Facilities

[Doctor44]

When you're paying players a couple a million a year to play football, the're happy. Facilities become a proxy for salary by college players. It is what it is - stupid, yes. But if we want to be competitive, we have to have facilities that at least look like a D1 programs.

It would be nice to have top of the line facilities, but we'll never be there. We dont have big time alumni who will donate a couple of million per year to the program and we dont have a steady streatm of state taxes in addition to our revenue. Unless someone wins the lottery, or an SU grad (who is passionate about su football) makes it big, we're looking at one of those scenarios where we are what we are.

My expectations for this program are that we probably have bottom quartile facilities. We are usually a team that is listed as "receiving votes" in the AP poll, and grace the top 25 at some point during the season, and every 2-3 years compete for a conference title. I'll hope for the best and root like we should be alabama, but whenI seebig picture stuff, that's what id be content with.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

Couldn't you argue that the Carrier Dome field gets more use than an average NFL stadium.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

6-7 home football games, a couple of HS games, and maybe a dozen LAX games a year ...

vs at least 10 NFL home games (not counting playoffs) and who knows what other activities. Pretty sure that all these indoor and retractable roof stadiums aren't vacant for 6 months of the year.

Hard to say who gets more use.

Turf is supposed to be good for 10-15 years when used indoors.

 

[rrlbees]

Yes, NOW we have some top of the line turf. Let's just wait and see if they actually replace it when it reaches it's lifespan instead of going 10-15 years too long like the last turf in the Dome.

So it's not a band aid then.,


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[llandz]

I appreciate all of the work you put into this. If anything it was an interesting read into the history of the program. At least you did your research to try and bolster your opinions on this issue. I really am impressed with the extent of the work you did. Regardless I am always for moving the program forward, and even if some good efforts were made in the past we now need the facilities that we are finally getting It is always a work in progress. How long until our new facilities will need to be upgraded? Nothing is for ever. Athletes are looking for brand new, not ivy covered.

 

[sufandu]

I think one question may be, are we in perpetual catch up mode or, when we upgrade, are we making others catch up to us? By all accounts, the Melo Center set a standard for basketball programs. Are we doing the same for football?

 

[anomander]

Original astroturf was installed in 1980.

Replacement astroturf was installed during the Summer of 1993.

Field turf was installed during the Summer of 2005.

6-7 home football games, a couple of HS games, and maybe a dozen LAX games a year ...

vs at least 10 NFL home games (not counting playoffs) and who knows what other activities. Pretty sure that all these indoor and retractable roof stadiums aren't vacant for 6 months of the year.

Hard to say who gets more use.

Turf is supposed to be good for 10-15 years when used indoors.

From everything you read online astroturf should be changed every 8-10 years and field turf 12-15

 

[CuseOnly]

So it's not a band aid then.,

Yes, still a band aid. When you do things before you absolutely have to, it's forward thinking and being preemptive. When you replace things 3 years after their useful life is up (in this case 10 years), it's a band aid.

Kind of like your car, when you go into the shop and the mechanic says you are gonna need brakes very soon and you say go ahead do it. As opposed to hearing your brakes grinding metal to metal and saying, I should probably get my brakes fixed, then driving for a few more weeks then getting them done.

Always behind the 8 Ball. Many corporations do very well with this type of thinking.

 

[rrlbees]

Yes, still a band aid. When you do things before you absolutely have to, it's forward thinking and being preemptive. When you replace things 3 years after their useful life is up (in this case 10 years), it's a band aid.

Kind of like your car, when you go into the shop and the mechanic says you are gonna need brakes very soon and you say go ahead do it. As opposed to hearing your brakes grinding metal to metal and saying, I should probably get my brakes fixed, then driving for a few more weeks then getting them done.

Always behind the 8 Ball. Many corporations do very well with this type of thinking.

I don't think you know the meaning if the term band aid. Band aid is a temporary fix, a quick low grade fix.

What you keep complaining about is procrastination or lack of funds.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[CuseOnly]

I don't think you know the meaning if the term band aid. Band aid is a temporary fix, a quick low grade fix.

What you keep complaining about is procrastination or lack of funds.

Maybe so, still very frustrating.

 

[rrlbees]

Maybe so, still very frustrating.

Frustrating is a good word. But it's behind us now.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[GoSU96]

It's been a bunch of incremental wheel spinning to not keep falling further behind. Field replacements shouldn't be counted as any great accomplishment. The outdoor turf fields have been in place for at least 8 years, not just since 2010. It's about time the lockerroom was upgraded, it was the minimal amount that was required.

The football offices and meeting rooms were 20 yrs behind the time when Marrone got here. They were using bunch of beat up old desks that a suburban school district would have tossed.

Don't take my word for, Matt Park and Dan Conley commented how far behind SU was last August.

 

[cuseguy]

When Coach P gave me a tour of Manley a year or two after he took over as head coach, SU's facilities were state of the art, at least in terms of the rest of the Big East. Then we all know what happened. Everyone else woke up, SU stopped spending money and we were left behind. We've been trying to play catchup ever since.

 

[rrlbees]

We've had the largest IPF for 30+ years.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[IthacaBarrel]

You have never truly understood the facility issue.

Two years ago Marrone confirmed that our facilities were essentially last in the BE

He basically begged for funds and insisted that if he could get to the middle of the conference he would win.

We have been way behind for over 20 years and we are still way behind.

