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Stadium spin
It's Over Your Head Architecture Column
By Austin Dingwa
WenedaOcobr25 20.-Th icignDaly.
aving had the weekend to
digest the unveiling of the
Big House's new design,
the shock of the proposal has sub-
sided to allow for public discus-
sion. Indeed, the project is a huge
change, and should be open to pub-
lic scrutiny. As sports columnist
Jim Carty wrote in Friday's Ann
Arbor News: "This isn't so much
a stadium expansion as a new sta-
dium." So let us discuss - with all
of the facts.
Spin is common in politics, as
this mid-term election reminds
us. Technically not lies though
not unbiased facts, slanted reports
only include one side of the story.
Though many believe it a purely
technical trade, architecture is no
stranger to spin. The Big House
controversy is proof that archi-
tects need to present their ideas
carefully in order to build any-
thing at all.
Most of the time, spin is a harm-
less and necessary way for fact to
support opinion. I become upset,
however, when legitimate con-
cerns are dismissed through the
manipulation of fact and the use of
generalities.
Currently, certain aspects of
the proposed Big House design
are raising questions. These are
real concerns. They are not being
heard. As one expansion supporter
wrote in
a stadium
feedback With clients
e-mail, as
reported budgets to me
by The handle and far
Ann Arbor
News: the stadiumE
"(The,, most certainly
opposition
is) mainly requires archi
people
who live
i
'E
n
e
f
It
Before any criticism, it is impor-
tant to acknowledge what was
presented to the public. Two large
brick structures are being pro-
posed to flank the east and west
sides of the current stadium. Mod-
eled after Yost Arena and the IM
Building,
these build-
to appease, logs will
house two
et, regents to levels of
ns to impress, concourse,
a new press
expansion 1s box and
a project that brand new
luxury
tectural spin. suites. Color
elevations
and render-
EMMA NOLAN-ABRAHAMIAN/ Daily AARON HANDELSMAN/ Daily
Swimmers and other endurance athletes can benefit greatly from breaking down mental bar- Associate athletic director Greg Harden has helped revive the careers of many Michigan athletes,
riers, helping them reach new athletic highs, helping them reach the potential that mental blocks may have prevented them from achieving.
in a dif-
ferent reality than the
who want big-time sp:
out paying for that
With that attitude, any
to the proposal is ridi
pure fantasy. Well, here
facts - based in reality
a slightly different versi
is being proposed.
ings showed
rest of us, these ideas in a vivid and articu-
orts, with- late manner.
privilege." The new design is neither aes-
y objection thetically unpleasant nor excit-
culous and ingly original. The luxury box
e are some issue has already been settled as
- that tell financially necessary, so belabor-
on of what ing that contention is futile. Brick
is employed in massive quantities,
making the building pricier. The
fact that the Athletic Department
is opting for a quality structure
over a less expensive design is
refreshing. In sum, the design is
grand enough to be impressive,
practical enough to be endorsed
and not disruptive enough to be
hated.
With clients to appease, budgets
to meet, regents to handle and fans
to impress, the stadium expansion
is most certainly a project that
requires architectural spin. This
bias is presented as sober truth
in the form of pictures, facts and
details. But pictures can be mis-
leading, facts can be relative and
details can be left out.
One of my concerns is the
appearance of the completed proj-
ect. The renderings only show the
new design, and everything else is
cropped out. How does this design
fit into its context? A thin slice of
existing stadium can be seen if one
looks closely at the renderings. In
relation to that existing structure,
the expansion appears massive.
Understand it is only Jim Carty's
opinion when he says, "There is no
massive anything."
Another apprehension to the
new design is not even addressed
in these renderings. How will
these looming structures appear
from inside the stadium? How will
FILE PHOTO it look in an aerial photograph?
Michigan Stadium is known for
for stuff that was going on in
the pool," Coben remembered.
"Basically, it was just me put-
tingso much pressure on myself
that it was affecting all other
aspects ofmylife - mypractice,
my school, my social life."
When his coach Chris Ber-
gare suggested that he talk to
Harden, Coben was skeptical
at first, wary of buying into
"psychobabble." But Harden's
relaxed nature put him at ease
and they quickly hit it off.
"It didn't feel like he was
trying to analyze me, we just
sat down and just talked about
bullshit," Coben said. "Andthen
as we got more comfortable
with each other it got so much
easier to talk about the stuff I
was really there for. Once that
happened it was just icing on
the cake."
In those chats with Hard-
en, Coben realized the only
source of pressure was coming
from within, and only he could
relieve the burden.
