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Facilities Upgrade Wishes

spiderstudent17

spiderstudent17

Team Manager
Mar 25, 2015
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What do you all wish the administration does to elevate the football program? Hopefully if we all voice our concerns and (fundraise?) this can become a reality

I think realistically we should:
1. Renovate weight room
2. Renovate locker room
3. Purchase more and nicer gear

A far-stretch wish of mine:
1. Tear down Sarah Brunnet Hall (old admissions building) or Millheiser and add a football facility
2. Lower admissions standards for a select few football players who can make a significant contribution to increasing our national stature in FCS

Here is the elevate campaign we are supposedly doing: http://www.richmondspiders.com/fls/26800/ElevateCampaign.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=26800
 
They're not tearing down Sarah Brunet...it's one of the original buildings on campus. No way they tear down Millhiser either. Possibly renovate/repurpose them, but the historic buildings themselves aren't going anywhere.

If they redo the locker rooms and office in the RC as planned, any sort of potential separate football facility becomes a long way off.
 
I have no idea what the team "needs" or doesn't need, other than what a few folks have posted on here. Candidly, as a fan, it appears to me that we are fairly well treated when it comes to equipment and gear – we have two sets of game helmets and three different uniforms. That's not a small investment. It's strange to me that we would spend all that money on game stuff and then not buy more gloves, for example. I'm not pointing fingers either way, but something doesn't add up there.
 
yep Eight, those things are football dept decisions not athletic dept decisions. the Coach has his budget and he decides how to spend it not the AD. again, think a lot of finger pointing and blaming when it is your fault.
 
I'm sure RH got assurances on facility upgrades and other administrative issues before he took the job. I also hope we give the assistant coaches a raise.
 
The terrible decision to keep the track when they built the stadium handcuffs us. OTOH, with an imaginative design allowing the track to go under the building, a new locker room/weight room could be built in the end zone opposite Millheiser.

One of the grandstands at Nevada's stadium covers part of the track. You could easily build a hospitality deck over the track, with the LR/WR behind it. Many buildings are constructed with, for example, parking on ground level and offices, etc., starting on the second floor.

It would enclose that end zone, the loss of seating would be minimal, and an on-site facility is far superior to something in the RC. The space used by football in the RC could be turned over to other programs.
 
WebSpinner said:
yep Eight, those things are football dept decisions not athletic dept decisions. the Coach has his budget and he decides how to spend it not the AD. again, think a lot of finger pointing and blaming when it is your fault.
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I confidently state that the current equipment does not match the level of play on the field ,that is fact. I've seen first hand and I know about this stuff. There is no limitless budget but I really think the AD has done a very mediocre job of supporting his coaches and teams Perhaps the the noise is enough to make some positive changes. Basically shamed into it...
Gill needs to go. I again refer to UD AD one thing that stands out is her passion for her sports dept. anyone see any glimpse of passion for gill??
 
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Wood Hall said:
The terrible decision to keep the track when they built the stadium handcuffs us. OTOH, with an imaginative design allowing the track to go under the building, a new locker room/weight room could be built in the end zone opposite Millheiser.

One of the grandstands at Nevada's stadium covers part of the track. You could easily build a hospitality deck over the track, with the LR/WR behind it. Many buildings are constructed with, for example, parking on ground level and offices, etc., starting on the second floor.

It would enclose that end zone, the loss of seating would be minimal, and an on-site facility is far superior to something in the RC. The space used by football in the RC could be turned over to other programs.
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Agreed. That track is an albatross on an otherwise beautiful stadium but it is what it is. I dont know if its possible, but since the students never really show up to the games why not open those seats to the public and move the student section behind the visitor bench on the track? Put some temporary platforms up or something, probably a better view and the ability to heckle which is an added bonus.
 
The press conference is 4 pm and open to the public per Richmond Athlerics Twitter.

If someone is going, it would be awesome if you could ask a question about whether there were talks of upgrading facilities when Russ decided to join and whether there is a realistic expectation of something happening in the foreseeable future.
 
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I think that it is highly unlikely that a Football-only facility would ever be acceptable to the BOT. What may be more acceptable (IMO) would be a multi-sport Student-Athlete Center (in combination with existing Robins Center training facilities). It could be located in the area where Millhiser is currently and called Millhiser with parts (bricks, flooring, beams, etc.) of the old Milllhiser memorialized into the new building, if desired. The current Millhiser is not functional in anyway for practical use, but it is a prime location for athletic facility expansion. Just my thoughts! Wish I could participate in a project to make it happen!
 
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the facilities cost big money, thus we need a capital campaign or a big donor to step forward like the last time they redid the locker rooms.
 
PawleysSpider said:
I think that it is highly unlikely that a Football-only facility would ever be acceptable to the BOT. What may be more acceptable (IMO) would be a multi-sport Student-Athlete Center (in combination with existing Robins Center training facilities). It could be located in the area where Millhiser is currently and called Millhiser with parts (bricks, flooring, beams, etc.) of the old Milllhiser memorialized into the new building, if desired. The current Millhiser is not functional in anyway for practical use, but it is a prime location for athletic facility expansion. Just my thoughts! Wish I could participate in a project to make it happen!
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Well since lacrosse and soccer also use the stadium perhaps some of their big donors could be tapped to help. Locker rooms for those sports could also be included in an end-zone facility. The weight room could easily be shared, as no team needs it 24/7.

