Lighting It Up: Cochrane Field will Flip the On Switch for Lights this Fall

A long-discussed project has come to fruition at Cochrane Field. Beginning with the 2011 season, the Bowling Green State University men's and women's soccer teams will have the option of playing under the lights at their home facility.

The money for the $400,000 project has been raised through donations, with nearly all of the funds donated by men's soccer alumni. Led by former players Gary Kovacs (1967-69) and Nan Chul Shin (1983-86), who provided major leadership gifts for the project, the men's soccer alums have stepped to the forefront to fund the improvement.

“We have about 45 alumni who have given,” said men's soccer coach Eric Nichols, who was hired at BGSU in the spring of 2009. “I think it really speaks to the power of the alumni network and the allegiance that our alumni all across the world have to this university, BG soccer and coaches who laid the foundation for a program deeply rooted in history.

“It's all different eras, and it's a really powerful group. They want the program to be something they can be proud of. Now it's our job to make sure that happens for them.”

The lights project is a continuation of improvements to the Cochrane Field complex. Last season, via donations raised by both the men's and women's programs, World Cup-style goals were added, as well as wind screens and covered benches. The athletic department also made upgrades to the scoreboard in time for the 2010 season.

Nichols said that the lights project has been years in the making.

“From the day I interviewed, it was one of the things that was brought up in the plan to rebuild the program, reconnect us with our tradition and get us back to where we need to be. BGSU is the only Division I men's program in the state of Ohio without lights – this will help in our recruiting and our scheduling.”

Additionally, the lights will help BGSU student-athletes and the community. For the players, night games will reduce the amount of class time missed on home game days. The evening start times will make it easier for members of the community, including a large youth soccer-playing population, to make it to Cochrane Field for Falcons soccer.

“Lights at Cochrane Field will change the trajectory of both soccer programs,” said BGSU Director of Athletics Greg Christopher. “From night games for our fans, to greater flexibility for practices and tournaments, the lights will make a real difference for our student-athletes. This is also another great example of former Falcons giving back and helping a new generation of BGSU student-athletes.”

The project calls for light standards to be erected at each of the four corners of Cochrane Field. The four 75-foot poles each will hold lights that will meet the NCAA minimum of 75 foot candles for television.

“We are finalizing the construction documents,” said Jim Elsasser, BGSU Associate A.D. for Internal Affairs. “We've got an outstanding facility and lights will provide one more feather in the cap for Cochrane Field.”

Like Nichols, women's soccer head coach Andy Richards is thrilled with the prospect of playing under the lights.

“It's just fantastic,” said Richards, who assumed the helm of the Falcon women's program in 2000. “I'm excited for all of us; it is a big shot in the arm for both programs, especially with regard to our ability to recruit players to the updated facility.”

Richards noted that it's more difficult for the women's alumnae base to raise money, since the program is only a decade-and-a-half old. The team's first season was 1997, and the first class of four-year players to go through the program played in 2000 and graduated in the spring of 2001.

“We are very grateful to the men's alums and Eric to be the driving force behind this project,” said Richards. “We know we are going to benefit greatly from it and we will continue to do our part to raise funds for the project.

“We have received a few donations from the women's soccer alumnae. They want to help; they just don't have the ability to do so at the level of the men's alumni at this point.”

Construction for the lights is expected to start in the next few weeks and be completed in time for the start of the home schedules in late August.

Tentative plans call for the men's team to play seven of this fall's eight regular-season home matches under the lights. Nichols said the addition of lights and the later starting times will allow for improved marketing of the team and the ability for the community to connect with the program.

“This gives us a chance to get more people to our games,” Nichols said. “It gives us a unique opportunity to showcase our program.”

The men's schedule, with only six total Mid-American Conference matches, allows Nichols a little more flexibility than Richards in terms of scheduling midweek and evening matches. With all 12 MAC institutions sponsoring women's soccer, the conference schedule calls for Friday and Sunday matches each weekend. Over the last few years, Richards has primarily stuck to that Friday-Sunday scheduling pattern during the non-conference portion of the schedule as well. However, the addition of the lights could allow the women to schedule a few midweek contests during the non-league slate.

“I think we can get some additional fans and create a different atmosphere,” said Richards. “It's a much better atmosphere under the lights.”

The first night game in Cochrane Field history is tentatively slated for Friday, August 26, when the men's program will take on 2010 national semifinalist Michigan. The women's home opener is scheduled for two nights later – Sunday, August 28 – vs. Detroit.

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