Bowl Bonus Leads to Softball Upgrades
Apr 23 | Football
By Tom Luicci
ScarletKnights.com
PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Kyle Flood has always let it be known how much he appreciates the support Rutgers' other sports teams have shown to the football program. This time, the Scarlet Knights' head coach was able to express that gratitude in more than just words.
Thanks in part to a $25,000 Fathead customized installation that Rutgers earned as a bonus for winning the Quick Lane Bowl last December, both dugouts at the Rutgers Softball Complex have been spruced up with new wallpaper covering the drab concrete that was once exposed.
The work was finished last week.
"We were really excited after the bowl game to know we had a $25,000 donation in renovations coming to us from Fathead," said Flood. "I felt like it was a great opportunity for us to give back to one of the other sports that do a great job of supporting us throughout the year. We can't thank the other sports in the athletic department enough for the support they give us on game day, and really all year long.
"We had a chance to do something for them in return and we wanted to take the opportunity to do it."
Fathead offered the $25,000 wallpaper installation to the winning school of the inaugural Quick Lane Bowl at Ford Field in Detroit on Dec. 26. Rutgers earned it with a one-sided 40-21 victory over North Carolina.
One of the key elements to the customized installation -- the word "Rutgers" is now clearly visible across the back wall of both dugouts -- is the visual it offers TV viewers, said Rutgers athletic director Julie Hermann.
"The gift from our Quick Lane Bowl champions allows us to make our softball stadium more BTN friendly," she said. "The in-game TV shots let the audience know you're at Rutgers."
Head softball coach Jay Nelson appreciates Flood and football reaching out to his program to offer the enhancements.
"It is a tremendous feeling to know that our Athletic Department is taking active measures to improve all of our sports facilities," he said. "We all watched the success of the football team and the dedication to excellence in their program. We are truly fortunate to have a football program that is reaching out to help other programs follow in their footsteps. It will take a program wide effort to elevate the Scarlet Knights programs to be the best in the Big Ten.
"I am grateful to the leadership that Kyle Flood and the football program have demonstrated in lending a hand to the softball program. The dugout wrap is a welcome enhancement to our softball complex."
