TicketsApril 20, 2006
As the of prepares to embark on a new chapter in its athletics history, it will be anchored by the development of the . The crown jewel of the village, the , will be dedicated during special grand opening ceremonies planned for May 12th and 13th. In the coming weeks, UCBearcats.com will look at each of the new or upgraded facilities housed within . The next facility featured is Nippert Stadium, home of UC football.
Being one of the oldest venues in the country, Nippert Stadium needed a face lift. That is exactly what the football facility received over the last few years.
Permanent grandstands were opened in 2005 in the North endzone, with a walkway leading into the brand new . Underneath the stands are gameday locker rooms for both the Bearcats and the visiting team and a sports medicine facility.
A new video board was added to the scoreboard, nearly doubling the size of the previous board and all new FieldTurf was laid prior to the start of the 2005 season.
The 35,000-seat stadium has been home to Bearcat football since 1902, making it the fourth-oldest playing site in the nation. The brick and concrete stadium structure was completed in 1916 and is currently the fifth-oldest Division I or I-AA stadium in use.
Head coach Mark Dantonio, entering his third season in 2006, has been building a winning program since joining UC in 2004. He has seen a lot of changes to the campus and the stadium in a short period of time.
"We've seen a lot of changes, just since I've been here," Dantonio said. "The stadium, the turf, everything has been upgraded."
The enhancements have made Nippert Stadium an exciting place to watch a college football game and the Bearcats' move into the BIG EAST Conference in 2005 ensured yearly visits from some of college football's best teams.
In 2005, Bearcat fans were treated to visits from eventual Sugar Bowl-champion West Virginia and long time rival Lousiville. In the fall of 2006, UC will welcome Pittsburgh to Nippert Stadium for the first time since 1922. The Bearcats will also play host to Miami (Ohio) in the annual Battle for the Victory Bell.
The stadium is situated right next to the , crown jewel of the . It's proximity to the and the provides accessibility advantages for student-athletes and for the university community.
Senior tight end Brent Celek has watched the transformation unfold during his time at UC.
"The walks around campus are a lot easier now that is completed," the graduate said. "The facilities and the BIG EAST will help tremendously in recruiting and the new weight room and meeting rooms are awesome."
Dantonio also notes the stadium improvements and the completion of the project will make an impact when it comes to recruiting.
"We've had to recruit on vision the last couple years," he said. "This year, we were able to walk through it, see it, and touch it. That makes a big difference."
"It's great for all sports," Dantonio continued. "It gives everyone a legitimate, big-time facility that can compete with other BIG EAST schools in every sport. Whether it is football or tennis or soccer, the facilities are there."
As the Bearcats close spring practice and prepare for the 2006 season, Nippert Stadium and the sit ready to help UC usher in a new era in its rich athletics history.