UNH gridders heading south for playoffs

YOUR COMMENTS

Evryone should realize how lucky the UNH football program is to have Sean McDonnell and his staff leading the young men in their charge. He is not only a great football coach, but also a wonderful example of what a role model should be.
I have no idea what he is paid but I say, it isn't enough. And while we are on the subject, let's at least begin the process of building a stadium so they can attract more student athletes and expose their great program to more people.
No parent can go wrong by sending their young lad to be educated in life, as well as football, by Coach McDonnell.
- Otto Mulemann, Manchester

No AC in the Whit? That's the NH way.
- Sportsfan, Manchester

Nice plans there, TJ, but all it takes is money.
You're talking about the same school that left out AC in the Whit so therefore no concerts can be held there during the spring and summer months without AC. I want to say they needed another 75-100K to get that done but couldn't and went without it. So you imagine the stadium expansion and even a new modern pressbox - tour Saint Anselm's facility - seems out of reach.
That's why many call UNH the University of No Hope, or U of No Hardware (championship trophies)
- RG, Manchester

BTW here are some expansion designs for Cowell Stadium.

http://picasaweb.google.com/DFriedson/UniversityOfNewHampshireFootballStadiumExpansion#5213599315031407810
- TJ, Brooklyn, NY

UNH doesn't need a roofed stadium. The weather is part of football, if you need a dome to play your games you shouldn't be playing football. Domes are for wimps like Peyton Manning.
- TJ, Brooklyn, NY

Sorry. Cowell Stadium...but it's still a dump. BTW I'm not talking about a billion-dollar 80,000-seat palace. Can they get an inflatable bubble and put it over 8-10,000 seats? I know, I know. No money and no one cares. I don't know how UNH recruits anyone after seeing that stadium.
- Harry Kozlowski, Hooksett, NH

What they need to do is make the visitor side the home side. They also need to put in lights and a new press box. There is no need for a dome unless they have a rich benifactor to help out. Putting the home field on the visitor side would get the sun out of the eyes of the fans. I would think the size needs to be about 8,000 seats.
- Chip Crawford, West Lebanon

Having spent most of my "early" years just a few miles from Lake Charles, I can honestly say that UNH does NOT have the loyal fans or financial backing to support building a stadium that would draw a championship level game...

My hometown had about 7,000 people and the high school stadium could seat 3,000. Needless to say, the town shut down and every game was standing room only! If you couldn't get in, every game (even championships) was broadcast live on TV and radio.

In the NorthEast, hockey is where most schools spend their money and that is why they excel in that sport.
- Scott, Manchester

UNH does not need a new stadium, they need to make serious upgrades and modifications to Cowell. The facilities are a joke. It is unbeleivable that the team continues to achieve this level of success and attract the type of talent that we have. It is hard to continue to compete at teh highest level consistently with one hand tied behind your back
- Byron, Los Angeles, California

As a UNH alum I have to say Cowell Stadium is a disgrace and basically reflects the feelings of some in New Hampshire. "I want to keep my money and not pay for a thing. Let the bridges collapse, children not be educated, and people get sick. As long as I have MY piggy bank full I'm happy. Live, Free, of Die."
- T, Milford

Build a stadium with a roof?

Yes, now that is a very logical conclusion to come to, especially in times like this.

Wouldn't even make sense if the $$$ was available.
- John, Dover

It's the entire Field House - not just the Cowell Stadium subpar facility. Something happened and the bathrooms wouldn't flush at Homecoming - biggest crowd of the year with 13,000+ - and they can't use the toilets. We never did find out what happened with that either, UL, follow up stories, hello?
The press box is essentially the same since it was built in WWII and easily outclassed by the press box at Saint Anselm.
The wiring, electricity, everything is sub-par. The ONLY reason they hosted before was they were No. 1 in the country and they "had to let the No. 1 host" and that's the only reason they found 'donors' to put glass, heat, lights into the old press box.
Check attendance numbers, it's not been what they were in the Santos/Ball era either. It's no fun to host a home game and have no way to get into the facilities to use the facilities and have bathroom toilets water overflow, run out of toilet paper, you name it.
Until the State of NH decides it wants to support its State University of NH it will be ever thus.
Plain and simple.
- RG, Manchester

UNH overachieves as a program every year, it is too bad they have to open on the road once again
- chet, warren

It's Cowell Stadium.
- TJ, Brooklyn, NY

Yeah, they'll build a domed stadium. That's going to happen.

Right now, they can't pay the faculty comparably with any other school in the country, and tuition is still higher than everywhere else in New England.

How about this - we continue to not have a sales tax, or income tax, and the football team plays playoff games on the road.

Because you can't have one without the other.

It's Cowell Stadium, btw.
- NSR, Epping, NH

A bigger reason UNH loses out on playoff games is Crowley Stadium. I've seen better high school stadiums. It's woefully subpar and needs to be replaced. If UNH is serious about football then how about building a new stadium, preferably one with a roof.
- Harry Kozlowski, Hooksett NH