(07-23-2020 02:38 PM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  

(07-23-2020 02:31 PM)klake87 Wrote:  I was at NIU when they had high school style bleachers in end zone and east side. Old astroturf

I remember coaches in high school telling me about how awful AstroTurf is. Full on concrete underneath? You old guys are nuts.

Klake87 is correct. The first time AstroTurf was installed at Huskie Stadium it did have concrete underneath several layers and that turf was like carpeting that got worn down so badly you could see the cross-stitching fabric. Today's turf has a drainage system in the foundation layer under bedding with a membrane laid over all that; then comes a sub-base with crushed stone; a leveling layer of either stone or bitmac, then a shock-absorbing pad. On top of all that comes a backing system to which the grass fibres are anchored with a layer of sand added before the a final layer of granulated rubber. It's definitely not your father's turf.

It's crazy because, I personally find today's turf to be so much more faster and crazy with agility improvements. It's so incredibly grippy. Turns out too grippy, and probably a cause of ACL tears. So grippy that NFL teams are reverting back to grass. Looks like life has come full circle.

(07-23-2020 04:15 PM)uiniu57 Wrote:  

(07-23-2020 02:38 PM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  

(07-23-2020 02:31 PM)klake87 Wrote:  I was at NIU when they had high school style bleachers in end zone and east side. Old astroturf

I remember coaches in high school telling me about how awful AstroTurf is. Full on concrete underneath? You old guys are nuts.

Klake87 is correct. The first time AstroTurf was installed at Huskie Stadium it did have concrete underneath several layers and that turf was like carpeting that got worn down so badly you could see the cross-stitching fabric. Today's turf has a drainage system in the foundation layer under bedding with a membrane laid over all that; then comes a sub-base with crushed stone; a leveling layer of either stone or bitmac, then a shock-absorbing pad. On top of all that comes a backing system to which the grass fibres are anchored with a layer of sand added before the a final layer of granulated rubber. It's definitely not your father's turf.

Yeah, it wasn't carpet on concrete. There's a fairly thick pad that goes in between. I played baseball on AstroTurf once at the old Busch Stadium in St. Louis and it took some getting used to. Especially since baseball players wear metal spikes. You had to make sure to pick your feet up or else they'd snag your spikes and you'd be on your nose pretty quickly.

Also, a baseball moves way f'n fast on turf and bounces like crazy. I played a bit in right field and I was scared to death a ball would either skip past me or bounce over my head and go all the way to the wall. I think moved in to 1st base and for the first inning, it was a little nerve wracking seeing how quickly ground balls were getting across the infield.

Although Huskie Stadium is old, outdated, and in need of serious renovation, there is no better place to watch a college football game.

(07-23-2020 02:38 PM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  

(07-23-2020 02:31 PM)klake87 Wrote:  

(07-22-2020 10:23 AM)chihuskie Wrote:  

(07-21-2020 07:04 PM)klake87 Wrote:  55 is not that old, it's the new 30.

+1

I was at NIU when they had high school style bleachers in end zone and east side. Old astroturf

I remember coaches in high school telling me about how awful AstroTurf is. Full on concrete underneath? You old guys are nuts.

Their were two stadiums in chicago. Gately being one of them. St. Pats used that stadium. Could not wear cleats so had to wear gym shoes or buy astroturf shoes. If you skidded on turf and skin made contact, nice rug burn. It sucked

(07-24-2020 06:03 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  Although Huskie Stadium is old, outdated, and in need of serious renovation, there is no better place to watch a college football game.

Hulkamania brother. That place is home to me. Even though the concessions aren't great.

Aloha Stadium in Hawaii maybe twice the size, but that place makes Huskie Stadium look like the Ritz. It was old when it was brand new. Can't believe an engineer convinced them that a pre-weathered (rusty) stadium was a good idea.

(07-24-2020 09:48 AM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  

(07-24-2020 06:03 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  Although Huskie Stadium is old, outdated, and in need of serious renovation, there is no better place to watch a college football game.

Hulkamania brother. That place is home to me. Even though the concessions aren't great.

Aloha Stadium in Hawaii maybe twice the size, but that place makes Huskie Stadium look like the Ritz. It was old when it was brand new. Can't believe an engineer convinced them that a pre-weathered (rusty) stadium was a good idea.

Yes, the concessions may not be great and the selection extremely limited, but think of how wonderful a warm Huskie Stadium hot dog in a moist bun slathered with juicy condiments tastes. Can you remember (if you even were lucky to ever get one)? Ah, the memories of our distant past!

How about the original trough urinals in the north east corner? Where else can you go with you son, stand together and tell your son that this is the spot where I stood 50 years ago.

What a tradition to run down the stairs between quarters, stand, stare eyes straight, do your duty, run back up the stairs and not miss a single play.

