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Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2023 11:00:27 GMT -6
In a January 6, 1970 Crescent article President Graves commented there was a possibility of building a football stadium on a 40 acre tract adjacent to the State Hospital. This construction would be part of phase 1 of university projects in the 1970s. He also projected a student enrollment of 5,000 with 1,200 grad students in 1980. We know that neither the stadium nor the enrollment was achieved. So Graves dropped the hint. 11 months later, this committee shows up with its own proposal. I do think Graves could have predicted enrollment growth based on what it had been in the previous 5 years, although much of that was fueled by (a.) baby boomer kids and (b.) guys wanting to be 2-S instead of 1-A. To be fair, there was a reason for him to be that optimistic. High schools were bulging at the time and new ones were springing up in every city in Indiana. (Most of them closed 15 years later.) I do think UE figured it could continue the path it had followed by playing at Reitz Bowl. They would just scoot on over to the new Central field and not miss a lick. I often wonder if those people ever gave any thought to how far it was from the dorms to Reitz frickin' Bowl. That was a **process** to get to the games.
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Post by Aces&Eights on Sept 4, 2023 11:53:23 GMT -6
I do think UE figured it could continue the path it had followed by playing at Reitz Bowl. They would just scoot on over to the new Central field and not miss a lick. I often wonder if those people ever gave any thought to how far it was from the dorms to Reitz frickin' Bowl. That was a **process** to get to the games. It was no fun riding a bus in full gear to Reitz Bowl down old Division Street! But at least we got free transportation. The ride to Central was a bit easier.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2023 12:34:56 GMT -6
I do think UE figured it could continue the path it had followed by playing at Reitz Bowl. They would just scoot on over to the new Central field and not miss a lick. I often wonder if those people ever gave any thought to how far it was from the dorms to Reitz frickin' Bowl. That was a **process** to get to the games. It was no fun riding a bus in full gear to Reitz Bowl down old Division Street! But at least we got free transportation. The ride to Central was a bit easier. I did note that in looking up this stuff that 1970 was the same year that Bradley trashed its football program. Aces were upset about that because it had become a relatively easy win. Cited financial losses at Bradley. I honestly can't remember how we got to the games at Reitz ... student bus? Dunno, Saturday football was a cheap date and a generally typical thing to do as a student, although not so much out there in the rain. Universities who only see the profit-loss on this really are the same people who talk about "academics" as if that's the only reason were born to populate the planet.
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Post by 65pointgame on Sept 4, 2023 14:27:30 GMT -6
I am for restarting the football program at some point. Although I would be much more comfortable if we had a consistent enrollment of 2500 and an endowment nearing $200 mil. (currently at $95 mil.)
Is it a chicken and egg situation...that is, restarting football will be the fuel that helps us increase enrollment and the endowment?
20 colleges have football programs in the state of Indiana. D1 - 7, D2 - 1, D3 - 8, and NAIA - 4 colleges
That mid 90s report wanted to ensure that we maintained dominance in soccer...but the exact opposite has occurred.
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Post by ue0958 on Sept 4, 2023 16:45:43 GMT -6
Yes sadly soccer didn’t maintain its National esteem. When football was dropped I was expecting both Basketball & Soccer to gain more momentum.
Side note the last UE football game that I attended was a 50-0 loss to Wayne State. I felt for the athletes that I knew who were on the team.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2023 19:02:00 GMT -6
I am for restarting the football program at some point. Although I would be much more comfortable if we had a consistent enrollment of 2500 and an endowment nearing $200 mil. (currently at $95 mil.) Is it a chicken and egg situation...that is, restarting football will be the fuel that helps us increase enrollment and the endowment? 20 colleges have football programs in the state of Indiana. D1 - 7, D2 - 1, D3 - 8, and NAIA - 4 colleges That mid 90s report wanted to ensure that we maintained dominance in soccer...but the exact opposite has occurred. Nobody should set a goal of being dominant in a sport. The goal should focus on being competitive. I do think removing traditional forms of campus life because they cost you money is a terribly obtuse decision. The damned flower arrangement in the circle drive costs them money I'd bet the cost of the flowers that not a single administrator would even dare suggest they stop spending money on that. Or their "college" in England. It could be worse. You could have just invested a chunk of change in a restaurant in what was once a Pac 12 town. Now, half your games will be in ... North Carolina.
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