Weekend observations!
Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2017 6:11 pm
Thought I would share some points of interest from our visit to Macomb this weekend. My wife (who has become a very interested Leatherneck “fan”) and I once again headed to Macomb Saturday morning with a stop at the Iron Spike in Galesburg for lunch. After checking in at the BW and relaxing a bit, we headed to Western Hall. I like to get to games early so that I can scope everything out and Saturday was no exception. We entered the arena through the vomitorium and I got to tell you, it really looks great with the new seats. The endzone areas actually compliment the new seating nicely. The video boards were used for the introduction of players and to be honest it was well done imo. I have seen this done at Purdue a number of times and this was close to being as good. The video boards were used for stats and such throughout the game and I really think they enhance the game day experience. The black seats were very very very comfortable! There really is not a bad seat in the inner bowl of Western Hall! The WIU pep band is great and they supplied noise and music throughout the game along with the “rockin roll” music we have all come to expect. It really was a good game day atmosphere which will only get better with more butts in the seats and student involvement and lets talk about that! The east endzone was almost filled to capacity with Leatherneck fans, except that they had no idea what their role in the game should be! People have said that the adults should cheer more but if you go to a Big 10 game, you will find that most of the people sit and watch while the student section basically becomes an extension of the basketball team. I stood for the school fight song and national anthem, I yelled at the refs, I clapped my hands loudly, and reacted to people making statements in the crowd around us while the student section slept. 712, you have said a number of times that the students should have better seats, but until they learn how to be a part of the game, I would leave them right there. Some how that part of the equation has got to be cultivated and developed like Lou Henson’s involvement in the “Orange Crush” way back when. Of course, the better the team, the better the record, the more chance for students and fans chance to get involved and fill the seats. I really think Western Hall’s makeover has made it a really nice place to play D1 basketball.
It was Mel Blasi’s turn to host the Leatherneck Club social at halftime in the Hall of Fame room and he not only was very excited about the approaching golf season, but also announced that the construction of the new club house at the Mussatto Golf Course would begin this fall. This structure is going to cost over $700,000, all from private funds. Pretty good for the state of the state at this point!!! The new facility will include areas for men’s and women’s locker-rooms, pro shop, a dining/lounge area that will double for an indoor practice area, snack bar, and coach’s offices. I grabbed a pamphlet, titled, “The Drive to Excellence” Arthur D. and Roselyn Chown Golf Learning Center and you can find it on line if you want to see a picture of the specs.
Guess that’s enough! jc
It was Mel Blasi’s turn to host the Leatherneck Club social at halftime in the Hall of Fame room and he not only was very excited about the approaching golf season, but also announced that the construction of the new club house at the Mussatto Golf Course would begin this fall. This structure is going to cost over $700,000, all from private funds. Pretty good for the state of the state at this point!!! The new facility will include areas for men’s and women’s locker-rooms, pro shop, a dining/lounge area that will double for an indoor practice area, snack bar, and coach’s offices. I grabbed a pamphlet, titled, “The Drive to Excellence” Arthur D. and Roselyn Chown Golf Learning Center and you can find it on line if you want to see a picture of the specs.
Guess that’s enough! jc