Cornell football 2023

[Local Motion]

Well that certainly was not the case when I was a student-athlete at Cornell.   Frank Rhodes was a regular at many Cornell sports events and he was an advocate for renovating Schoellkopf Field in 1986 and the opening of Bartels Hall in 1990.  Frank Rhodes was by far the best fund-raiser and most popular president in the last fifty years on the East Hill.  

I guess if the president of Cornell doesn't care about athletics, then why should we alumni continue to post on this website, make financial gifts to athletics, or support our teams???   Meanwhile the other seven Ivy league members continue to upgrade their athletic facilities.  For example, Conner Buczek has done a great job coaching Big Red lacrosse, but I can assure you if he keeps up the good work, other NCAA teams will come calling, like the other Lax coaches who have left the East Hill in recent years.  

You may want to tour some of the amazing athletic facilities at other Ivy member schools.  Even Dartmouth has significantly upgraded their athletic facilities in recent years and like Cornell they are located in a rural setting.

[big29red]

100% agree! The athletic facilities for both Varsity and non-Varsity athletes are subpar. Every other Ivy has blown by us in terms of their stadiums, fields, and facilities for the general student population. If you ever go to MIT, you would be amazed at what they have and what they offer their students. I just do not understand how this continues, year after year, and we look like a forgotten stepchild. My entire family all went to Cornell (7 of us), and 4 of us were on various athletic teams, it has not really improved a whole lot. The lacrosse team is a perfect example- they need an indoor practice facility, supposedly the money has been raised by friends of Cornell lacrosse, still not built. The University president "can't decide where it should go". Are you kidding me?? That new computer science building is already underway, and they kicked the baseball team far away from campus on Game Farm road. Good luck getting the undergrads to go and cheer on the team. I can assure you that Coach Buczek has already been approached by several other lax programs offering more $$$, but he has stayed out of loyalty, as has his coaches! That will not last for long, can only hope this new AD sees the forest through the trees and puts Athletics on par with our amazing educational opportunities as well as our peer institutions athletic facilities. I can tell you all without a doubt, this hurts recruiting tremendously, and we lose many good athletes to other Ivys. Look at the football team-abysmal record, mediocre coaching staff that is underpaid, playing in half a stadium.

[CAS]

I have heard that the new indoor recreation & sports bldg is still in the works - they are trying to finish the fundraising.  Inflation raised the cost of the facility.

[Local Motion]

Andy Noel wanted the indoor practice facility on campus and Martha Pollack wants to send it two miles down the road.   As a former Big Red student-athlete I didn't even have a car until my senior year which I parked behind my fraternity house.   I too came from a big Cornell family and my older brother almost didn't graduate because he had too many parking tickets.   Cornell has always been a "walkable" campus dating back to when my great Uncle was there in the 1920's.   I find it ironic the Cornell admin wants our students walking everywhere which is probably a good thing, but then they push our already limited sports facilities off campus.

The reality is when a Ivy League recruit visits Cornell, especially for sports like football where they walk into our stadium (which is in terrible condition) then that same student-athlete visits Princeton, Harvard, or even Dartmouth it's practically a no-brainer where they are going and it's not the East Hill.    The Princeton stadium is incredibly impressive and Dartmouth's is nearly brand new.   Meanwhile I have heard Harvard is renovating their stadium and even prior to the renovations the Crimson usually leads the Ivy League in home game attendance.   Again, if you're a top Ivy League recruit from places like Florida, Texas, and California some of these kids are playing in 10K plus seat stadiums that are full every Friday night.

[mike1960]

Andy Noel wanted the indoor practice facility on campus and Martha Pollack wants to send it two miles down the road.   As a former Big Red student-athlete I didn't even have a car until my senior year which I parked behind my fraternity house.   I too came from a big Cornell family and my older brother almost didn't graduate because he had too many parking tickets.   Cornell has always been a "walkable" campus dating back to when my great Uncle was there in the 1920's.   I find it ironic the Cornell admin wants our students walking everywhere which is probably a good thing, but then they push our already limited sports facilities off campus.

The reality is when a Ivy League recruit visits Cornell, especially for sports like football where they walk into our stadium (which is in terrible condition) then that same student-athlete visits Princeton, Harvard, or even Dartmouth it's practically a no-brainer where they are going and it's not the East Hill.    The Princeton stadium is incredibly impressive and Dartmouth's is nearly brand new.   Meanwhile I have heard Harvard is renovating their stadium and even prior to the renovations the Crimson usually leads the Ivy League in home game attendance.   Again, if you're a top Ivy League recruit from places like Florida, Texas, and California some of these kids are playing in 10K plus seat stadiums that are full every Friday night.

The issue is the product, not the buyers. If you have a team that wins, people will come. People will most definitely come.

[big29red]

All so true- My frustration lies in the fact that as an alum athlete,I am always hearing how something "can't" be done, as opposed to let"s do it! I'm embarrassed to bring friends to Scheolkopff, where I have many great memories of playing and watching my son play. Martha Pollack unfortunately does not have her finger on the pulse of athletics in a college setting and furthermore, I don't think she really cares either. Ridiculous to push athletics miles off campus, and don't start with Columbia has to do that- we are not in Manhattan/Harlem.

