year. She cleared 7'6" in three meets and was really close to clearing 8. She trains three days a week with a former Russian pole vaulter who was the UVA coach. Hope she can be a Bobcat or Wahoo.

Last Edited: 8/23/2011 9:42:34 PM by Bobcat Grad 86

Sony7
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Member Since: 6/25/2005
Location: Greenfield, WI
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RE: Practice Facility?

Posted: 8/23/2011 11:37:04 PM

That's too funny : )

Go Bobcats!

SONY7

oldkatz
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Member Since: 12/22/2004
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RE: Practice Facility?

Posted: 8/24/2011 7:34:12 AM

Blue ribbon avatar...................best ever since the TOS stuff!!!!!!!!

"All my inside sources tell me I have no inside sources." Salvatore "money bucks" Mafiosiano.

Alan Swank
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Member Since: 12/11/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 7,234

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RE: Practice Facility?

Posted: 8/24/2011 7:40:00 AM

Bobcat Grad 86 wrote:

Will they be able to utilize this for other sports such as woman's track? My daughter is a pole vaulter so I have begun following track and field.

Last I heard, there wasn't going to be a track in the facility. Two of my neighbors are on the committee so I'll ask them. In these lean times, I'm not sure this is the best time to be building an athletic facility though.

catfan28
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Member Since: 6/11/2011
Location: Athens, OH
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RE: Practice Facility?

Posted: 8/24/2011 8:17:24 AM

Alan Swank wrote:

C'mon, it's being fully funded by private donations. It's not like we're taking out bonds to build it. As long as it's funded, there's no reason to get all negative here.

Last Edited: 8/24/2011 8:18:40 AM by catfan28

Alan Swank
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RE: Practice Facility?

Posted: 8/24/2011 8:30:08 AM

BobcatBigFish wrote:

Alan Swank wrote:

C'mon, it's being fully funded by private donations. It's not like we're taking out bonds to build it. As long as it's funded, there's no reason to get all negative here.

Funded or not, when times are tough, it's tough to justify buying more toys. As for private donations, we've had this discussion many times before. It's one big pot and other than the lead gift which was for a multi-purpose facility (academic and athletic), other gifts could very well be used in other areas. Regardless, it's going to happen and it will in OCF's words, exacerbate the town/gown tensions.

Kinggeorge4
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RE: Practice Facility?

Posted: 8/24/2011 8:40:02 AM

I haven't seen mucj negativity since it will be funded and need a pool of $ for repair built in plus upkeep. Those need to be done now when planning a building here.

GO BOBCATS
GEORGE

MedinaCat
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Location: Lakewood, OH
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RE: Practice Facility?

Posted: 8/24/2011 8:49:14 AM

Alan Swank wrote:

Bobcat Grad 86 wrote:

Will they be able to utilize this for other sports such as woman's track? My daughter is a pole vaulter so I have begun following track and field.

In these lean times, I'm not sure this is the best time to be building an athletic facility though.

Depending on your perspective...from a procurement standpoint, this might be the best time to be issuing RFP/RFQ's. Stimulus projects and funding is starting to wind down and firms are looking for future projects. And, if the State's "University Enterprise Plan" is enacted, the construction reform provisions could result the university getting more for its money. Not debating the town/gown thing, but when the university unveils plans for design and construction, it should go on the PR offensive and talk about the jobs created for SEO residents as a result of such projects.

Alan Swank
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Location: Athens, OH
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RE: Practice Facility?

Posted: 8/24/2011 8:53:27 AM

Kinggeorge4 (George Cheripko) wrote:

I haven't seen mucj negativity since it will be funded and need a pool of $ for repair built in plus upkeep. Those need to be done now when planning a building here.

Excellent points George. Starting with the library and moving to other parts of campus, you can see the place literally falling apart because there 1) isn't enough money to keep things up and 2) not enough people to do the work. Forget that it's an athletics facility for a moment. Building any building without money to maintain it isn't a good use of money.

Bobcatbob
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Member Since: 12/21/2004
Location: Coolville, OH
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RE: Practice Facility?

Posted: 8/24/2011 8:56:02 AM

Al, are you sure that your real concern isn't over the possible impact to the golf course? There seems to be likelihood that we would lose the green at 7(?).

For my two cents, with private donations in hand this should be a priority for athletics. It's bad form to ask people for money and then delay the project they thought they were supporting over general concerns.

Last Edited: 8/24/2011 8:56:52 AM by Bobcatbob

Alan Swank
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Location: Athens, OH
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RE: Practice Facility?

Posted: 8/24/2011 9:01:52 AM

Bobcatbob wrote:

Al, are you sure that your real concern isn't over the possible impact to the golf course? There seems to be likelihood that we would lose the green at 7(?).

