Fans get an eyeful at new field
A spokesman with the KU Athletic Department says the football staff will no longer ask people standing on public property surrounding the university's new football practice complex to leave during 'closed' practices. Enlarge video
It may be the best deal on Mount Oread these days: A free, almost daily glimpse of the Orange Bowl Champion KU football team.
Leaders of the Kansas University Athletic Department may not have planned it this way when they built a new $31 million practice field and football complex south of Memorial Stadium, but it now appears that members of the public will get a free look at the team even during "closed" practices.
A spokesman with the Athletic Department said Friday that individuals standing on public property surrounding the university's practice complex would no longer be asked to leave during practice times.
Spokesman Jim Marchiony said he was not aware people were being asked to leave public areas during closed practices, but he said that was not an appropriate policy.
"If that happened, it won't happen again," Marchiony said.
The Journal-World received two reports from members of the public who said an individual wearing KU gear told them Coach Mark Mangino was asking them to leave the area. Both individuals were in parking spots along Mississippi Street that overlook the practice fields. Several other public places - including the top floor of an adjacent parking garage and several locations on The Hill - provide clear views of the practice fields.
One individual who reported the incident was a local business owner who asked not to be named for fear that it would damage business relationships with the university. The other was a member of the Journal-World news staff, who stopped at the parking area as part of a Sunday morning drive.
At a Thursday evening "closed" practice, several fans agreed that the new complex provided a unique behind-the-scenes view of major college football. At any given time, about six people were in the Mississippi Street parking area, and three to four fans were on the top level of the parking garage.
Fans are close enough to the action to clearly hear coaches shouting instructions at players and to hear the crack of shoulder pads colliding.
"It's great," said Arnold Beevers, who was visiting the campus from Wichita. "We were surprised to see them out there practicing in the open. It's really pretty entertaining."
Many college football coaches try to keep their practices closed to the public out of fear that someone loyal to another program will see plays, formations or other information that could be used as an advantage in a game.
But Marchiony said that shouldn't be a major concern with the new practice complex.
"Nobody is too worried about it here," Marchiony said. "If they want to put new wrinkles in, there are other places they can do that."
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Rickyonealku (anonymous) says…
I have some great photos of the practice field when they just completed it, and if anyone would like a photo send me an email stating I want one to Rickyonealku@msn.com.The best photo I think is looking at the entry way back towards the Kansas Union.Rock Chalk Jayhawks.
sophie (anonymous) says…
When is the Atheltic Department going to replace all the parking spaces they took OUT of service for there pratice fields.
JackRipper (anonymous) says…
Awesome, so maybe there will be payback for this awful eyesore that greed built. More power too all those scouts with the right to sit out on Mississippi and analyze the great football teams every play! Obviously it is already a sore spot if they have requested people to leave. I'm wondering if the sidewalks will be off limits like there were the day after commencement. Will the entire north side of campus be off limits to everybody and poor old Red Dog moved out completely? Ah the joys of big egos that come from a little success.
JackRipper (anonymous) says…
Oh sophie, you don't like all the beautiful parking they built on the side of the hill? I'm wondering how long it will be before they fill in Potter's Lake and start building the football housing. Are they going to bus them over from the towers everyday? I don't suppose that the new practice field is really more convenient for the athletes since they live on the other side of campus.
independent_rebel (anonymous) says…
The moment I drove by the new practice fields I thought "What the "bleep" are they thinking?"Any opponent will have easy access from multiple locations around that area of the campus to video the team and "mic" the practice fields. It would not take much creativity to do this, and there is nothing KU can do about it.If KU is going to complain about some reporter just sitting there, what about when K-State or Mizzou or Nebraska has placed microphones near the practice fields to learn the audibles so important to our team, all while filming the practice from the parking garage, or the Union, or the Hill, or a car parked along Mississippi St..I mean, sheesh, are you kidding me? Thousands of students will be walking past there every day. Care to wager that won't be a distraction? I guess KU needs to close down Mississippi St. to all vehicle and pedestrian traffic--and close down the parking garage, and the Union, and the Spencer Art Museum, and close down the Campanelle Hill.Beautiful facility...but a poor, poor choice for the location.
