[Speed Gibson,
Saturday September 8, 2007 at 9:50pm]
Priorities
My son played in his first college football game Saturday. The University of Minnesota Morris Cougars ventured into Strom-land to face Carleton College, who thumped us 49-0. While I think the score also reflected that the breaks went almost always Carleton's way, they clearly outplayed us on offense and defense. Also, I'd like to give whoever calls plays for Carleton a job with the Vikings. He showed great imagination and daring.
We had one bright spot, special teams. As the radio announcer put it, special teams can win games for you and lose games for you. But they aren't on the field enough to matter when one side is clearly dominating like today.
Anyway, I was surprised at the condition of the Carleton facility, Laird Field. It's in a beautiful location, with the Carleton skyline in plain view. The field itself is fine, real grass in fact. But the stands which house locker rooms and an old fashioned indoor banked workout track are at best dated, needing extensive work. Parking? About as confused as "downtown" Maple Grove.
Carleton College is a private institution, so such money is harder to come by. But we had a good time, and the game itself was not at all affected or diminished. Their priorities are different, that's all, as their fine academic record would indicate.
But travel to UMD and you'll see splendid new facilities. The Gophers are getting a new stadium after foolishing demolishing their storied stadium. Even Morris's Big Cat Stadium is a cut above Laird Field. Public institutions clearly don't have to make as many choices.
We had one bright spot, special teams. As the radio announcer put it, special teams can win games for you and lose games for you. But they aren't on the field enough to matter when one side is clearly dominating like today.
Anyway, I was surprised at the condition of the Carleton facility, Laird Field. It's in a beautiful location, with the Carleton skyline in plain view. The field itself is fine, real grass in fact. But the stands which house locker rooms and an old fashioned indoor banked workout track are at best dated, needing extensive work. Parking? About as confused as "downtown" Maple Grove.
Carleton College is a private institution, so such money is harder to come by. But we had a good time, and the game itself was not at all affected or diminished. Their priorities are different, that's all, as their fine academic record would indicate.
But travel to UMD and you'll see splendid new facilities. The Gophers are getting a new stadium after foolishing demolishing their storied stadium. Even Morris's Big Cat Stadium is a cut above Laird Field. Public institutions clearly don't have to make as many choices.