Delay causes construction
setback
By Paul Trembacki
Sports
Editor
In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in New
York and Washington Tuesday and the subsequent postponement of the football
game between Purdue and Notre Dame until Dec. 1, Purdue officials must
deal with several logistical concerns.
Chief among those is the issue of construction
on Ross-Ade Stadium. However, Purdue athletic director Morgan Burke
said the renovations on the stadium, which were supposed to begin within
a few days of Purdue's home game with Michigan State Nov. 17, will go
on.
The renovations will include the replacement of
crumbling concrete, an update of the electrical system, the widening
of seats and aisles, the addition of more premium seating, concession
stands and restrooms and the removal of the existing press box.
Burke said the target date for completion of the
$70 million construction project on the 77-year-old stadium, Aug. 31,
2002, will still be met despite the delay.
"They're going to have to hustle, but they'll still
be on time," Burke said.
Two for one
A problem that may arise Dec. 1 would be a conflict
between the football game's finish and the start of the Purdue men's
basketball team's game. Burke said it should be fun for Purdue sports
fans to see a football game and a men's basketball game on the same
day.
A time has not yet been set for the Purdue-Notre
Dame football game. At 8 p.m. on Nov. 30, the basketball team plays
William & Mary at home in the first game of the Boilermaker Invitational.
The following day the Boilers will play either Akron or Oakland (Mich.)
in Mackey Arena. That game is scheduled for 8 p.m. but may be moved
to 9 p.m. so it doesn't conflict with the football game.
"We'll have some challenges from a logistics standpoint
to get that set up, but we've done that before," Burke said. "In the
bigger scheme of things those are pretty minor details."
Safe at home
All four Purdue players who had family concerns
during Tuesday's tragedies in New York, Washington and Pittsburgh have
been assured of their loved ones' safety.
Linebacker Niko Koutouvides' cousin, who was in
New York and had not been heard from as of Wednesday night, is OK.
Sophomore tailback Joey Harris' cousin, who worked
in the World Trade Center, was finally heard from late Tuesday evening.
Wide receiver Chris James heard from his sister,
a law student at New York University, Tuesday afternoon, and Carl Buergler's
uncle is safe at home in Northwest Indiana after being on a plane that
was headed from Chicago to Pittsburgh on Tuesday.
Undecided
As of Thursday there was still no word on the possible
rescheduling of the other Purdue home athletic events that were canceled
in the wake of the national tragedy.
The Purdue Mortar Board Premier, a volleyball tourney
with Notre Dame, Indiana State and Tulane; the Indiana Intercollegiates
cross country meet between more than 40 teams from the state; and the
Purdue softball team's fall invitational are still temporarily on hold.
The Purdue soccer team's home match with Oakland
(Mich.) scheduled for today was canceled when Oakland withdrew. Also,
the soccer team's match at West Virginia has been canceled.
Tee time
The Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex will remain
open for play this weekend.
"Ordinarily, the Ackerman course would be closed
for the day due to its heavy use for parking during football games,"
Doug Hill, head golf professional at the complex, said in a press release.
The Kampen and Ackerman courses are open from 6:30
a.m. until dusk.
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