Remembering the Fox: Paul Hoernemann and the Glory Years of Heidelberg Football

In Celebration of Game Day... On November 7, 2009, Heidelberg played its first football game on campus since 1945, 64 years ago. The game was played on a beautiful artificial turf field installed in 2008, made possible by the support of Heidelberg alumni Cliff ('27) and Mary ('32) Saurwein. Heidelberg's winning score shown proudly on a new scoreboard and wrought iron and stone fencing framed the field with class. Temporary bleachers were brought in, students added to that with impromptu seating, family members and fans of all kinds tailgated, and the day ended with a proud parade to the Victory Bell at University Hall. Just a day earlier, Heidelberg had marked the inauguration of Dr. Robert H. Huntington as Heidelberg's 14th President and the game brought to life the vision President Huntington laid out for Heidelberg's future. From the action on the field, to the wide horizon beckoning beyond, it felt good and right to have a place where all could come together to be part of a shared experience of campus spirit, pride and success. Since that Game Day, Heidelberg has played all of its home games on this newly refurbished field. And it has made a difference. The players finally feel like they have a home field. Recruitment is up. The crowds have been larger, the students more involved, athletes and their families have become part of a greater Heidelberg family and everyone has bonded together around the athletic experience. But the picture is incomplete. The beautiful field has no stadium. The stands are rented bleachers. The locker room is offsite (at Seiberling Gymnasium) and the visiting team shares it with us. Concessions, restrooms and press boxes are temporary or offsite as well. The opportunity to really gather and focus the energy of those who come out to cheer on the team is only glimpsed. Like a ship without an anchor, something important is missing. The time has come to add the crowning touch - to construct an Athletic Stadium, featuring an Alumni Center, which will provide a permanent place for the entire campus community to gather and experience athletics and events together. A place where we can welcome new students into the Heidelberg experience, not just for the time they spend with us on campus, but for the rest of their lives. And a place where those who have gone on to do Heidelberg proud can return, remember and feel part of us again. Today, it's Game Day for building a home for athletics and alumni at Heidelberg. Project Benefits The time has come to build a new Athletic Stadium for a new century. The needs and benefits of this project are too important for this moment to pass us by: For the players Student athletes tell us that there is nothing better than the feeling of playing on your own turf - of running out of your locker room and onto your field, cheered on by those you proudly represent. Until 2009, we had not given our student athletes the chance to experience in 45 years. Every game was like a travel game, and there was never a home field advantage. When all our athletic competitors have fields of their own, and Heidelberg does not, we do our student athletes a disservice and give the other side an edge we lack. The athletes we are recruiting have all played in stadiums in high school - it is understandable they are surprised to come to campus and see a great field with no stadium anchoring it. Virtually every other school in the Ohio Athletic Conference we play in has a stadium of its own. As Coach Mike Hallet says, the Athletic Stadium we've planned has been designed not to "keep up with the Joneses, but for Heidelberg to BE the Joneses. We may be the last, but we're going to be the best!"