There is plenty of room to move that green back toward the ditch. Since we like to play the green tees, maybe I'll be able to reach that green in two now.

Can't argue with the last point at all but remember, this was established as more than just an athletics facility. It would also be bad form to sell it that way and only use it for sports.

Jeff McKinney
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Member Since: 11/12/2004
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RE: Practice Facility?

Posted: 8/24/2011 11:38:09 AM

Alan, a hypothetical question here...let's say a donor desires to designate a gift to a university for a certain specific purpose...if the university believes that politically it would be an insensitive time to proceed with the project because of cuts in the budget elsewhere, should the university a) decline the gift; b) accept the gift but with the stipulation that it be spent in ways other than the donor wishes to designate, or c) go ahead in a timely fashion with the spending for the purpose designated by the donor?

Athens Block
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RE: Practice Facility?

Posted: 8/24/2011 12:05:11 PM

Alan Swank wrote:

[
There is plenty of room to move that green back toward the ditch. Since we like to play the green tees, maybe I'll be able to reach that green in two now.

And here we have perhaps the most important aspect of the building this facility. We must do everything in our power to make that green easier to reach in two... my donations to the Ohio Bobcat Club are going to be significantly impacted if I lose many more balls in that god-forsaken ditch...

Bobcat Grad 86
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RE: Practice Facility?

Posted: 8/24/2011 12:41:07 PM

Have not played the course since my undergraduate days. How does the course compare after the renovations?

Alan Swank
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Location: Athens, OH
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RE: Practice Facility?

Posted: 8/24/2011 12:43:46 PM

Jeff McKinney wrote:

That's a great question Jeff. Hypothetical opens all kinds of possibilities but in this case, if the building that is built is truly reflective of this statement from the OU release:

“It is gratifying to support our alma mater in this way,” said Robert Walter. “We understand the important role that donor support will play in fulfilling the University’s mission and achieving its vision. This gift will help the University enhance the student experience by supporting academic and co-curricular activities.”

then I'd say build it as soon as you have the money to build it and keep it up. Because the title of this thread is "practice facility" therein lies the rub.

KyleWvr13
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Location: Pottstown, PA
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RE: Practice Facility?

Posted: 8/24/2011 1:02:18 PM

I've been to Marshall's campus for a workshop, and it turns out that underneath their basketball arena, is a huge practice and storage area for their marching band in the basement. Last I've heard, there will be a similar form of storage/practice area for the 110, which is currently spread out around all over campus (Peden has the uniforms, School of Music has most of the instruments, and The Ridges holds a lot of the older equipment used for the Alumni Band). so that will help the band out by keeping everything in one central location and clearing up space for other uses.

TWT
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Location: Alexandria, VA
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RE: Practice Facility?

Posted: 8/24/2011 1:02:54 PM

Jeff McKinney wrote:

If the donor has designated that the money go for a specific purpose then its a restricted gift and off limits for other purposes. The OBC is set up for unrestricted giving that can go anywhere flexibly within the athletic department. The university could decline the large monetary gift but with in the case of the gift for the indoor practice facility the university has already made a decision to accept under the terms designated by the donee. When it comes to private giving wherever that directs resources that is where the university will redirect. That is what the future holds for state universities like Ohio University. With state subsidies flat, limits on tuition growth, and infrastructure limitations private donations are going to dictate what a school can accomplish.

Most Memorable Bobcat Events Attended
2010 97-83 win over Georgetown in NCAA 1st round
2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl
2015 34-3 drubbing of Miami @ Peden front of 25,086

TWT
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Location: Alexandria, VA
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RE: Practice Facility?

Posted: 8/24/2011 1:15:29 PM

Alan Swank wrote:

Bobcat Grad 86 wrote:

Will they be able to utilize this for other sports such as woman's track? My daughter is a pole vaulter so I have begun following track and field.

When are the times ever going to be better in SEO? If someone gives the money to the school why would the school stop construction? Again too the university is acting wisely to assess all of its needs to get the most out of facility for its buck. The university is renovating the dorms with money from the state. Should that be put on hold too because of the overall budget or regional economic outlook? That money is going straight from the taxpayer into renovated dormitories for a college campus. I would feel more comfortable building with a private donation than state money.

Most Memorable Bobcat Events Attended
2010 97-83 win over Georgetown in NCAA 1st round
2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl
2015 34-3 drubbing of Miami @ Peden front of 25,086

Kinggeorge4
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Member Since: 12/22/2004
Location: Guysville, OH
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RE: Practice Facility?

Posted: 8/24/2011 1:37:51 PM

The University does look at each gift carefully to make sure it will not cost us more than it is worth. They have declined gifts recently due to this. It is tough to steer someone to another gift sometimes as they have their mind set on something.

So if they can raise the extra money for the IPF and cover upkeep, there should be no problem.

GO BOBCATS
GEORGE

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