MikeG Posted May 7, 2005 Group: Moderator Topic Count: 1,984 Content Count: 19,737 Reputation: 3,869 Days Won: 175 Joined: 07/17/2003 Share Posted May 7, 2005 I read this elsewhere.Now I know GS was a Green Jacket guy etc-- but has he ever gotten this generous with the Bulls (prolly for Basketball).Always looking to improve its facilities, McKethan Stadium underwent a $350,000 plaza development project in 1996 which produced a new main entrance, as well as created a plaza/courtyard atmosphere for fans surrounding the main grandstand. Construction over the previous summer added 1,000 seats to the main grandstand to replace seating lost through prior construction and press box expansion. The press box was rebuilt during the fall of 1996 with the aid of an additional gift of $300,000 from Mr. McKethan. The actual playing field, one of the best in the SEC, underwent an upgrade during the summer of 1997, with the field leveled and new grass planted. The most recent addition has increased the capacity to 5,000 fans with seats added along the left field line and beyond the left field fence. Lights were first installed at the stadium in 1977 thanks to the generous contribution from New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, a Bull Gator booster. McKethan Stadium is complemented by the $5 million Lemerand Athletic Center located on Stadium Road cornering up to Percy Beard Track and McKethan Stadium at Perry Field. It is a multi story 46,000-square foot building that provides locker rooms, equipment storage, training and sports medicine, along with coaches' offices for the baseball program. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted May 7, 2005 Group: Admin Topic Count: 13,332 Content Count: 97,090 Reputation: 10,859 Days Won: 469 Joined: 05/19/2000 Share Posted May 7, 2005 Mike,I think GS put the lights on USF's field if I remember correctly. Also, the Yankees played some FSL games at the Red before Legends was built. He paid for renovations then as well. He has contributed to USF and specifically to baseball before. To what extent? I do not have the numbers.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papa_Bull Posted May 7, 2005 Group: Member Topic Count: 375 Content Count: 3,144 Reputation: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 12/23/2001 Share Posted May 7, 2005 Baseball Almanac is pleased to present a comprehensive chart of every University of South Florida alumnus who played baseball at the University of South Florida AND made it to the Major League level. University of South Florida"Bulls"Major League Baseball Player Alumnus Name [Click for M.L. Stats] Dates Played Debut / Box Chris Welsh 1974 - 1977 04-12-1981 Ben Hayes 1976 - 1978 06-25-1982 Tim Hulett 1979 - 1979 09-15-1983 Tony Fossas 1977 - 1979 05-15-1988 Dave Eiland (Florida) 1986 - 1987 08-03-1988 Scott Hemond 1984 - 1986 09-09-1989 Derek Lee 1987 - 1988 06-27-1993 Fred Rath, Jr. 1992 - 1995 07-29-1998 Jason Dellaero 1996 - 1997 09-07-1999 Ross Gload 1995 - 1997 08-31-2000 Name [Click for M.L. Stats] Dates Played Debut / Box University of South Florida M.L.B. Player Alumnus Fast FactsThe University of South Florida baseball program started in 1966 and Chris Welsh was their first player to make it to the Major League level.The South Florida Bulls play their home games on Red McEwen Field and have since their first season. Their website had some interesting fast facts about their ballpark:"Through the first 11 seasons the facility was known simply as the USF Baseball Field.In 1976 New York Yankees George Steinbrenner donated lights for the facility and the current stands were also erected. The concessions stand and restrooms were added in 1982 while the press box was added a year later.The field was dedicated in honor of James M. “Red†McEwen on March 30, 1977, prior to a game against the University of Florida. McEwen was a Tampa sportsman and civic leader in was active in the early efforts to establish USF in Hillsborough County in the 1950s. He died in the summer of 1976.The plaque at the facility honoring McEwen reads: This facility stands and serves as a living memorial to the sports contribution made to this community by James M. 'Red' McEwen and the man himself a brilliant athlete, Red McEwen was a participant, coach, promoter and a major supporter of athletics in the state of Florida in general , in Tampa in particular. Dedicated March 30, 1977.The first night game at Red McEwen Field was Feb. 26, 1977 against the University of Tampa. A new lighting system was installed in 1997.The field's dimensions are 335 down the left- and right-field lines, 365 feet to left- and right-center field, and 390 to center field."Source: Red McEwen Field (link) on University of South Florida SiteDid you know that there are ten (10) former University of South Florida players who made it to "the show"? Send corrections (with documentation) or updates to Baseball Almanac. http://www.baseball-almanac.com/college/university_of_south_florida_baseball_players.shtml Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeG Posted May 7, 2005 Group: Moderator Topic Count: 1,984 Content Count: 19,737 Reputation: 3,869 Days Won: 175 Joined: 07/17/2003 Author Share Posted May 7, 2005 I think we have gotten our moneys worth out of what we've put into that current facility.Nothing since 1982 (beyond new lighting)--- NOTHING? wow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted May 7, 2005 Group: Admin Topic Count: 13,332 Content Count: 97,090 Reputation: 10,859 Days Won: 469 Joined: 05/19/2000 Share Posted May 7, 2005 I do not believe that is not accurate. I believe GS funded renovations just before Legends opened, which if memory serves was not more than 8-10 years ago...There is no doubt that there have been renovations since 1982. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted May 7, 2005 Group: Admin Topic Count: 13,332 Content Count: 97,090 Reputation: 10,859 Days Won: 469 Joined: 05/19/2000 Share Posted May 7, 2005 FWIW, the press box was redone since then as well as some field renovations and bleachers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted May 7, 2005 Group: Admin Topic Count: 13,332 Content Count: 97,090 Reputation: 10,859 Days Won: 469 Joined: 05/19/2000 Share Posted May 7, 2005 This is what is available on the official site..Red McEwen Field Red McEwen Field has been the home to USF baseball since the program’s first season in 1966. Through the first 11 seasons the facility was known simply as the USF Baseball Field. In 1976 New York Yankees George Steinbrenner donated lights for the facility and the current stands were also erected.  