Mustang Blogs

Welcome Mustang Fans! The Mustang Blogs page will bring you an inside look on everything that is Mustang Athletics. This site will be updated weekly with athletic news as seen through the eyes of Marygrove's Sports Information Director, Tim Johnston.

Week Three & Four

Time Flies - And So Does This Crew!

First, I would like to apologize for the week delay…I was trying to build suspense! Either that or I couldn't keep up with the rapid pace set out by the construction crew on campus.

Secondly, I would like to say the progress that has been made over the past few weeks, in particular the last 10 days, is remarkable. As you can see in the photo gallery, the crew has managed to fully sod the playing field. On top of that, cement bleachers have been erected on the west side of the field (home side). Soon, the field and bleachers will be flanked by a large scoreboard, concession stand and sound system. Mix all those elements together and I'm sure Marygrove College Soccer and Track & Field (in 2011) will provide Mustang fans a state-of-the-art home venue for years to come!

(I promise) I will be back next week with more updates.

Week Two

The Flat Canvas - Field begins to take shape

What a difference a week (or 10 days) can make! It seems like yesterday when the construction crews arrived on-campus with their large equipment. Now, 10 days later, significant progress has been made towards one of the biggest transformations in college history. Trees, shrubbery, and an old tennis court, have been removed. Drainage tile has been installed. Massive piles of dirt have been formed.

The latest development is the flattening of the area that will later serve as our soccer field. As you can see in the photo gallery, a wide, flat surface has been smoothed out by the crew in preparation of the eventual grassy pitch on the east side of campus. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to walk to outlining area of the project with Dave Sichterman, Marygrove's Director of Athletics, Wellness & Recreation. After being out for a week at a conference, I think it is safe to say he [Dave] was more than pleased with the progress. The sight of the large flat surface gave us the canvas needed to envision what it will be like this fall as it didn't take long for us to discuss all the possibilities this will bring to our campus.

As I alluded to last week, I can't say enough about the positive support from the campus community and beyond. Staff and faculty comment on the vitality this will bring to campus as we pass them in the hall. Commuters on McNichols pump their brakes just to get a glimpse of the progress being made. These factors are just a few of many that continue to change the landscape of Marygrove College for years to come. The beautiful, yet still, campus will soon be put into movement by daily practices and matinee soccer games for students, faculty and staff to all enjoy.

Please visit the Photo Gallery to view the most recent developments. Have a great holiday weekend Mustang Fans!

Week One

Groundbreaking Developments - Construction for new soccer field underway

What an exciting moment for the Marygrove College community! Construction is now underway as payloaders, bulldozers and excavators fill the scene on the east side of campus. The machinery arrived to carryout for the first phase of Marygrove's new Urban Golf Project. The project, broken up into a few different phases, will begin with the construction of a new on-campus soccer field on Detroit's northwest side. The field will be the first on-campus facility for an athletic with department 10+ years of rich history. (Yes, ironically, that history includes a 2009 Women's Soccer USCAA National Championship.)

Last week, the large equipment began to move and make progress towards what promises to be a first class soccer facility. The first day brought plenty of excitement as faculty, staff, and students alike stood in awe of the beginning stages of a great project that will transform the campus in many ways. Despite being in the early stages of construction, you can already tell the facility will undoubtedly have an incredible impact on campus life at Marygrove College. There is a positive energy flowing through campus that reverberates far past athletics and affects everyone in the community at-large.

All the excitement leads me to thinking about the first home contest to hit the pitch this fall. Surely it will be a thrilling moment for everyone from the student-athletes to the parents who have faithfully supported them through the years. Equally important will be the newfound ability for the student body to come out and watch their classmates in action just seconds away from class.

The soccer field is expected to be complete sometime in Mid-August to make way for Fall 2010 preseason training. At that time, the jagged dirt landscape shown in the pictures will be replaced by a large grass field, bleachers, scoreboard and sound system.

I'll leave you with that cliffhanger for this week. Remember to visit us online at www.marygrovemustangs.com each week throughout the summer as I continue to layout the new facility and share photos on the current state of the construction on campus.