As for the indoor lacrosse/recreation facility, I was told the money is there- however by delaying the decision making as to where it should reside, the cost of building it has risen (Union work at Cornell). That's on Martha- again she could give a shit about athletics. I don't know what the answer is. I have written VP Lombardi and Noel- crickets! Maybe, as others have mentioned, we just stop sending money?

I also feel this is not just a Varsity athletics issue, the entire student body needs better and more available facilities to blow off steam. Maybe, just maybe, there won't be as many drinking incidents on campus as there are now! The University sorely needs a new pool- Teagle is outdated- knock down another outdated facility Helen Newman, and build a multi story facility with a new pool, basketball courts, weight rooms and a top floor cafe, with views of Bebe Lake. Parking underground. I've been to high schools and prep schools with similar and markedly better facilities. God forbid, dip into the endowment, and get it done!

[big29red]

The only way to win is to out recruit your rivals- can't do that now in Football, Baseball, and somewhat in Basketball, as well as most of the women's sports sans Hockey. Why- the facilities are subpar for years, and the legacy of losing does not go away. Recruits are constantly looking else where to our Ivy foes, especially in Football. HYP certainly gives more "financial aid", and they take whoever they want. I do find it amazing that Lacrosse, Hockey and Wrestling can remain as competitive as they do-certainly a testament to the respective coaches!

[billhoward]

Why should we continue to post on this site?

Um, we look to complain?

[billhoward]

Good news from Saturday's Colgate / Homecoming game 9/30:

* I think we led more minutes than Colgate. If not, close enough.
* The fireworks were fantastic Friday night.
* The weather was fabulous. We were out three times on the lake Friday to Sunday.
* Attendance almost 13,000 for football, even more for fireworks.
* Colgate player's dad sitting in front of us said Nicki Moore was well-regarded at Colgate.
* One can win in more than one way on game day: "Never Lost a Tailgate." Go Red!
* The Big Red Marching Band (and all the alumni band people Saturday) continue to make parents of the other seven Ivy teams jealous. Our band looks good, plays well, and doesn't do political skits which nobody even understands because the announcer mumbles and how to do you make an extended middle finger when the band only has like nine people on the field?

[BearLover]

Andy Noel wanted the indoor practice facility on campus and Martha Pollack wants to send it two miles down the road.   As a former Big Red student-athlete I didn't even have a car until my senior year which I parked behind my fraternity house.   I too came from a big Cornell family and my older brother almost didn't graduate because he had too many parking tickets.   Cornell has always been a "walkable" campus dating back to when my great Uncle was there in the 1920's.   I find it ironic the Cornell admin wants our students walking everywhere which is probably a good thing, but then they push our already limited sports facilities off campus.

The reality is when a Ivy League recruit visits Cornell, especially for sports like football where they walk into our stadium (which is in terrible condition) then that same student-athlete visits Princeton, Harvard, or even Dartmouth it's practically a no-brainer where they are going and it's not the East Hill.    The Princeton stadium is incredibly impressive and Dartmouth's is nearly brand new.   Meanwhile I have heard Harvard is renovating their stadium and even prior to the renovations the Crimson usually leads the Ivy League in home game attendance.   Again, if you're a top Ivy League recruit from places like Florida, Texas, and California some of these kids are playing in 10K plus seat stadiums that are full every Friday night.

The issue is the product, not the buyers. If you have a team that wins, people will come. People will most definitely come.

I don't agree. People don't come to watch Cornell lacrosse, nor Harvard football. Lynah attendance doesn't seem to oscillate based on recent success.

[Ken711]

More bad news for the football team.  I heard Jake Stebbins could be out for the season with an ACL injury.  Being a 5th year player is football career would be over.

[billhoward]

If this is for all students then it needs to be on campus. One or two of the Upper Alumni fields would have to give way, or something else would have to come down. It could replace the Schoellkopf Crescent parking lot. Maybe it could go atop the Hoy parking garage (add a few pilings) with a lower level where the Schoellkopf West stands were; BU has one or two fields atop a recently built parking deck. If the Schoellkopf field was moved closer to the Crescent and the former track removed, there'd be quite a bit of room.

Maybe it's time to replace Teagle Hall and its swimming pool.

Putting an all-students fit-rec center a mile or two off campus doesn't make sense. Putting up a field house (indoor field) is a competitive advantage now, in 10 years the lack will be a disadvantage. The president should see herself as part of a continuum of leadership and think about what Cornell wants and needs, not just her personal opinion.

[upprdeck]

I thought the current plan was to go where the soccer field is?

havent heard how the synchrotron will like the construction though?

[CAS]

Believe Cornell was considering two on-campus sites for the new rec center, which would be used by both students & teams.

[Ken711]

If this is for all students then it needs to be on campus. One or two of the Upper Alumni fields would have to give way, or something else would have to come down. It could replace the Schoellkopf Crescent parking lot. Maybe it could go atop the Hoy parking garage (add a few pilings) with a lower level where the Schoellkopf West stands were; BU has one or two fields atop a recently built parking deck. If the Schoellkopf field was moved closer to the Crescent and the former track removed, there'd be quite a bit of room.

Maybe it's time to replace Teagle Hall and its swimming pool.

Putting an all-students fit-rec center a mile or two off campus doesn't make sense. Putting up a field house (indoor field) is a competitive advantage now, in 10 years the lack will be a disadvantage. The president should see herself as part of a continuum of leadership and think about what Cornell wants and needs, not just her personal opinion.

It's past due time.