The concessions stand and restrooms were added in 1982 while the press box was added a year later.  The field was dedicated in honor of James M. “Red†McEwen on March 30, 1977, prior to a game against the University of Florida.   McEwen was a Tampa sportsman and civic leader in was active in the early efforts to establish USF in Hillsborough County in the 1950s.  He died in the summer of 1976. The plaque at the facility honoring McEwen reads:  This facility stands and serves as a living memorial to the sports contribution made to this community by James M. “Red†McEwen and the man himself a brilliant athlete, Red McEwen was a participant, coach, promoter and a major supporter of athletics in the state of Florida in general , in Tampa in particular.  Dedicated March 30, 1977. The first night game at Red McEwen Field was Feb. 26, 1977 against the University of Tampa.  A new lighting system was installed in 1997.  The field’s dimensions are 335 down the left- and right-field lines, 365 feet to left- and right-center field, and 390 to center field. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papa_Bull Posted May 7, 2005 Group: Member Topic Count: 375 Content Count: 3,144 Reputation: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 12/23/2001 Share Posted May 7, 2005 Well, there is a $50 million+ expected improvement for all sports facilities including renovating the baseball stadium in the works, so it will get done over the next several years.Right now, USF is setting its priorities. The AD has said he'd like to do them all at the same time, but that probably isn't feasible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papa_Bull Posted May 7, 2005 Group: Member Topic Count: 375 Content Count: 3,144 Reputation: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 12/23/2001 Share Posted May 7, 2005 Flashback:Saturday, February 19, 2005 News Stepping up and into the Big East The athletic plan was partially approved by the Board of Trustees on Thursday. By Chris Gardner Staff Writer February 18, 2005 "Why not USF?" Doug Woolard, USF athletics director, asked the Board of Trustees yesterday. "Why can't we have the best athletic department in the Big East?" That is what Woolard said to the BOT as he laid out the master plan Thursday for the future of USF's athletic facilities. The plan, called the Athletic Land Use Plan, would first realign the "athletics district" in the southeast corner of campus. As it is now, the land allocated to Campus Recreation (such as the intramural fields) and the land used by athletics make a sort of checkerboard. The plan would reorganize the Campus Recreation land into more of a block and place it closer to the residence halls, and would group the athletics land together in the southeast corner of campus. While lobbying for the plan, Woolard also laid out the Athletics Department's overall plans for the future. He showed the BOT slides of facilities at other schools nationwide. "Pictures are indeed worth a thousand words," Woolard said. He then showed USF facilities in an attempt to demonstrate the need for renovations throughout the athletics district. Woolard's presentation included a hefty list of facilities he wants to build in the "athletic district" in the coming years, one of which is a new softball stadium. "We have a perennially ranked softball team that plays in, really honestly, one of the poorest facilities in Division-I athletics," Woolard said. A new soccer stadium and a new practice field for soccer were also on the list. "Our soccer field, which takes place inside the track, isn't even the right width or length," Woolard said. A renovated Sun Dome arena was also on the list. "The Sun Dome is a tired facility that needs renovation," Woolard said. A renovated baseball stadium, new men's and women's basketball practice facilities, a new football practice complex, a new tennis complex and a new artificial surface surrounded by a 400-meter track were also on the list. The BOT conceptually approved the Athletic Land Use Plan, which gives the Athletics Department the go ahead to do internal feasibility analyses and begin fundraising. Theoretically, costs will be enumerated in the feasibility analyses, as will the cost of facility maintenance. Following the construction of the new athletics training facility in 2003, the maintenance costs were higher than anticipated and a 58-cent increase in the flat athletic fee paid by students each semester was deemed necessary and passed by the BOT. The fee came as a surprise to students, who thought the facility's costs had already been covered. The BOT also approved a site for the new and unprecedented Joint Military Science Leadership Center just east of the Physical Education Building (PED), between it and parking lot 15, Thursday. The JMSLC is something that no other campus in the nation has. "We'll be looked at as a model for other universities," USF President Judy Genshaft said. Trustee Steve Burton closed out the meeting by talking about the SUPERKids program that he has been working on. The program is an after-school program for at-risk children from kindergarten to second grade. They provide nutritious meals and teach the children their basics like reading after school each day. It is currently still a pilot program and is in place at three area elementary schools. Burton thanked a large number of guests in attendance that had helped him with the project and had some of them gave short speeches about the program. Guests who spoke included State Attorney General Charlie Crist, State Senate President Designate Ken Pruitt, State Speaker of the House Designate Marco Rubio, and Tampa Bay Buccaneer Shelton Quarles. http://www.usforacle.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/02/18/4215efad53479 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeG Posted May 7, 2005 Group: Moderator Topic Count: 1,984 Content Count: 19,737 Reputation: 3,869 Days Won: 175 Joined: 07/17/2003 Author Share Posted May 7, 2005 The original point is that if we want to make some improvements to the USF baseball facilities-- George seems like a good guy to get involved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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