(07-24-2020 09:20 AM)klake87 Wrote:  

(07-23-2020 02:38 PM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  

(07-23-2020 02:31 PM)klake87 Wrote:  

(07-22-2020 10:23 AM)chihuskie Wrote:  

(07-21-2020 07:04 PM)klake87 Wrote:  55 is not that old, it's the new 30.

+1

I was at NIU when they had high school style bleachers in end zone and east side. Old astroturf

I remember coaches in high school telling me about how awful AstroTurf is. Full on concrete underneath? You old guys are nuts.

Their were two stadiums in chicago. Gately being one of them. St. Pats used that stadium. Could not wear cleats so had to wear gym shoes or buy astroturf shoes. If you skidded on turf and skin made contact, nice rug burn. It sucked

I didn't play for MC, but was on the field. It was concrete. It was a home field advantage, especially in foul (or fowl) weather. If you had clieats, you were doomed.It was turf shoes or sneakers. But I do remember one game maybe a decade-15yrs ago where it was ice. The other team did have cleats and worked out. If I remember, MC got beat bad by a better team that had the shoes. That didnt happen often.

I never understood why the bathroom situation couldn’t be improved by adding bathrooms in the upper level where there’s nothing but iron girders. It’s an open area where there is easy access for adding plumbing. Cost would be fairly minimal.

(07-24-2020 03:43 PM)HuskieBowWow Wrote:  I never understood why the bathroom situation couldn’t be improved by adding bathrooms in the upper level where there’s nothing but iron girders. It’s an open area where there is easy access for adding plumbing. Cost would be fairly minimal.

I guess Athletics likes the communal bonding among Huskie fans standing at the troughs.

Will there be signs at the troughs that guys have to stand 6 ft. apart when taking a leak? Since there is always the possibility of splashing at the trough, is this a danger during these pandemic times? Can somebody please call the CDC, ask for Dr. Fauci, and get his professional opinion on this?

(07-24-2020 03:43 PM)HuskieBowWow Wrote:  I never understood why the bathroom situation couldn’t be improved by adding bathrooms in the upper level where there’s nothing but iron girders. It’s an open area where there is easy access for adding plumbing. Cost would be fairly minimal.

Always heard costs would not be minimal because getting water pressure up any level isn't cheap and the lack of insulation creates a problem. The men's and women's restrooms in the press box always had to be shut off once the season was over to avoid freezing and damage to the pipes. You may be correct when it comes to a brand new structure, but pardon the pun, at age 55 Huskie Stadium's internal workings can't rise to the occasion.

(07-21-2020 08:42 PM)uiniu57 Wrote:  

(07-21-2020 10:06 AM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  I just saw a FB post on Huskie Stadium that it was built in 1965. Made me really think and put into perspective that it's 55 years old.

That said, what improvements have been done cosmetically on the west side? I think they redid the press box, added suites inside. Other than that they really haven't done much, no? I have always said the seating itself is great to watch a game. The interior design leaves a lot to be desired.

Hopefully if there are responses this doesn't turn into a NIU financial situation thread. Not the point.

The press box has never been redone in any major way. Astroturf for flooring, the NIU coaching booth was expanded, camera wings got enclosed and that's as close to having a "suite" as it gets. The President's box below also is badly in need or repair / updating. An "auxiliary box" TV booth was added to the North side of the press box and then a similar booth was added to the South (scoreboard) side so that the timer, scoreboard operator, etc. could have more room.
Understand you didn't want this to become a financial situation thread, but it needs to be known that during Compher's time, athletics mistreated the widow of long-time SID and Hall of Famer Bud Nangle. She was further frustrated by how Mike Korcek was also mistreated, so Mrs. Nangle had a $1 million dollar donation originally earmarked for press box, elevator and other West side repairs broken up into several smaller gifts donated to various parts of the university instead of athletics. The university as a whole still benefited to that amount, but not in the way originally designated.

Korcek deserved better. A great NIU historian. Does he still have his seats on the West Side, approx. 50-yard line?

(07-24-2020 09:20 AM)klake87 Wrote:  

(07-23-2020 02:38 PM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  

(07-23-2020 02:31 PM)klake87 Wrote:  

(07-22-2020 10:23 AM)chihuskie Wrote:  

(07-21-2020 07:04 PM)klake87 Wrote:  55 is not that old, it's the new 30.

+1

I was at NIU when they had high school style bleachers in end zone and east side. Old astroturf

I remember coaches in high school telling me about how awful AstroTurf is. Full on concrete underneath? You old guys are nuts.

Their were two stadiums in chicago. Gately being one of them. St. Pats used that stadium. Could not wear cleats so had to wear gym shoes or buy astroturf shoes. If you skidded on turf and skin made contact, nice rug burn. It sucked

Lane Tech had a nice stadium that was also home to the original DePaul Academy and Gordon Tech. I played there a couple of times.

Also, St. Rita had a cool little stadium.

