Ohio is on its way to victory with honor

by Paul Shugar
THE POST

After a 1995 survey of Mid-American Conference sports facilities showed Ohio had the worst facilities in the MAC, the athletics department decided Ohio needed a change.

The department developed a plan called Victory with Honor. The plan calls for 49 projects to improve Ohio's athletic facilities.

The plan was established to accomplish three main objectives: to serve the greatest number of athletes, to give athletes the best experience at Ohio and to bring the best recruits to Ohio. Five years later Ohio has finished 28 projects to improve Ohio athletics facilities.

"The schedule has been very ambitious, but we are where we hope to be," Director of Athletics Thomas Boeh said.

Assistant Athletic Director Mark Wilson said many of the projects were completed quickly because of funding support by alumni.

"We are all excited to see the alumni stepping forward to fund the projects," Wilson said.

These accomplishments include small projects such as locker room and ticket booth renovation and large projects such as renovating the Convocation Center, the Victory with Honor plan said. The Convo was renovated by the end of 1997. The renovations included updating the lighting, sound, skybox, press row and playing surface.

The baseball field moved to the Athletic Mall behind The Convo in the spring of 1998 when Bob Wren Stadium was finished. The softball field also moved to the Athletic Mall.

"Our field is head and shoulders above any field in the MAC and maybe in the country," baseball Head Coach Joe Carbone said.

Since 1998, more projects have been completed benefiting sports from women's golf to men's basketball.

In 1999, lights were added to Peden Stadium and the Dr. Steve and Kathy Carin Strength and Conditioning Center also was completed.

"We are really catching up with the MAC in facilities," said Wilson. "The Carin Center is one of the best in the country. It may not be as big as some facilities, but it is very efficient."

Victory with Honor continued this year. Offices were renovated in the Joan and Phillips Academic Services Center. Wilson said the academic services center is also top of the line.

This summer the athletic department plans to move Goldsberry Track from Peden Stadium to Astroturf Field. This will allow for renovations on Peden after the 2000 football season.

"We want to make Peden Stadium the Wrigley Field of football," Wilson said.

Plans for the stadium include lowering the field and putting in a new playing surface, then adding more seating to increase the capacity to an estimated 25,000. Improvements to the scoreboard and the concession stands also are planned.

Funding is complete for the women's soccer stadium, and the new football practice fields are under construction. Other projects on the Victory with Honor agenda are a new softball stadium complex and an indoor track/astroturf field.

Carbone believes this will benefit many sports, including baseball.

"When we get that (indoor field) our facilities will just be outstanding," he said. "The Athletic Department has done a great job with facilities and I understand that what is critically needed comes first."

Wilson said Ohio's athletic facilities project an image.

"We want facilities that serve our athletes and show them that we are serious to compete for championships," Wilson said.