Episode 42 - If You Build It They Will Come - a podcast by Charles J. Infurna, EdD

The conversation stemmed from a post an alum made in a Facebook alumni post about the college’s facilities.  It got our group in the chat going about how the recruitment process would be made easier if we had facilities that were upgraded and that would allow us (SUNY Fredonia) the chance to host meets again.

Well, things got really exciting because there were two schools of thought.  First, upgrading the indoor facilities would assist coaches in the recruiting process of student-athletes.  A second camp thinks that upgrading our facility wouldn’t make that much of a difference.  I am in the latter.

As difficult as it might be for me to say, I really don’t believe that upgrading our indoor facility at SUNY Fredonia would make that much of a difference in attracting recruits who apply, are accepted, and eventually enroll.  I don’t believe it because I’ve seen it from both perspectives.  I was an athlete and coach at SUNY Fredonia.  The condition of the indoor facility back in the spring of 2000 when I first visited was good, but not great.  The facility was built in 1983 and had not been upgraded at all.  It wasn’t upgraded in the 17 years between being built and when I arrived, and hasn’t been upgraded in the past 18 years since I graduated.  It made training easier because we didn’t have to throw the weight/shot outside in the winter, but we did throw the weight outdoors in competition.

During my time spent at Nazareth College, we didn’t have an indoor fieldhouse.  A new one has been recently built, but we’ll get into that later.  At Nazareth, we first began practicing in an auxiliary gym.  We outgrew that gym in two years.  We were then granted access to throw in a racquetball court.  That was our home for five years.  That racquetball court produced school record holders in the shot-put, weight, discus, and hammer for both the men’s and women’s programs.

At Alfred State, we borrow space from Alfred University two days a week.  No indoor fieldhouse at Alfred State.

So, where do we go from here?

In my humble opinion, there are many more factors that contribute to an athlete making a college selection besides the quality/existence of facilities for track and field.  In no particular order, we have, a) intended major, b) financial aid/assistance, c) proximity to home, d) comfort level with current coaching staff, e) facilities, and f) recent team successes.

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