I've always wondered something about the history of our stadium improvements.
In 1972, the south end zone extension was completed adding 9,400 seats, bringing the capacity to over 73,000. In the 25 years between 1972 and 1997, there were several "improvements" but no major upgrade to the overall stadium and fan accommodations, but mostly locker room, training, strength, and office improvements, new replay boards, new AstroTurf, etc. Also, the Devaney Center opened in 1976 and the Cook Pavilion opened in 1986.
In the 19 years since then, there have been an unbelievable number of major improvements, including the 1999 West Stadium and Press Box/Luxury Box expansion, the 2006 North Stadium Expansion including all new football facilities and a new indoor practice facility, and the 2013 East Stadium expansion. Couple that with the Baseball/Softball Complex (literally, in the 70s and 80s, Nebraska played baseball in a facility that would be a low level High School facility today), Pinnacle Arena, and the renovations to the Devaney Center, the changes over the past 19 years have been stunning.
I would be interested in knowing why so little was done from 1972 to 1997, compared to what has transpired since. The 1972-1997 time frame correlates to Osborne's tenure as coach and most of Devaney's tenure as AD. Did they hesitate on long needed improvements to the stadium in the 70s and 80s or were there other factors? Was fundraising a problem? I know that the late 70s and early 80s were pretty hard economic times, but one would have thought that by the late 80s/early 90s, that a program this successful would have made more progress. Anyone have any historical insight?
In 1972, the south end zone extension was completed adding 9,400 seats, bringing the capacity to over 73,000. In the 25 years between 1972 and 1997, there were several "improvements" but no major upgrade to the overall stadium and fan accommodations, but mostly locker room, training, strength, and office improvements, new replay boards, new AstroTurf, etc. Also, the Devaney Center opened in 1976 and the Cook Pavilion opened in 1986.
In the 19 years since then, there have been an unbelievable number of major improvements, including the 1999 West Stadium and Press Box/Luxury Box expansion, the 2006 North Stadium Expansion including all new football facilities and a new indoor practice facility, and the 2013 East Stadium expansion. Couple that with the Baseball/Softball Complex (literally, in the 70s and 80s, Nebraska played baseball in a facility that would be a low level High School facility today), Pinnacle Arena, and the renovations to the Devaney Center, the changes over the past 19 years have been stunning.
I would be interested in knowing why so little was done from 1972 to 1997, compared to what has transpired since. The 1972-1997 time frame correlates to Osborne's tenure as coach and most of Devaney's tenure as AD. Did they hesitate on long needed improvements to the stadium in the 70s and 80s or were there other factors? Was fundraising a problem? I know that the late 70s and early 80s were pretty hard economic times, but one would have thought that by the late 80s/early 90s, that a program this successful would have made more progress. Anyone have any historical insight?
