I think we are going to have a new fence around the practice field that matches what was put in for our new venues.
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I think we are going to have a new fence around the practice field that matches what was put in for our new venues.
I know of one HS recruit who was swayed by "facilities".Originally Posted by ChuckK3
The "oo-an-ahhh" remark was MINE, not their's. MY opinion only. What 18-year-old High School football player considers ROI on anything? I'll wait.
Of course, those of us who contribute and support expect to see that return, in whatever criteria you wish to measure...just as you said.
Harding has what's considered the best indoor facility among D2s and many, many D1s.
https://twitter.com/CoachDrewBrady/status/1431237691660775426?s=20
$5.5 million totally raised from former Harding football players. (That's a new funding source. Hmmmmmm)
Has Heat, but no A/C, but those four "Big Ass" fans know how to move around the air being pulled through the side doors by exhaust fan units.
Huckebea Field House
135 yards long
60 feet tall
Biggest DII indoor in the country
% built by the brotherhood!
#AVO#HonorGod@Harding_FB
Louisiana Tech University
Flagship of the University of Louisiana System
Interesting chatter last night on the first "Inside Bulldog Football" show at the Dawg House, re: Indoor Practice Facility question. Dr Wood said that a master athletics plan was coming out soon that includes a new "Athletic Village" (whatever that means, but my impression was that it was going to be impressive...at least by G5 standards) and that it would include more STUFF for kids to oo-and-ahhh over when they visit. When the question came up, Dr Wood was asked a follow up of "timeline" and he said, we could start next week if we had the money..."so all you donors out there..." But seemed to think 5-10 years was a good target #welp
It will be interesting to see what all is included in this 'Village'.
"Athletic Villages" are nothing new to G5 schools. Below is a Youtube video introducing UNT's "Athletic Village" plan a few years ago. (Again, UNT uses "video" perhaps better than any G5 school around. )
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYODtBmDnv4
I thought Dr Wood sounded very vague on his "Athletic Village" details. He talked very peripherally about an indoor football practice facility and a new "academic center". Other than that, no details, and no dates were given. I view his comments as nothing more than fanbase hyperbole that people want to hear.
We already have an "academic center". It's called Louisiana Tech University. That's the freakin academic center!
Indoor practice facilities are for sissies.
This will come as a shock to you....just as it did me. But I agree with you on BOTH counts.
I've never coveted an indoor practice facility like many football fans do. I think they are the most over-rated, needless, unessential and redundant expense known to man kind. I guess that's because most high schools in north Texas --including my son's-- has an indoor practice facility, and I've just never been impressed with them. Seems very "high schoolish" to me. If I was a player again, I'd prefer 100-1 to be playing outside instead of inside an enclosed facility like that.
As for the academic Center, I always called that the Library.
I almost said "not all of the people."
I do think additional academic resources for athletes is one (of many) areas where the P5 schools have clear advantages. It's hard to have 5 starters flunk out for the Conference championship game when they've each been assigned 4 tutors and someone to wipe their noses and sharpen their pencils for them. It's an advantage in real time as far as keeping players eligible, but it's also an advantage for recruiting (because you can not only show the resources available but eventually can point to graduation rates over time). I'd say it's also possibly an actual "real life" good (if a very inefficient one) in that it probably really does help some kids get through college (and maybe learn something) that otherwise wouldn't make it.
Whether that's the best way to spend that (to date theoretical) money is another issue.
If we're still not fully funding cost of attendance, I think I'd personally be starting there with my fundraising. But I really don't know where we stand on that.
Cost of Attendance is vague with many because it can be used against you in recruiting. I feel like it would be an excellent story for an enterprising sportswriter to tackle for all the schools in the state, the region, the conference. When a Big 12 recruit got $1,800/month for 9 months it got my attention . . . it's the same as minimum wage 40 hours/52 weeks.
Louisiana Tech University
Flagship of the University of Louisiana System
I am sure we lose days to rain every season, but is is worth building a multimillion dollar facility? The heat should not be an issue. They have to play in it for the first month of the season. Their conditioning should be done in the heat as well. Our high school has some training equipment inside the field house, but that is used for short periods before or after outdoor practice.This will come as a shock to you....just as it did me. But I agree with you on BOTH counts.
I've never coveted an indoor practice facility like many football fans do. I think they are the most over-rated, needless, unessential and redundant expense known to man kind. I guess that's because most high schools in north Texas --including my son's-- has an indoor practice facility, and I've just never been impressed with them. Seems very "high schoolish" to me. If I was a player again, I'd prefer 100-1 to be playing outside instead of inside an enclosed facility like that.
As for the academic Center, I always called that the Library.
Indoor facilities are year-round, not just seasonal...for several sports.
Having such facilities is Kinda like vaxxing some want to do it and some don’t.
They are an asset to universities who have them.
Louisiana Tech University
Flagship of the University of Louisiana System
It’s kind of a chicken or egg discussion. Do those teams win championships after training in those facilities? Or do teams win championships and build the fan base and support to be able to afford those extras?
Might not be the most sexiest Indoor Practice Facility, you could always go with a T&F and Football combo like Kentucky and Vandy. We could host some indoor track events.
Dunno. Have to ask Saban.
Louisiana Tech University
Flagship of the University of Louisiana System
I’m just asking the ROI question in a way I understand it. Do we as a fan base just fork over the money and hope there is some measurable amount of benefit? Or do we demand excellence and pony up money after we have seen real success?
Indoor facilities are year-round, not just seasonal...for several sports.
Having such facilities is Kinda like vaxxing some want to do it and some don’t.
They are an asset to universities who have them IMHO.
Louisiana Tech University
Flagship of the University of Louisiana System
"Kinda like"??? Having an indoor field can help protect other nearby universities from ... dying???
Kinda like??? Really???
Horsefeathers. Indoor fields are vanity projects. They're spinning rims or gold chains or golf memberships. They're ostentatious displays of excess.
Last edited by Champ967; 09-02-2021 at 08:58 AM.
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