JackRipper (anonymous) says…
It's only beautiful if you feel it wasn't necessary to maintain the memorial like setting the stadium and campanile were originally built for in that area. Now it is just crass.Hey I have a question. The reason Dr. Fredericks got into trouble was the dropping of the men's tennis and swim teams. Now that we have the corporate AD making mega bucks and changing college sports into big time professional events and ku athletics is rolling in the dough, when are they going to bring back the men's swimming and tennis?
iLikelawrence (anonymous) says…
I wonder when the parking garage will be covered in tarps to extinguish the views of the closed practices to protect us from the 'evil doers'... what a joke
JackRipper (anonymous) says…
Maybe the "family" will be providing security.
JackRipper (anonymous) says…
Rickyonealku I hope you don't get in trouble for copyright infringement with your pics. They'll send the family after you. I'm sure a no photography or vidoes policy will be implemented soon and you'll have to buy your "official" pics from the athletic department also. There just any room for fun left in college athletics.
jhawks22 (anonymous) says…
What a bunch of whiners.
srj (anonymous) says…
I just wonder who will be the first to run into the tower on a play and hurt themselves?
jimjones (anonymous) says…
What a mistake. It's a horrible eyesore and a scar upon the landscape. We need to fire Lew Perkins and Mangino. They've trashed KU
JHOK32 (anonymous) says…
Ok, I am sick and tired of hearing KU whine because it has no money. They keep charging students higher & higher tuition & wanting more & more taxpayer money. First the chancellor is taking trips to the middle of Greenland on our dollar, and now they've spent $31 Million dollars of our money for a football field when there is a perfectly good one a 100 feet away........Give me a break! Give the taxpayers a break!!
Clickker (anonymous) says…
This is an "eyesore" and hundreds of haphazardly parked cars were not? Huh?I prefer the green, thank you.
Clickker (anonymous) says…
"Any opponent will have easy access from multiple locations around that area of the campus to video the team and "mic" the practice fields. It would not take much creativity to do this, and there is nothing KU can do about it."Thats true, except that it is against NCAA regulations to do it. I'm not sure any of our early non-con opponents would have the resources or the need to do this, and by the time we play our rivals, everything will be out there. In fact, if we felt like our oppenents are "spygating" us, a little game-theory would come into play, no doubt, and we could get them to gameplan plays that we never intend to run.
KEITHMILES05 (anonymous) says…
Nobody is going to be told to leave Miss. St. KUAD has spoken.Read the article in todays paper. It is public street and KU will honor that.
humblecommentator (anonymous) says…
Spying, while against the rules, is a real concern. Misleading the spies is also possible. I would be self-conscious having to practice so openly. But we forget: it's only a game.
davidsmom (anonymous) says…
Athletics generates its own revenue. How many times does that have to be said? Neither your taxes nor your tuition money were spent on this facility.
Lynn731 (anonymous) says…
OMG. Thank you, Lynn
Confrontation (anonymous) says…
It doesn't matter how many times you tell them, davidsmom. People will still whine about KU Athletics. A bunch of jealous nerds.
overthemoon (anonymous) says…
why didn't they build it with a couple of levels of parking below? beyond that, i don't care whose money was used, it is a huge waste of space....not to mention the energy required to build and maintain the field and the accompanying spa. ku is WAY behind other universities in striving for carbon neutral facilities and a sustainable campus...and that's one of the prime draws for students these days.We are, i'm afraid Toto, still in Kansas.
JackRipper (anonymous) says…
davidsmom you do realize such a large money making enterprise is funded with money that can be written off on the big boys taxes while they get the good seats for donating yet the money is a right off! The fields, stadiums, field house, all of it is on property tax free land. And yes, part of the athletic department is funded by tax payers funds and they conveniently choose which side of the fence they want to be on depending on how it helps their cause, like amazingly being able to bypass all the rules on hiring practices so lou could bring the "family". It is time to remove big time sports from college and let the pros develop their own talent and return to scholar/athletes at the university level.
JackRipper (anonymous) says…
keithmiles05 (Anonymous) says:Nobody is going to be told to leave Miss. St. KUAD has spoken.Yes Keith, it is nice to know that the athletic department has decided to let people use a city street. No overstepping their powers on that one.
akuna (anonymous) says…
@JHOK32 the money that was spent on the football facility does not come from taxes. It comes from private donations. You don't need to worry about you tax money being spent on this. You money is safely being wasted in other ways.
janeyb (anonymous) says…
Maybe students can film the practices and run them on YouTube.