I thought Millhiser was supposed to be repurposed into a basketball practice center.
 
PawleysSpider said:
I think that it is highly unlikely that a Football-only facility would ever be acceptable to the BOT. What may be more acceptable (IMO) would be a multi-sport Student-Athlete Center (in combination with existing Robins Center training facilities). It could be located in the area where Millhiser is currently and called Millhiser with parts (bricks, flooring, beams, etc.) of the old Milllhiser memorialized into the new building, if desired. The current Millhiser is not functional in anyway for practical use, but it is a prime location for athletic facility expansion. Just my thoughts! Wish I could participate in a project to make it happen!
Click to expand...

Couldn't agree more!
 
There are some obvious first steps, most already said:

1. Renovate weight room
2. Renovate locker room
3. Better equipment

There are other things in the current capital plan - improve Training room facilities and add additional suites and coaching boxes to RS that need to happen

I don't think there will be a dedicated football building but an additional shared facility would be great. because I don;t think the school would approve a building that did not impact more student athletes than just football and the fact that there is not other great place available for the track (maybe the practice fields area?), I don't think we will see the track removed and a building built in the back end zone. I could see the game day locker room area expanded (up - multiple stories) with some of the things listed above, plus film rooms / class rooms, etc. This can be sold as all sports, since Women's Soccer and Lax use RS.

Another long-term option is an indoor facility located at the practice fields. If they re-position the fields to align with the Soccer and Lax fields over there they could add a building currently along the hill that is beside the Soccer field. That building could include a full indoor field (used for all sports) and bay doors that extend along side an outdoor practice field. The building could have stands along the soccer field that make that field the home of women's soccer (games). There is more than enough space over there to do this and include some of the amenities listed above in the building.

My old HS is building a new wellness center with 8 lane 25 yd pool, 4 court basketball gym with elevated track, weight rooms, class rooms, other amenities in a similar place. It is built into a hill that flanks the Football stadium on one side and a multipurpose football practice field / baseball field on the other side (on top of the hill).

stjohnsexterior1.jpg


56aabf6f2b8e6.image.jpg
 
Couldn't they build something where the game day locker room is? Three stories, with lockers, gym and maybe offices at the top.

52d2fc141a5cc.image.jpg
 
spiderstudent17 said:
What do you all wish the administration does to elevate the football program? Hopefully if we all voice our concerns and (fundraise?) this can become a reality

I think realistically we should:
1. Renovate weight room
2. Renovate locker room
3. Purchase more and nicer gear

A far-stretch wish of mine:
1. Tear down Sarah Brunnet Hall (old admissions building) or Millheiser and add a football facility
2. Lower admissions standards for a select few football players who can make a significant contribution to increasing our national stature in FCS

Here is the elevate campaign we are supposedly doing: http://www.richmondspiders.com/fls/26800/ElevateCampaign.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=26800
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Politely put, wrong. Bandaids, more bandaids.

I have been in almost all CAA training facilities, all Patriot league as well as probably 30 D1 facilities. UR is way behind its competitors. We are middle of the road for the CAA. Better than your Rhode Island's, far behind the JMU's, W&M, and even Delaware. Instead of renovating the existing weight room, training rooms and medical area, build a football facility like our competitors. The program has done well. WE need to get beyond the mentality of putting more lipstick on the pig. Its still a pig.
 
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One putt said:
Politely put, wrong. Bandaids, more bandaids.

I have been in almost all CAA training facilities, all Patriot league as well as probably 30 D1 facilities. UR is way behind its competitors. We are middle of the road for the CAA. Better than your Rhode Island's, far behind the JMU's, W&M, and even Delaware. Instead of renovating the existing weight room, training rooms and medical area, build a football facility like our competitors. The program has done well. WE need to get beyond the mentality of putting more lipstick on the pig. Its still a pig.
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I agree with you that a football (or even all athletics sports complex) facility should be built. But how is improving our existing facilities a band-aid? Richmond can only do so much with its existing space. Renovating current facilities is a great way to upgrade our program without drastic new additions, which would require some landscape changes
 
RCSGA said:
Couldn't they build something where the game day locker room is? Three stories, with lockers, gym and maybe offices at the top.

52d2fc141a5cc.image.jpg
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Looking at the photo, you could easily do as I said, remove the EZ bleachers, and just build a facility over the track. You could even put a small parking lot in the woods behind it, with access off of Boatwright and Campus Drives.
 
One putt said:
Politely put, wrong. Bandaids, more bandaids.