Anyone remember when kids would assemble outside of the north end zone with paper bags on extra point attempts. Someone would catch it and the whole group would then meet in a circle and secretly switch the ball into someone's bag. Then they would all run off in different directions
The hapless NIU employee assigned to return extra point kicks was completely bamboozled.

(08-18-2020 06:29 PM)sarasotahuskie Wrote:  

(07-24-2020 09:20 AM)klake87 Wrote:  

(07-23-2020 02:38 PM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  

(07-23-2020 02:31 PM)klake87 Wrote:  

(07-22-2020 10:23 AM)chihuskie Wrote:  +1

I was at NIU when they had high school style bleachers in end zone and east side. Old astroturf

I remember coaches in high school telling me about how awful AstroTurf is. Full on concrete underneath? You old guys are nuts.

Their were two stadiums in chicago. Gately being one of them. St. Pats used that stadium. Could not wear cleats so had to wear gym shoes or buy astroturf shoes. If you skidded on turf and skin made contact, nice rug burn. It sucked

Lane Tech had a nice stadium that was also home to the original DePaul Academy and Gordon Tech. I played there a couple of times.

Also, St. Rita had a cool little stadium.

The stadium by Lane Tech was in movie Wildcars with Goldie Hawk.

(08-19-2020 07:47 AM)klake87 Wrote:  

(08-18-2020 06:29 PM)sarasotahuskie Wrote:  

(07-24-2020 09:20 AM)klake87 Wrote:  

(07-23-2020 02:38 PM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  

(07-23-2020 02:31 PM)klake87 Wrote:  I was at NIU when they had high school style bleachers in end zone and east side. Old astroturf

I remember coaches in high school telling me about how awful AstroTurf is. Full on concrete underneath? You old guys are nuts.

Their were two stadiums in chicago. Gately being one of them. St. Pats used that stadium. Could not wear cleats so had to wear gym shoes or buy astroturf shoes. If you skidded on turf and skin made contact, nice rug burn. It sucked

Lane Tech had a nice stadium that was also home to the original DePaul Academy and Gordon Tech. I played there a couple of times.

Also, St. Rita had a cool little stadium.

The stadium by Lane Tech was in movie Wildcars with Goldie Hawk.

Sure It wasn't Golden Eagle?

(08-19-2020 05:56 PM)sarasotahuskie Wrote:  

(08-19-2020 07:47 AM)klake87 Wrote:  

(08-18-2020 06:29 PM)sarasotahuskie Wrote:  

(07-24-2020 09:20 AM)klake87 Wrote:  

(07-23-2020 02:38 PM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  I remember coaches in high school telling me about how awful AstroTurf is. Full on concrete underneath? You old guys are nuts.

Their were two stadiums in chicago. Gately being one of them. St. Pats used that stadium. Could not wear cleats so had to wear gym shoes or buy astroturf shoes. If you skidded on turf and skin made contact, nice rug burn. It sucked

Lane Tech had a nice stadium that was also home to the original DePaul Academy and Gordon Tech. I played there a couple of times.

Also, St. Rita had a cool little stadium.

The stadium by Lane Tech was in movie Wildcars with Goldie Hawk.

Sure It wasn't Golden Eagle?

Goldie Hawn was coach

(08-19-2020 08:28 PM)klake87 Wrote:  

(08-19-2020 05:56 PM)sarasotahuskie Wrote:  

(08-19-2020 07:47 AM)klake87 Wrote:  

(08-18-2020 06:29 PM)sarasotahuskie Wrote:  

(07-24-2020 09:20 AM)klake87 Wrote:  Their were two stadiums in chicago. Gately being one of them. St. Pats used that stadium. Could not wear cleats so had to wear gym shoes or buy astroturf shoes. If you skidded on turf and skin made contact, nice rug burn. It sucked

Lane Tech had a nice stadium that was also home to the original DePaul Academy and Gordon Tech. I played there a couple of times.

Also, St. Rita had a cool little stadium.

The stadium by Lane Tech was in movie Wildcars with Goldie Hawk.

Sure It wasn't Golden Eagle?

Goldie Hawn was coach

Just gigging you about a typo. I know the movie and didn't realize it was shot there.

(08-20-2020 07:05 PM)sarasotahuskie Wrote:  

(08-19-2020 08:28 PM)klake87 Wrote:  

(08-19-2020 05:56 PM)sarasotahuskie Wrote:  

(08-19-2020 07:47 AM)klake87 Wrote:  

(08-18-2020 06:29 PM)sarasotahuskie Wrote:  Lane Tech had a nice stadium that was also home to the original DePaul Academy and Gordon Tech. I played there a couple of times.

Also, St. Rita had a cool little stadium.

The stadium by Lane Tech was in movie Wildcars with Goldie Hawk.

Sure It wasn't Golden Eagle?

Goldie Hawn was coach

Just gigging you about a typo. I know the movie and didn't realize it was shot there.

Easy pal lol