Big House may score new board

Athletics board expected to vote on scoreboard proposal

Touchdown!

The simple scoreboards inside Michigan Stadium may not record another down, if a proposal scheduled to be made at this Thursday's meeting of the Board in Control of Intercollegiate Athletics is sent on to the University Board of Regents next month.

A plan "has been discussed by the planning director, the administration and (University President Lee Bollinger) - there are no final details yet," said Jack Janveja, director of facilities, planning and design. "We really haven't done much work on it."

The proposal would replace the current scoreboards with technologically advanced units, complete with a video screen for instant replays.

"They want to upgrade to the latest, state-of-the-art scoreboard with replay features," Janveja said. "It will be (constructed on) both ends and will replace both scoreboards on each side."

The proposal is currently being reviewed by the architectural firm of Venturi, Scott Brown & Associates, Janveja said. The firm is involved in the Master Plan, an initiative commissioned by Bollinger to bring physical cohesion to the University community.

In order to select the style and size of the new displays, University officials will study scoreboards and stadiums at other major universities.

"It will be a little smaller than (the Rose Bowl scoreboard in Pasadena) - we will study various universities and ... other Big Ten scoreboards," Janveja said. "Hopefully, we will have a conclusion at the end of this month to present to the regents in March."

In addition, Janveja said the University must still look into manufacturers of the equipment for the displays.

"We are still looking at our various options and the manufactures who make various scoreboards," Janveja said.

The present scoreboards need to be moved in order to accommodate the stadium expansion approved at November's regents meeting.

"The halo (of seats), which the regents approved in their (November) meeting, would be disrupted in two places by the present scoreboards," Janveja said. "To accomplish the halo, the scoreboard needs to be moved."

No budget has been discussed yet for the new displays, Janveja said. But if approved, the scoreboards could be in the Big House by the first game of the 1998 season.

"If the regents approve the idea in March, we are hoping to get the scoreboard ready by September," Janveja said.

Students and Michigan football fans had varying opinions on the idea of replacing the boards, debating between tradition and enriching the Michigan football experience.

"It might be cool, but it will lessen the tradition of the stadium," said Engineering senior Mike Khomutin, who paints himself and sports a wig for football games. "It's an old-time stadium and if you put in a scoreboard with TVs, it will hamper the tradition."

Khomutin said the present scoreboards should be placed behind the new seating, rather than being replaced entirely.

The scoreboards are symbols of past football seasons, said Rackham second-year student Jeff Holzhausen, adding that they may also be good luck charms.

"There's too much tradition in those old score boards - I still see the great upsets against Ohio State," said Holzhausen, who dons a cape at Michigan football games and is known as Superfan. "I think there is a certain mystique about the Michigan Stadium that shouldn't be messed with. You would think the scoreboards would be thought of as good luck after this year."

A playback feature could improve the attendees' experiences, said LSA sophomore Jason Granet.

"I think that Michigan football fans, after this season, are very into watching the football game. They're very good fans," Granet said. "I think they can have an antique-looking scoreboard with modern features.

"If you build it to look like a historical scoreboard ... it won't take away from Michigan Stadium," Granet added.

Mathematics Prof. Philip Hanlon, who serves on the board, said there has been no discussion of new displays at the board's meetings this year.

"I don't think it was a well-enough formed point to be brought up last month," Hanlon said.

02-10-98