I have been in almost all CAA training facilities, all Patriot league as well as probably 30 D1 facilities. UR is way behind its competitors. We are middle of the road for the CAA. Better than your Rhode Island's, far behind the JMU's, W&M, and even Delaware. Instead of renovating the existing weight room, training rooms and medical area, build a football facility like our competitors. The program has done well. WE need to get beyond the mentality of putting more lipstick on the pig. Its still a pig.
Click to expand...
Love to see it, but it is not going to happen in view of the plans already set forth for the other athletic renovations. Need to be more realistic or change the proposed plan which was announced a few months ago. Couldn't find a link to it, but it is pretty comprehensive.
 
Goodbye old tennis courts...

Or build it behind the scoreboard (which may actually be the same space). It'll be the nicest women's track training facility in the country (see title IX compliance, it's not actually for football...)

whay happened to all the space inside the robins center when Weinstein got built?
 
DTSpider said:
whay happened to all the space inside the robins center when Weinstein got built?
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There wasn't a ton of space freed up in the RC with that project. The old fitness center area became a varsity weight room and some multipurpose activity spaces. There was also some expansion to general locker rooms for students/faculty/staff and other users.

Basically the small student fitness center shifted into the old carpet/auxiliary gym area (much larger space obviously) and the addition created the gym replacement (also larger).
 
Looking at the picture I posted of RS, maybe Sarah Burnet is the answer. Only the old Refectory portions of the building are historic. What is now in the old admissions area now that they moved? That area is immediately adjacent to the stadium, and is of no architectural significance. Maybe even the original portion of Sarah Burnet could be repurposed as reception/ study areas for athletes. Just a thought.
 
Sarah Brunet is being used as a temp home for the psychology department this year while Richmond Hall is being renovated. I don't know what the long term plans are for it.
 
On a serious note implementing training table would be fantastic the fcs shedule is more grueling that FBS (if your making runs in the playoffs ) and having some oversight in the players diet would really have a pzitive effect
 
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Floridaspiderfan said:
On a serious note implementing training table would be fantastic the fcs shedule is more grueling that FBS (if your making runs in the playoffs ) and having some oversight in the players diet would really have a pzitive effect
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Sorry for spelling facts. Schedule. Postive....long day
 
RCSGA said:
Looking at the picture I posted of RS, maybe Sarah Burnet is the answer. Only the old Refectory portions of the building are historic. What is now in the old admissions area now that they moved? That area is immediately adjacent to the stadium, and is of no architectural significance. Maybe even the original portion of Sarah Burnet could be repurposed as reception/ study areas for athletes. Just a thought.
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What is so historic about Sarah Burnet? It may give a fuzzy feeling to some of the oldtimers, but it certainly does not stand out architecturally. It's no one's crowning jewel. A residential home builder could construct something more significant and aesthetically pleasing. I understand it was a mess hall prior to Heilman.

Tear 'er down. Whoever Sarah was, preserve her name in deference to Title IX.
Up with the Sarah Brunet/Paul Quealy/32 Counter Athletic Annex.
 
It's one of the original six 1914 campus buildings designed by Cram. The original part of it in particular is quite nice and a prime example of the architectural style UR is so famous for, and there's no way they'd tear it down.
 
The above picture really does not show it, but I believe there is plenty of room to build a first class facility between SB and the track, taking up the corner of the Plaza. Put a nice suite overlooking the field for the Pres and other donors, first class offices, locker rooms, weight rooms, training rooms, medical rooms, etc
 
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I don't think you can put anything between SB and the track

But there is plenty of room to build up over the existing game day locker room and lots of room to extend it into the woods. It could be L-shaped and then extend across about half of the field up to the scoreboard.

There is actually a lot of space back in the trees.
 
Eight Legger said:
I have no idea what the team "needs" or doesn't need, other than what a few folks have posted on here. Candidly, as a fan, it appears to me that we are fairly well treated when it comes to equipment and gear – we have two sets of game helmets and three different uniforms. That's not a small investment. It's strange to me that we would spend all that money on game stuff and then not buy more gloves, for example. I'm not pointing fingers either way, but something doesn't add up there.
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no winter gear for these trips north and west despite what was reported in paper, but locker room redo is mandatory and we can't wait until they redo RC again unless they expedite the entire project.
 
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I understand it was a mess hall prior to Heilman.

Yes, and Paul McCartney was in a band before Wings.
 
SFspidur said:
Sarah Brunet is being used as a temp home for the psychology department this year while Richmond Hall is being renovated. I don't know what the long term plans are for it.
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It will be used as a replacement for the departments in puryear that are being renovated in 2017.
 
iSpider said:
What is so historic about Sarah Burnet? It may give a fuzzy feeling to some of the oldtimers, but it certainly does not stand out architecturally. It's no one's crowning jewel. A residential home builder could construct something more significant and aesthetically pleasing. I understand it was a mess hall prior to Heilman.

Tear 'er down. Whoever Sarah was, preserve her name in deference to Title IX.
Up with the Sarah Brunet/Paul Quealy/32 Counter Athletic Annex.
Click to expand...
Have you even been into Sarah Brunet Hall? It's very cool inside, it would be a shame to knock it down.
 
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