The facilities were a disaster, the IPF is a great step in the right direction, many more improvements still needed, need to continue to work on donor base and keep rebuilding if we are ever to be good again, I mean really good. IT's all about $$$, eventually we will find the right coach if Shafer isn't the guy and wins will come, fans will come, but money needs to continue to be rasied

 

[anomander]

When Coach P gave me a tour of Manley a year or two after he took over as head coach, SU's facilities were state of the art, at least in terms of the rest of the Big East. Then we all know what happened. Everyone else woke up, SU stopped spending money and we were left behind. We've been trying to play catchup ever since.

There's that direct correlation to recruiting that's keeps getting brought up. Who woulda thought


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - http://tapatalk.com/m?id=1

 

[Millhouse]

I'm for fixing problems where there is an absolute problem (field turf an obvious example, i'm sure there are a hundred others). I'm less convinced that it's worth it to really get into the arms race. we're never going to compete on an absolute dollar basis, we gotta pluck low hanging fruit. shoot for middle of the pack, spend it wisely and hope like hell that the half of teams that spend more are wasting alot of their money

 

[IthacaBarrel]

I'm for fixing problems where there is an absolute problem (field turf an obvious example, i'm sure there are a hundred others). I'm less convinced that it's worth it to really get into the arms race. we're never going to compete on an absolute dollar basis, we gotta pluck low hanging fruit. shoot for middle of the pack, spend it wisely and hope like hell that the half of teams that spend more are wasting alot of their money

Yep, hope to catch lightning in a bottle every few years, I think last years team with a healthy Pugh could have been a BCS team from Big East very easily, say a 10-3 team, lots of opps lost for sure. I just think people have unrealistic expectations at times with what is going around us in college football. Even GT's facilities were pretty expansive

 

[anomander]

I'm for fixing problems where there is an absolute problem (field turf an obvious example, i'm sure there are a hundred others). I'm less convinced that it's worth it to really get into the arms race. we're never going to compete on an absolute dollar basis, we gotta pluck low hanging fruit. shoot for middle of the pack, spend it wisely and hope like hell that the half of teams that spend more are wasting alot of their money

I agree with this. We're never going to win the as
race. Middle of the pack is fine. Sure things like an IPF are essential because of our weather, hydrotherapy/great medical facilities because of the nature of injuries to students who are making a ton of money for the University, and maybe a weight room expansion could be justified for efficiency purposes. Other then that providing a solid infrastructure is the way to go. Support staffs are becoming more and more important because of the deregulation of social media recruiting. Adding a couple more Eric whites could have a much bigger impact then a lot of the other shiny things being added at other plaxes


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - http://tapatalk.com/m?id=1

 

[cuseinchina]

That's silly. No matter when we got it, it is far from a band aid. We have some top of the line turf.

Think the point here is that while doing the turf was a necessary and positive move - a new carpet doesn't do much to wow a 17 year old kid.

 

[OrangePA]

Think the point here is that while doing the turf was a necessary and positive move - a new carpet doesn't do much to wow a 17 year old kid.

The AstroTurf in the Dome was hurting recruiting. Kids were afraid of it.

 

[rrlbees]

Think the point here is that while doing the turf was a necessary and positive move - a new carpet doesn't do much to wow a 17 year old kid.

Not the point he made.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[CusefanATL]

Here is what we are up against. Sure some of this stuff is current, but you get the idea of what bells and whistles mean

http://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/2013/college-football-indoor-practice-facilities/

what is up with UGA's? It is only 20 yards wide?

 

[chakka3421]

Not the point he made.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If the argument that a new playing surface is a major facilities upgrade then I have a house with a leaky roof to sell you!!!!! I mean really - defending the facilities position with a playing field replacement?

Adding an addition to a house is a facilities upgrade like the IPF is to the football program. Modernizing a kitchen (employee lounge) or bathroom (locker room) adds value if money is spent wisely. Replacing an end of life roof (roof technology changes over time too so you get better and longer lasting materials on a replacement just like field turf) on a home is a necessary evil just like replacing a playing field with newer and longer lasting playing fields.

Anyway, the IPF marginalizes the last major negative facilities recruiting aspect for staff. Now it is up to the staff to get better recruits to get a better product to win more games to get more fans to show up - that's the positive long term cycle we all want.

 

[orangecuse]

If the argument that a new playing surface is a major facilities upgrade then I have a house with a leaky roof to sell you!!!!! I mean really - defending the facilities position with a playing field replacement?

Adding an addition to a house is a facilities upgrade like the IPF is to the football program. Modernizing a kitchen (employee lounge) or bathroom (locker room) adds value if money is spent wisely. Replacing an end of life roof (roof technology changes over time too so you get better and longer lasting materials on a replacement just like field turf) on a home is a necessary evil just like replacing a playing field with newer and longer lasting playing fields.

Anyway, the IPF marginalizes the last major negative facilities recruiting aspect for staff. Now it is up to the staff to get better recruits to get a better product to win more games to get more fans to show up - that's the positive long term cycle we all want.

Amen to that!

 

[rrlbees]

If the argument that a new playing surface is a major facilities upgrade then I have a house with a leaky roof to sell you!!!!! I mean really - defending the facilities position with a playing field replacement?

Adding an addition to a house is a facilities upgrade like the IPF is to the football program. Modernizing a kitchen (employee lounge) or bathroom (locker room) adds value if money is spent wisely. Replacing an end of life roof (roof technology changes over time too so you get better and longer lasting materials on a replacement just like field turf) on a home is a necessary evil just like replacing a playing field with newer and longer lasting playing fields.

Anyway, the IPF marginalizes the last major negative facilities recruiting aspect for staff. Now it is up to the staff to get better recruits to get a better product to win more games to get more fans to show up - that's the positive long term cycle we all want.

Do any of you read these threads? I didn't respond to a post about the turf being a major upgrade or if it wows recruits. If you can't read and follow, don't respond.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk