Roos Field Renovation

[Eagledawg]

Its obvious to me if you build it they will come...after the great bowl game blunder by the villain down 195 people want a winning product. Its time EAGS lets get this off paper and get to building.

EAGLEFUZZ how do you get a post date 2 weeks into the future?

 

[clawman1]

South Dakota State University is getting it done.
http://www.gojacks.com/PhotoAlbum.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=15000&PALBID=1037648" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Kind of an old thread but the new stadium is moving forward.
http://www.anygivensaturday.com/showthread.php?140731-Plans-for-new-stadium-for-S-Dakota-State-move-forward" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[air045]

Bill Chaves stated on espn interview on 2/21http://700espn.wordpress.com/2014/02/21/guy-with-a-gigantic-smile/ that something "happened" during the week that's pivotal in gaining momentum for the gateway project. Anyone know what happened last week?

 

[Vic E. Wallace]

air045,
Glad to see you back. Wished you could have attended the FB Banquet last night. Outstanding. Spoke to AD Chaves last night after the banquet, we discussed the Aug 23rd, game, All he mentioned is we need more people to start buying "Season Tickets" and we need people to join "Eagle Athletic Association". Nothing was discussed about Gateway Project. Sounds like Bill is hoping for something to come about now that we have this Big game on Aug 23rd. Some of our bloggers are hoping for something big also. Would be great should something about "Gateway Project" comes to life soon. Vic Wallace

 

[BLACKFALKIN1]

http://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large/ewu-stadium-dan-quam.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[DefendtheRed]

This Capitol Plan slideshow shows new soccer and softball fields. Includes Gateway Project and PUB overhaul.

http://www.nwagc.org/Resources/Documents/Owners%20Panel/EWU%20-%20AGC%20Presentation%20%5BCompatibility%20Mode%5D.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[Eagledawg]

On this weeks podcast (4-14) With Eagle A.D. Bill Chaves, about halfway through he was asked:
http://goeags.com/radio_podcasts/radio_podcasts.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Since EWU will be hosting the Big Sky track and field championships next year in 2015 and if the Gateway project has been funded and was moving ahead what would they do then? (ripping out the track is part of the Gateway project) Bill said at this point in time that would be an awesome problem to have!
So it sounds like things are still a ways off.

 

[FormerEag]

Could be wishful thinking on my part, but it sounded to me that there have been conversations about the track championship being the final event on that track. Bill seemed to have that answer at the ready.

I tend to think that the relative silence we've experienced recently is a great sign. I think that there is a strong fund raising campaign going on and silence is more of a necessity and not a signal of the absence of progress. The presentation above is also really encouraging.

And to me, gearing up to start construction a little over a year from now is really no time.

 

[EWU98]

UUGGGHHH I am happy that it is still moving forward, but now the question becomes what is the time table of putting it all together. With the track championships in May that leaves JUNE, July & August to get it done for the following year (not going to get done in that amount of time), do we now have to take away from our home field advantage and play games at Albi for a year (not acceptable)? Do we play through the construction?
Maybe we could trade with another school a year to host.

 

[Eagledawg]

From what I gather the Gateway project will most likely be done in stages and each stage could be years apart. I would think one of the first things to happen(funding aside) would be building the replacement track at the new location because that could happen today since it would be independent of the rest of the project. I wouldn't even think stadium work until there is some movement on the track.
Now it very well may be that hosting the Big Sky track championships requires the seat numbers of Roos field. My hunch is that the first construction announcement will be a singe phase of something like constructing the new track. Might not seem like much but it will be a positive first step. The stadium could come in a couple of phases after that.

 

[marceagfan5]

With the ESPN article today stating the 5 major conferences are looking to break away, leaving the rest of the FBS to its own division, we need the gateway now more than ever (and I have been on the fence about the gateway from the beginning). If the big boys get their way, and its only a matter of time before they do, there will be an opportunity for FCS schools to make the jump and merge with the lower tier FBS and hopefully EWU will want to be one of them...

 

[EWU98]

With all due respect DEAR LORD NO THANK YOU! I have no desire to get into bowl games! I love the play-offs!!! and the Big Sky is were we should stay. We have no business moving up. I like it too IDAHO moving up . . not a good idea for them and for us. Unfortunately we would end up probably being some conferences Colorado or Utah door mat.

 

[marceagfan5]

With all due respect DEAR LORD NO THANK YOU! I have no desire to get into bowl games! I love the play-offs!!! and the Big Sky is were we should stay. We have no business moving up. I like it too IDAHO moving up . . not a good idea for them and for us. Unfortunately we would end up probably being some conferences Colorado or Utah door mat.

