Are we changing sides with the renovation?

[MontyBurns]

Like almost all college football stadiums, JTS goes north/south. Unlike almost all college football stadiums, we use the east sideline which means our bench players and coaching staff look into the sun during afternoon games. With the renovation of the west side and addition of luxury seating on the west side, is there any chance we would move and have our biggest fans, err at least our biggest donors, behind our own sideline?

[AirWalke]

This would be fun, it'd give the students something new to do at least.

[MontyBurns]

It would also put the student section partially behind the visiting team's bench, which is usually a good idea.

[dinger]

hmm, something i bet JP hasnt thought of...might be a good idea for an email to him.

[dustinal]

From what I understand, the teams are on their respective sidelines because the locker rooms are on the same respective sides of the Jacobsen Building. Unless you can alter the teams' paths from the locker rooms to the outside of the Jake, I don't think the teams are going to switch sidelines. (You can't alter the paths outside of the Jake without having the teams potentially cross paths and run into each other.)

[ISUFan22]

Originally Posted by dustinal

From what I understand, the teams are on their respective sidelines because the locker rooms are on the same respective sides of the Jacobsen Building. Unless you can alter the teams' paths from the locker rooms to the outside of the Jake, I don't think the teams are going to switch sidelines. (You can't alter the paths outside of the Jake without having the teams potentially cross paths and run into each other.)

Correct...

[clones26]

Originally Posted by MontyBurns

is there any chance we would move and have our biggest fans, err at least our biggest donors, behind our own sideline?

The Club Section is behind our sideline now, including more of the upper donation seats required right now as the opposing teams side is taken by faculty seats in the higher donation areas, I would say having a lot of high donors behind you in "seats" is better than a few high end corporations in the boxes that will not actually be seating the donors, but their employees. My point is that it probably wont change

[theshadow]

And teams crossing was an issue from the early 80's until the Jacobson Building was completed. The home locker room in the Olsen Building was on the west side, so the teams had to cross through each other on entrance and exit.

Having the home team sideline opposite the press box makes sense to me. Most of the TV cameras are on the press box side, and getting shots of the home coaching staff on the press box side would be nearly impossible without using some reverse angle cameras.

Plus, for as many games as they have to stare into the sun (one or two sunsets per year), at least they're in the sun instead of the shade in October and November.

[Steve]

Originally Posted by theshadow

And teams crossing was an issue from the early 80's until the Jacobson Building was completed. The home locker room in the Olsen Building was on the west side, so the teams had to cross through each other on entrance and exit.

Having the home team sideline opposite the press box makes sense to me. Most of the TV cameras are on the press box side, and getting shots of the home coaching staff on the press box side would be nearly impossible without using some reverse angle cameras.

Plus, for as many games as they have to stare into the sun (one or two sunsets per year), at least they're in the sun instead of the shade in October and November.

When JTS opened, the home team was on the west side. One of the coaches (maybe Duncan or Criner) wanted the team on the student side so the switch was made. This lead to the crossing issue that you mentioned. The Jacobson addition corrected the problem by revamping the locker room setup.

I agree with the original poster that it would be better to switch, but the locker room arrangement would have to be changed once again. Maybe this could be a project for after the BB practice facility is built if it ends up including new space for most of the athletic department. This would allow football to reconfigure Jacobson to their liking.

[dinger]

steve i like where your head is at

[Steve]

There is one concern with switching back. The concealed secret trip rope would have to be re-installed on the other side. One never knows when our favorite UNLV coach might make another grand entrance.

[MontyBurns]

I was once told ISU uses the east sideline because of the locker room locations, but there are other stadiums where the teams cross on their way on & off the field. In fact there's one team -- I forgot who but think it's a SEC team -- that has security/police to keep one team on the bench until the other team is off the field.

When I used to watch Mac squinting and holding up his clipboard to block the sun so he could see the plays, I always wondered if he knew he could have been on the west side like all every other home team.

[Flag Guy]

I would only support switching sides if you scoot the student section over a little more... put the students more behind the bench.

I could see there being a loooooooooooot of issues with that (beer cans flying at the bench anybody?) But I'm sure the students would have a lot of fun with it too

[wartknight]

I think there are several places that have the student section right behind the visitor bench. I love it.

[Phaedrus]

Originally Posted by Flag Guy

I would only support switching sides if you scoot the student section over a little more... put the students more behind the bench.

I could see there being a loooooooooooot of issues with that (beer cans flying at the bench anybody?) But I'm sure the students would have a lot of fun with it too

That would be sooooo sweet.....