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College football on professional stage - Aug 27, 2009 | 16:01:37
posted by: Molly Gallagher
USA Today highlighted college football teams across the country that have moved some of their conference home games to professional facilities and stadiums. Indiana University and Penn State will square off next season at FedExField, home of the Washington Redskins, in Landover Maryland, as will Virginia Tech and Boise State. Oklahoma will face Texas and Brigham Young in the newly completed stadium of the Dallas Cowboys and Kansas will play in the Kansas City Chief's Arrowhead Stadium against Missouri and Iowa State. While that may sound like a lot of games, Oklahoma athletics director Joe Castiglione assured USA Today, "I just don't see it as something a program would do on a consistent basis." I'd have to side with Castiglione on this one. While it is exciting to see your favorite team play in a larger venue, I think there is something to be said about the atmosphere on a college campus. A campus is a unique place where student-athletes pursue an education, interact with their peers and compete in the sport they love. The energy surrounding the game is heightened by smaller arenas and the fact that the team on the field is representing the entire community surrounding it--more intimately than a professional team represents a city. Additionally, requiring fans, especially college-aged students with limited funds, to increasingly travel could alienate the team's fan base. It was recently announced that Boston University and Boston College hockey will play at Fenway Park in Boston. Basketball programs have played tournaments in professional facilities for years. Is this just football mimicking the actions of other sports? But for institutions, especially in the current economic climate, the opportunity provides an avenue to promote itself in range of markets while making far more revenue than if the competition had been held at home. According to the article Indiana will receive $3 million for the game in Maryland. Would you be excited to see your team play in a professional stadium? How far would you travel to see it? 
CommentsI know this is a trick question. Colleges already have professional venues on campus, thus, what is the issue here? For small DI insittuions and DII and DIII it is a real highlight to play in professional venues (i.e., lacrosse championship) if we can attract a decent crowd but other than that, what is the question here???? Post a Comment |
  
Experience in multiple sports is great for a developing youth. However, success breeds confidence. Bottom line should be life lessons learned.
- Jim Harshaw
   
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