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MARSHALL SPORTS
Landon: Marshall's new band facility is questioned
Pssssst, heard the latest?
Here it is.
In case you haven't wandered by the Henderson Center lately, there are some construction workers toiling nearby.
They are busy leveling and spreading gravel on what formerly was a parking lot behind Marshall's Physical Plant building, adjacent to the new student recreation center and new dormitory.
"We're putting in a 300 by 160 (feet) field for the band to practice on," said one of the workers.
Once the preparation is complete, the popular artificial surface "FieldTurf" will be installed.
Besides giving Marshall's band a much-needed place to practice, the new field also will be utilized for intramurals and other student activities.
It is unquestionably a progressive move.
But...
Wouldn't the progress have been even more significant if Marshall had taken this project to the next level and the FieldTurf were being installed inside an Indoor Practice Facility?
Granted, the expense of the current project reportedly is coming from student services monies rather than the athletic budget.
And, yes, the field that is being prepared isn't large enough to accommodate an Indoor Practice Facility.
Yet, wouldn't it have been for the greater good if this project had been combined with the long-awaited Indoor Practice Facility?
That would have given the band, football, track, baseball, softball, etc., a place to practice in good or bad weather.
Instead, now the concern is since the band's needs are being met, the urgency of having an Indoor Practice Facility will be pushed even farther down the priority list.
A snafu concerning Marshall's 2009 football tickets has occurred, according to sources.
It seems the tickets recently arrived from the printing company with "John C. Edwards Stadium" embellished on the ducats instead of "Joan C. Edwards Stadium."
Since the tickets had been proof-read and approved by MU officials, who obviously missed the typographical error, Marshall has to absorb the cost for having the tickets reprinted.
Reportedly, the cost is approximately $8,000.
Chapmanville Regional High School boys basketball coach Dave Elkins has resigned after seven seasons.
That seems to open the door for former Harts icon Harry Kirk to take over the Tigers' struggling program.
After all, Kirk, who is renown state-wide for his coaching, had 458 victories including two Class A state championships at Harts before the high school was closed by consolidation.
And he has been waiting in the wings three years for this opportunity.
Will he get it? He should. He deserves it.
But will the Logan County Board of Education hire Kirk? Or will the BOE resort to politics?
Hmmm.
Politics in Logan County. ... what are the odds?
Rumor has it that Marshall athletic director Bob Marcum may not be retiring when he steps down on June 30.
Instead, there is talk of Marcum having another job lined up.
Where?
An educated guess would be the University of Kentucky. Especially considering new UK head basketball coach John Calipari and Marcum are old friends.
Who knows? Maybe Marcum could be Calipari's administrative assistant.
Stay tuned.
Chuck Landon is a sports columnist for The Herald-Dispatch. Call him at 526-2827. E-mail him at clandon@herald-dispatch.com.
