[jcmanson]

My wife and I are in Myrtle Beach for the week. So, you know I had to stop by CCU's scrimmage this morning . I think it is also move-in weekend for their freshman !

I walked into the stadium with my red LU shirt and hat on! Sat right behind the bench, next to this guy with a 2006 Big South Chamion shirt on. I saw who I thought was Jerome Simpson, and stood up and shouted LU 2007 Big South Champions!!! Then proceeded to quickly exit the stadium before I was jumped by alot of BIG CCU guys!

I did watch a couple series, and I'm not sure who the QB was (it was a white guy with an odd # for qb like 72), but he was terribly underthrowing his receivers on a regular basis on anything 15 yards +.

[Stevev]

Thanks for the report. I hope that your stay in Myrtle goes well for you and your family. How does Coastal's facilities compare to ours?

[SuperJon]

Coastal's stadium is a lot nicer. It's newer so of course it's going to be a little better. It's not as big, but I really like it.


As for the QB's number, Coastal doesn't use the same numbers for practice as they do games.

And yes, it's move-in weekend down there (everyone comes back the same time there). Good luck not looking.

[jcmanson]

Thanks for the sentiments Steve. I'm just glad we were able to get away for a few days and relax. It's always good to get yourself rejuvenated.

As Jon pointed out, Williams Stadium is larger, but I really like Coastal's main concourse where the concession stands/ ticket booths are. You can walk underneath the main stands and the main entrance/ticket booth is all brick. Other than that I like Williams better. The FOC really enhances our stadium. Both of Coastal's end zones are empty. One has a scoreboard. Both are comparible, but IMO the FOC puts Williams ahead.

Oh yeah, Jon, there's really no hope on "not" looking. You try to do the best you can, especially since your wife is with you, but there is plenty to look at.

[RagingTireFire]

At least, we have a quarterback.

[drdoctormd]

Coastal's stadium is a lot nicer. It's newer so of course it's going to be a little better. It's not as big, but I really like it.


As for the QB's number, Coastal doesn't use the same numbers for practice as they do games.

And yes, it's move-in weekend down there (everyone comes back the same time there). Good luck not looking.

Coastal's stadium--gorgeous November afternoon, crisp blue sky, unfortunately CSU had to play the second half. BTW the fans were better than I thought they'd be--gracious and well-behaved. Simpson, after the game, was another story (but who could blame him after 2005?).

They have a nice facility and plans for a first class field house. The fans are right down close, especially on the visitors' side. Sorry for the opposing players in the pics, just trying to give you an idea of the perspective. Oh yeah, on the visitors' sideline, they've got big pouffy ads (like sandwich boards) lining the field--there was literally no place to stand near the field if you weren't on the team. Just thought I'd throw that in there for the photogs out there.....

[SuperJon]

They put their students on the home side though. If they were to move all of the students behind the away bench, it would be tough. As it stands now, the away fans are behind the away bench. Also, the stands are a little higher off of the ground than Williams. The stands are a good 6.5/7 feet off the ground as opposed to ours being maybe 5.

[Sly Fox]

Great visuals as always, drdoctormd.

'The House that Hooters Built' is a great small stadium. Its similar to many stadiums here in Texas. I love all of the brick facades. It's crying shame they didn't factor in the sun better in their planning.

[SuperJon]

The next stadium expansion (I think) is to build up over on the away side which would block the sun more.

[drdoctormd]

There were students behind the visitor bench...not directly, but about 1/2 the visitors' side was home folks....there were a couple (?) fraternities I think to the left of the stands (facing the field), close enough to heckle the kickers when they were warming up with the net, and I could be wrong, but I think their band was about the farthest 1/8 on the visitors'. The punter whiffed on a practice kick into the net and they let him have it. It was funny though.

[SuperJon]

You're right. The band is in the furthest section to the right (if looking from the home side). Some of the frats (mainly SigEp if I'm not mistaken) sit over on that side. However, the "student section" tickets are for the to sections on the bottom right on the home side.

[BJWilliams]

I remember when we went there last fall the band was in the upper part of the bleachers on the visitors side. We had the Tubas up on the very top area of the bleachers. Course it was better than our setup at Wake Forest...

[TallyW]

I went to Myrtle Beach last week and got to see CCU's stadium. I agree with what's been written. It's an attractive stadium but seemed very small for a I-AA. Admittedly I haven't seen a ton of the other stadiums so it may be normal.

The pictures above are more attractive than my impression in person but I'm not taking away from the attractiveness of what they have. The only thought I had was overwhelmingly "It looks nice but it's very small!"

I played H.S. football at a school of a little over 2000 kids and we had a brand new school and stadium built into the side of a hill (somewhat similar to Williams) so our facility in H.S. was pretty large. When I saw CCU's I couldn't help but to draw the comparison of a very nice version of a large High School stadium. However, with improvements that others say are coming, I see where it has potential to be a very attractive and very built-out stadium. You can't beat Coastal's location... so close to a beach town with tons of attractions...

[LUconn]

from those pictures, it looks like everything is far away from the field. Maybe it's just the stands are a shallow slope so it goes further away as you go up. It's a very classy looking place, especially the media booth look, but from these pictures it doesn't look like the best place to watch a game.

[SuperJon]

I've never watched a game from anywhere other than the front row on the home side and mid-up on the away side. Both were good views. The only problem is the walkway is at the bottom of the stands, so you've got people walking in front of you the entire time.

[drdoctormd]

from those pictures, it looks like everything is far away from the field. Maybe it's just the stands are a shallow slope so it goes further away as you go up. It's a very classy looking place, especially the media booth look, but from these pictures it doesn't look like the best place to watch a game.

It's a wide angle lens--unfortunately you have to sacrifice "close up" detail in order to get a wider angle of vision....it is pretty close in, and a nice place to watch a game, feels pretty intimate, much more so than a place like, say, Paladin Stadium (Furman), although it's a nice stadium too.

Also the parking lot behind the home stands is where most people tailgate, and it's pretty close-in/tight as well, but hey, aren't all FCS fans friends after all?

[PAmedic]

... but hey, aren't all FCS fans friends after all?

no.

but you're ok