2008 Woodie Awards
Korte Stadium can be used for football games
Allan Lewis
Issue date: 10/11/07 Section: Opinion
Saturday afternoon, in a field far, far away from everything, complete with a pickup truck press box and a grab-your-own-folding-chair station, the SIUE Club Football team claimed its first-ever homecoming victory.
On one side of the field sat more than 1,500 spectators, the other, just a bunch of woods and a sad-looking shed.
For the game to be considered one of "homecoming" magnitude seems to be a bit of a stretch.
Not to take anything away from the SIUE Club Football team, which played well enough to post a landmark win for the program, or the fans who came out to support the team in full force hours before kickoff Saturday, but is the Rec Plex really the right place for these games?
While we do not have a NCAA football program at SIUE, the team still deserves the very best from the university. After all, they are representing it in a positive way.
The students made the most of their surroundings Saturday afternoon, making the college football experience semi-believable, but a more authentic atmosphere should be made available to the team and fans if at all possible.
Korte Stadium sits just minutes away from the home of the SIUE Club Football team. Sure, it was built for soccer and track in 1994, but Club Football could be hosted just as easily.
SIUE Club Football should play their home contests on the turf at Korte. What is wrong with painting a few lines on a field, throwing up some goal posts and having a little extra space? Football fields do, after all, fit on soccer fields.
The homecoming soccer games did take place at Korte Sunday afternoon, so I can understand wanting the field in top shape for the games the following day, but the soccer season will be over just in time for the second and final home football game Nov. 10.
The P.A. announcer could use an actual sound system instead of one you can find in your local high school neighbors garage in an actual press box unlike the F150 sitting high above the crowd at the Rec Plex. If the 3,000-seat venue was utilized, maybe more fans would come out and enjoy the newfound spirit of Cougar football.
On one side of the field sat more than 1,500 spectators, the other, just a bunch of woods and a sad-looking shed.
For the game to be considered one of "homecoming" magnitude seems to be a bit of a stretch.
Not to take anything away from the SIUE Club Football team, which played well enough to post a landmark win for the program, or the fans who came out to support the team in full force hours before kickoff Saturday, but is the Rec Plex really the right place for these games?
While we do not have a NCAA football program at SIUE, the team still deserves the very best from the university. After all, they are representing it in a positive way.
The students made the most of their surroundings Saturday afternoon, making the college football experience semi-believable, but a more authentic atmosphere should be made available to the team and fans if at all possible.
Korte Stadium sits just minutes away from the home of the SIUE Club Football team. Sure, it was built for soccer and track in 1994, but Club Football could be hosted just as easily.
SIUE Club Football should play their home contests on the turf at Korte. What is wrong with painting a few lines on a field, throwing up some goal posts and having a little extra space? Football fields do, after all, fit on soccer fields.
The homecoming soccer games did take place at Korte Sunday afternoon, so I can understand wanting the field in top shape for the games the following day, but the soccer season will be over just in time for the second and final home football game Nov. 10.
The P.A. announcer could use an actual sound system instead of one you can find in your local high school neighbors garage in an actual press box unlike the F150 sitting high above the crowd at the Rec Plex. If the 3,000-seat venue was utilized, maybe more fans would come out and enjoy the newfound spirit of Cougar football.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Jon Shumaker
Jon Shumaker
posted 10/12/07 @ 11:04 AM CST
Thanks so much for your opinion! Obviously I have a very biased opinion on this matter as a member of the club, so I won't even try to remain objective. (Continued…)
Alexandra Schmitt
posted 10/12/07 @ 2:51 PM CST
Thank you very much Allan Lewis i appreciate your opinion it made my day!
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