You're in there to compete
against yourself everyday," said
Coben, whose sights are cur-
rently focused on qualifying for
the 2008 Olympic games in Bei-
jing. "It's just you and yourself,
and the best way to get to that
peak performance is to real-
ize that, and then every prac-
tice and every tournament and
every competition you have to
calm yourself."
Coben credits Harden not
only for returning him to peak
performance on the platform,
but also with changing his out-
look on other aspects of his life.
The athletes Harden most
likes to work with tend to come
from the sports that he sees as
providing the greatest chal-
lenge of mind over matter: cross
country, swimming and golf. In
those sports unlike others, the
individual is competing alone
and without the supports of
a team. Those solitary battles
intrigue Harden.
InHarden'sestimation,about
a dozen athletes will meet with
him regularly over the course of
a season, though not always by
any choice of their own. Often
coaches will mandate athletes
who are struggling with per-
formance or in other aspects of
their life to see Harden. Hard-
en's approach doesn't work for
everyone, but when it does the
results can be outstanding.
"It is a whole new level of
gamesmanship when you start
understanding the real com-
petition is between the ears,"
Harden said. "To be able to go
your own head and fight those
demons and to compete with
to mental mastery. I'm learn-
ing from them now. I've taught
them all that I know and now
they're pushing the envelope."
Outside-the-boxhelp
While Harden is an excellent
resource in the athletic depart-
ment, some coaches choose to
bring in their own sports psy-
chologiststodealwithteamand
individual issues as they arise.
Hockey coach Red Berenson
met Hugh Bray while he was
coaching the St. Louis Blues of
the NHL in the 1970s, and they
established a working relation-
ship that continues to this day.
Bray is a sports psychologist
and professorat theUniversity's
See PSYCH, page 11B
yourself, your own fears and
insecurities and self-doubt,
if you fight that battle, you'll
win at everything."
Sometimes the athletes
go above and beyond the
realm of Harden's wisdom.
Two of Harden's star pupils
are now reversing the roles
and offering Harden advice
on conquering the mental
mountain.
"Tom Brady and Desmond
Howard are two people that
call me to this day, because
what we're talking about is
really how to be an effective
individual," Harden said.
"They are the poster boys of
the starship when it comes
The Big House stands to lose thousands of student seats with the renovation.
its bowl shape, but the additional
brick facades that will sandwich
the current arena may appear
more like an Oreo cookie with
Maize and Blue filling.
Words also skew the scale of
this project. The description has
been, until now, that the new
structures will be ten feet higher
than the current scoreboards.
Using relative language, one bas-
ketball rim taller does not seem
like much. Yet if we look at the
stadium from Elbel Field, the
scoreboards soar above every-
thing else within sight. Buildings
of that height may be imposing.
One of the reasons the current
stadium has a large capacity and
low profile is that the grass field
is, actually below ground level.
The proposed towers are over one
hundred feet above the ground-
level concourse, or half the height
of Burton Memorial Tower.
Lastly, the renderings and ele-
vations leave out one important
detail: the mechanical parapet.
This element is conveniently light-
ened in the proposed elevations,
although it runs the entire length
of both additions and is the same
height as the "towers." The public
needs some explanation on how
the mechanical systems will be
addressed, or I fear that they will
be disappointed with the final
result.
The new proposal does have
some good, but also has some
bad. Until now, the good has
been extolled and the bad omit-
ted. Spin it any way you like, but
the final project will be a part
of the University's tradition for
generations to come. Dismissing
valid concerns may lead to a big-
ger Big House that doesn't fulfill
its potential. I would hope the
University would strive for the
best because that is what cham-
pions do.
International
Career'
Pathways
Announcing the 4h annual series of events that brings students,
professionals & organizational representatives together to discuss
pathways to international careers.
International Career Panel Discussions
Thursday, Sept. 14, 7 PM (IntI Institute Rm 1636)-
"International Employment Myths & Opportunities"
Coming in October:
Graduate Internships in the UN, 10/19, Noon
Careers in International Health & Humanitarian Relief, 10/24, 5 PM
Teaching & Volunteering Abroad, 10/24, 7:30 PM
UM & China: Academic & Career Opportunities, 10/25, Noon
Peace Corps Information Session, 10/25, 7 PM
International Opportunities Fair
Wednesday, October 25, 2006 from 2-6 pm, Michigan Union
Meet with representatives of54+ organizations to:
Explore options for work, internships, volunteering, teaching, & research abroad
Learn more about excitinginternationalcareers
For info, tel. 647-2299, e-mail icoverseas@umich.edu & visit:
http://www umich.edu/-icenter//swt
Senior swimmer Chris Young is one of many Michigan athletes who has benefitted from working with Greg
Harden.
The Big House currently has more than 107,000 bleacher seats.
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