In Oklahoma City, Gina Mizell noted Oklahoma State is "no longer the only school in the Big 12 without an indoor practice facility, thanks to the completion of the Sherman Smith Training Center this past summer." The "massive structure across the street from Boone Pickens Stadium is not air conditioned or heated but instead features unique fabric doors that roll up and fans to circulate the air." The facility "includes four total fields." OSU already has "gotten plenty of use out of the Smith Center during fall camp, as the Cowboys' first two games will be indoors at Reliant Stadium in Houston and the Alamodome in San Antonio" (NEWSOK.com, 8/29).
BYRD IS THE WORD: In DC, Alex Prewitt noted Maryland's Byrd Stadium "received a small makeover this offseason, adding panels honoring unanimous all-Americans attached to the garage overlooking the west end zone." Football coach Randy Edsall said that more plans "are in the works to honor past players and the history of Byrd Stadium, including murals and banners strung up along the first-floor concourse opposite Tyser Tower." Edsall said it is all part of “trying to enhance the brand” of the school. Edsall said that UM also might "add flag poles atop the stadium, where flags of the season’s opponents will fly" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 8/29).
WATERING HOLE: In Iowa, Mitchell Schmidt noted the Univ. of Iowa, in an effort to make sure fans stay hydrated during this weekend's home opener, plans to "reduce the price of water sold at the concession stands, keep more paramedics on staff and install cooling stations in all four corners of Kinnick Stadium." UI Department of Public Safety Associate Dir Dave Visin said, "We're anticipating a lot of cases of dehydration or heat-related issues" (IOWA CITY PRESS-CITIZEN, 8/29).