I don't think anyone wants to play in bowl games, the playoff system is soo much better, but.....if the big 5 move into their own division, the remaining FBS schools will probably keep the FBS name but there will be some movement as far as additional schools being added to the division. Eastern should be ready to try and make the jump, because if we don't, we will then be left in the 3rd level of college football and closer to Whitworth than Wazzu. If we stay in the 3rd division, it will be a lot harder to bring in talent, just my :twocents:

Also, if the divisions start to shake out like this, Montana and Montana State will most likely take a hard look at moving up and if they do it will really, really hurt the Big Sky in terms of competition and money...

As far as Idaho moving up, they did it to compete with Boise, who moved up and was/is extremely successful. Idaho appears to have finally found a decent conference where they can compete. Plus, no matter what division you are in, Moscow is an extremely tough place to recruit...

 

[EWURanger]

The second Tier of Division I should always be the goal not only for Eastern but most of the Big Sky. The upper FCS Leagues (Big Sky, CAA, MVFC) need to join with what's left over from the FBS and create a new Division I. Scholarship limits could be at 74 or something instead of 63 (FCS) or 85 (Current FBS).

Either way, we need Gateway to happen. I do not want to get left out in the cold playing the likes of Western Oregon, et al. because of our stadium, which is all some people see when they look at our program.

 

[EWU98]

The second Tier of Division I should always be the goal not only for Eastern but most of the Big Sky. The upper FCS Leagues (Big Sky, CAA, MVFC) need to join with what's left over from the FBS and create a new Division I. Scholarship limits could be at 74 or something instead of 63 (FCS) or 85 (Current FBS).

Either way, we need Gateway to happen. I do not want to get left out in the cold playing the likes of Western Oregon, et al. because of our stadium, which is all some people see when they look at our program.

I agree with both your comments on staying in the second tier! Keep us in playoffs! Bring on the GATEWAY!

 

[Rjones61]

As long as we stay in a division with a championship bracket, I will be satisfied. I like the way things are now, though. I hope the idea of an elite conference doesn't work out.

 

[eaglesfootball]

As long as we stay in a division with a championship bracket, I will be satisfied. I like the way things are now, though. I hope the idea of an elite conference doesn't work out.

so you would be fine if Eastern played in Division II or NAIA? they have a championship. just sayin

 

[LDopaPDX]

At some point in the not-too-distant future, there probably will be a middle tier between FCS and FBS. However, we're still talking 10 years down the road. Since teams don't really make money in lower-tier bowls, it would seem logical to assume whatever middle tier breaks apart would have some form of championship tournament. I fully expect the FBS to adopt at least an 8 team tourney within a few years, as the need will become apparent once the money from the 4-team playoff starts rolling in (plus, BCS bowls have steadily lost income and attendance since their inception; only the Rose Bowl and NC game sold out last year... the other 3 games didn't).

I don't think it makes any sort of sense for Eastern to start planning for something like this now. Besides, the Gateway Project really just keeps the program on equal footing facilities-wise to the rest of the Big Sky.

 

[marceagfan5]

At some point in the not-too-distant future, there probably will be a middle tier between FCS and FBS. However, we're still talking 10 years down the road. Since teams don't really make money in lower-tier bowls, it would seem logical to assume whatever middle tier breaks apart would have some form of championship tournament. I fully expect the FBS to adopt at least an 8 team tourney within a few years, as the need will become apparent once the money from the 4-team playoff starts rolling in (plus, BCS bowls have steadily lost income and attendance since their inception; only the Rose Bowl and NC game sold out last year... the other 3 games didn't).

I don't think it makes any sort of sense for Eastern to start planning for something like this now. Besides, the Gateway Project really just keeps the program on equal footing facilities-wise to the rest of the Big Sky.

There is no doubt there is going to be a new division with the current lower tier fbs schools and some fcs, it's just a matter of when. The sec commissioner said the big 5 schools plan to break away (or would like to) within the year. Eastern needs to be ready to make the jump to the fbs/fcs division when it happens but it will be difficult as we don't have the fan base or $$$, yet. I think it's coming a lot sooner than most expect...

 

[FormerEag]

I was talking with a guy who is a fundraiser for University of Washington Tacoma. He explained to me that the "silent phase" is indeed standard practice. The idea is to get the big name and corporate sponsors lined up to build momentum for the public campaign.

Not groundbreaking info for anyone I'm sure, but puts my mind at ease a bit.