2008 Woodie Awards
Preparations for Minnesota game start early
By: Chris Sojka
Issue date: 9/5/08 Section: Sports
The kickoff for the home opener vs. Minnesota is at 7:30 p.m., but Jim Elsasser and other members of BGSU Athletics will be arriving at 8 a.m. to prepare for the big day.
"We'll be there at 8 a.m. getting everything ready, making sure everything is perfect for game time," said Elsasser, assistant athletic director for internal affairs.
There is a lot of behind-the-scenes work that takes place before a home football game at Doyt L. Perry Stadium, especially before the first home game of the year.
A standardized checklist - which is vital in preparation for a home football game - is in the process of being checked off right now.
From picking up trash on the field daily to doing a scoreboard and sound check, little things that are essential to the game being played are being taken care of by BGSU Athletics.
There are many facets not seen by the fans who attend the game that were done in the preparation stages.
Think about it.
Setting up the hotel reservations for the officials of the game, planning when the ESPNU crew shows up, and contacting the individuals who are working the event, are a few more of the things being checked off.
And don't forget about the porta-john. Someone has to order those, too.
Earlier this week - a new logo, which was required by the Mid-American Conference - was painted on the field turf.
According to Elsasser, with the new field turf, little maintenance is needed; the field only needs groomed once a week.
Brian Delehoy, the assistant athletic director for marketing, thinks the national attention the BG football team had last week when they upset Pitt is getting people fired up for the Minnesota game.
While the upset essentially marketed this Saturday's game for itself, a lot of planning still goes into bringing a good crowd to the event.
"The home opener in any sport - not just football - sets the tone for the rest of the season," Delehoy said. "But there is a lot of focus on the first home football game since it is at the beginning of the semester," he added.
BGSU Athletics has been running television and radio spots since mid-August trying to get the attendance for this game as high as possible.
The Facebook group, BG Warriors, was created to keep students engaged in the athletic events, as well as keep them informed and excited, Delehoy said.
Trying to get the students even more excited for the home opener, the Falcon Football Fiesta, an event with live music, free food and giveaways, is taking place at 5:30 p.m. Saturday.
(Entering the game, the first 10,000 fans in the stadium will receive free thunder sticks and the first 5,000 fans in will receive free seat cushions - is this necessary?)
Delehoy hopes "Falcons will come together" on Saturday night when for the first time in school history, a Big Ten team comes to Doyt L. Perry Stadium to play a game that will be broadcasted on ESPNU.
"We'll be there at 8 a.m. getting everything ready, making sure everything is perfect for game time," said Elsasser, assistant athletic director for internal affairs.
There is a lot of behind-the-scenes work that takes place before a home football game at Doyt L. Perry Stadium, especially before the first home game of the year.
A standardized checklist - which is vital in preparation for a home football game - is in the process of being checked off right now.
From picking up trash on the field daily to doing a scoreboard and sound check, little things that are essential to the game being played are being taken care of by BGSU Athletics.
There are many facets not seen by the fans who attend the game that were done in the preparation stages.
Think about it.
Setting up the hotel reservations for the officials of the game, planning when the ESPNU crew shows up, and contacting the individuals who are working the event, are a few more of the things being checked off.
And don't forget about the porta-john. Someone has to order those, too.
Earlier this week - a new logo, which was required by the Mid-American Conference - was painted on the field turf.
According to Elsasser, with the new field turf, little maintenance is needed; the field only needs groomed once a week.
Brian Delehoy, the assistant athletic director for marketing, thinks the national attention the BG football team had last week when they upset Pitt is getting people fired up for the Minnesota game.
While the upset essentially marketed this Saturday's game for itself, a lot of planning still goes into bringing a good crowd to the event.
"The home opener in any sport - not just football - sets the tone for the rest of the season," Delehoy said. "But there is a lot of focus on the first home football game since it is at the beginning of the semester," he added.
BGSU Athletics has been running television and radio spots since mid-August trying to get the attendance for this game as high as possible.
The Facebook group, BG Warriors, was created to keep students engaged in the athletic events, as well as keep them informed and excited, Delehoy said.
Trying to get the students even more excited for the home opener, the Falcon Football Fiesta, an event with live music, free food and giveaways, is taking place at 5:30 p.m. Saturday.
(Entering the game, the first 10,000 fans in the stadium will receive free thunder sticks and the first 5,000 fans in will receive free seat cushions - is this necessary?)
Delehoy hopes "Falcons will come together" on Saturday night when for the first time in school history, a Big Ten team comes to Doyt L. Perry Stadium to play a game that will be broadcasted on ESPNU.
Be the first to comment on this story