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NCAA News Archive - 2007
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Community-engagement success stories
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Division II schools have a history of connecting with their communities through campus events, especially athletics. Division II’s recent emphasis on community engagement has produced a Web site (diicommunity.org) that lets institutions share their community success stories and notify peers about upcoming events that put Division II institutions at the heart of their communities.
Following is a sample of those success stories:
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania
Fabulous 1890s Weekend
The Fabulous 1890s Weekend — during which community members, students and coaches re-enact the world’s first night football game — was conceived 16 years ago to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Mansfield staging the event.
The school’s sports information office and public relations staff had actually begun re-enacting the first night game using Mansfield students in 1988 at the original site.
“Through our research we discovered that GE was the company who provided the lighting for the game in 1892,” said Mansfield SID Scott McCloskey. “The borough of Mansfield, like many rural communities, would not have electricity until five years later, so GE was touring country fairs and events showing off the future with electric lights.”
The first three-day celebration in 1992 culminated in the re-enactment game — under lights provided by GE — at the exact date and time of the first night game. The event was so successful that it has been repeated annually.
Though Mansfield discontinued its 115-year-old football program last year, the 1890s Weekend still attracts between 10,000 and 20,000 people who enjoy college soccer and field hockey games instead. Townspeople and university employees dress in 1890s garb, and almost every organization in Mansfield and the university is involved.
Dennis Miller, co-chair of the Fabulous 1890s committee, said, “I don’t know of another event anywhere that shows the interconnection between a university and a town. It’s a joint celebration of our heritage that actually revolves around an athletics event. It is simply unique.”
For more on the event, see http://www.1890sweekend.com.
Pfeiffer University
The Big Game
Each of Pfeiffer’s athletics teams is designating one of its contests as “the big game” and encouraging student-athlete peers to attend that particular game as a show of university bonding and support. The idea not only enhances the game environment at events that attract crowds to begin with, it also boosts attendance for sports not accustomed to large audiences. “This is a student-athlete-generated idea that aligns with our conference’s effort to develop an atmosphere of ‘contagious sportsmanship,’ ” said Pfeiffer President Charles Ambrose. “It also demonstrates that the Pfeiffer community lives the attributes we say we have. When student-athletes are the ones figuring out how to make these initiatives work, that’s when the effort comes alive and transcends an institutional recommendation or mandate.”
University of Indianapolis
Tailgate Town
“We don’t have just a football game anymore — we have a several-hour event,” said University of Indianapolis Athletics Director Sue Willey of her school’s “Tailgate Town” that takes advantage of a move to have all football games at night.
In years past, the Greyhounds kicked off their games at 1 p.m., but new lights installed last year prompted to shift to 6 p.m. To fill the afternoon and extend community outreach, school officials turned donated children’s playground equipment and corporate-sponsor food tents into an afternoon of fun and games for fans of all ages. Attractions include a bounce house, an inflatable obstacle course, several cornhole games, ladder golf, a football toss for prizes, and free sandwiches and chips. Student-athletes from other teams help administer the event and interact with the kids.
“Tailgate Town has helped make University of Indianapolis football games a family affair,” Willey said.
Following is a sample of those success stories:
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania
Fabulous 1890s Weekend
The Fabulous 1890s Weekend — during which community members, students and coaches re-enact the world’s first night football game — was conceived 16 years ago to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Mansfield staging the event.
The school’s sports information office and public relations staff had actually begun re-enacting the first night game using Mansfield students in 1988 at the original site.
“Through our research we discovered that GE was the company who provided the lighting for the game in 1892,” said Mansfield SID Scott McCloskey. “The borough of Mansfield, like many rural communities, would not have electricity until five years later, so GE was touring country fairs and events showing off the future with electric lights.”
The first three-day celebration in 1992 culminated in the re-enactment game — under lights provided by GE — at the exact date and time of the first night game. The event was so successful that it has been repeated annually.
Though Mansfield discontinued its 115-year-old football program last year, the 1890s Weekend still attracts between 10,000 and 20,000 people who enjoy college soccer and field hockey games instead. Townspeople and university employees dress in 1890s garb, and almost every organization in Mansfield and the university is involved.
Dennis Miller, co-chair of the Fabulous 1890s committee, said, “I don’t know of another event anywhere that shows the interconnection between a university and a town. It’s a joint celebration of our heritage that actually revolves around an athletics event. It is simply unique.”
For more on the event, see http://www.1890sweekend.com.
Pfeiffer University
The Big Game
Each of Pfeiffer’s athletics teams is designating one of its contests as “the big game” and encouraging student-athlete peers to attend that particular game as a show of university bonding and support. The idea not only enhances the game environment at events that attract crowds to begin with, it also boosts attendance for sports not accustomed to large audiences. “This is a student-athlete-generated idea that aligns with our conference’s effort to develop an atmosphere of ‘contagious sportsmanship,’ ” said Pfeiffer President Charles Ambrose. “It also demonstrates that the Pfeiffer community lives the attributes we say we have. When student-athletes are the ones figuring out how to make these initiatives work, that’s when the effort comes alive and transcends an institutional recommendation or mandate.”
University of Indianapolis
Tailgate Town
“We don’t have just a football game anymore — we have a several-hour event,” said University of Indianapolis Athletics Director Sue Willey of her school’s “Tailgate Town” that takes advantage of a move to have all football games at night.In years past, the Greyhounds kicked off their games at 1 p.m., but new lights installed last year prompted to shift to 6 p.m. To fill the afternoon and extend community outreach, school officials turned donated children’s playground equipment and corporate-sponsor food tents into an afternoon of fun and games for fans of all ages. Attractions include a bounce house, an inflatable obstacle course, several cornhole games, ladder golf, a football toss for prizes, and free sandwiches and chips. Student-athletes from other teams help administer the event and interact with the kids.
“Tailgate Town has helped make University of Indianapolis football games a family affair,” Willey said.
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