In terms of the final score, the rivalry game last Saturday between Wooster and rival Case Western Reserve University didnít measure up ó the 52 points given up by the Scots was the most in more than two years. However, on a cool fall night in early October, the first home night game in school history isnít evaluated in total defense. Itís evaluated in excitement, fan support and passion. If the turnout from last weekendís rivalry game was an indication of the future, it proved that the $1.5 million renovation to John P. Papp Stadium was worth every penny.
Thanks to the generous donations of Ed and Edie Andrew, this past summer Papp Stadium received a significant facelift. Renovations were made inside the stadium itself, the formerly grass field is now a synthetic turf called Sprinturf and, most importantly, lights were also added. This enabled the football program to host its first ever night game, and chose to turn on the lights for the first time in history against Case Western Reserve.
From the moment the night game was scheduled, it was a landmark success for the athletic department. The match-up between the two schools for the Baird Brothers trophy generated almost as much hype as the season premiere for ìThe Office.” Students hadnít been this excited since the administration unveiled the new meal plan. Alumni from the football program came from all over to witness the stadium under the lights. They celebrated and acted like they were college students all over again ó tailgating and drinking more beer before noon than most people drink all day. It felt like Div. I football.
Before the game, the athletic department expected one of the biggest crowds ever in school history. The turnout did not disappoint ó an over-capacity crowd of almost 5,000 witnessed the dedication of the Ed and Edie Andrew Turf Field before the game. Once the sun went down on the cool crisp October night, the energy inside the stadium was unmatched. The Scots traded scores with the talented Spartans, the No. 10 team in Div. III. Once Bryan Albani í10 returned the kickoff 93 yards to put Wooster ahead 32-31 late in the third quarter, the energy inside the stadium was palpable. Under the lights, the players looked more excited and fired up than theyíd been all year. The fans were on their feet. The atmosphere was electric.
Unfortunately, Case Western Reserve proved late in the game why they are one of the best teams in the country. Thanks to the heroics of quarterback Dan Whalen, the Spartans scored the last 22 points of the game win 53-32. Typically, wins and losses are a good measuring stick for a program. However, in this case, the stat line doesnít tell the whole story. There was more hype and anticipation surrounding this game than there had been for a Wooster football game in quite long time.
Last Saturdayís game boasted an atmosphere that few small college football programs can match. There was simply an energy in the stadium that hadnít been there previously. A prospective recruit looking to continue his career at the college level could not have helped but been impressed with the environment that permeated Papp Stadium that night. The football program must use this to their advantage.
One of the reasons the menís basketball program has been so successful over the years is that they have been able to recruit some of the best Div. III players in the country. Why? The atmosphere inside Timken Gymnasium on Saturday nights during the winter is special. The gymnasium is routinely sold out against Wittenberg University and during the NCAC Tournament. The program has one of the best attendance rates in Div. III. What prospective college athlete wouldnít want to be a part of this? For recruits interested in the program, this generates more excitement than cute sorority girls.
The football program operates under a different set of circumstances. It boasts tradition of its own ó the pregame march down the hill with the pipers is one of the classiest and most unique rituals around. Yet something about Saturday night felt different. The addition of lights to the stadium brings a whole new set of possibilities to the program. The players were excited, the fans were excited and the community was excited. If the athletic department can find a way to channel this energy, it could take the football program to a new level.
Ed and Edie Andrew have donated more than $1.5 million. They have donated the infrastructure to make Papp Stadium one of the most unique small-college football environments. They have laid the foundation for an atmosphere that has the potential to be priceless.