Former coach breaks ground on new baseball stadium

Bob Warn took a familiar walk out onto Sycamore Field on May 8 under the storm-laden skies that fell short of raining on a very special moment for the former ISU Sycamore baseball coach.

"All my emotions melted into one tonight," Warn said. "I stepped out onto the field and thought to myself 'how many times have I done this and stood out here?'"

Warn took part in a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Bob Warn Field at Sycamore Stadium. As a former coach of the Sycamores for 31 years, Warn compiled 1,070 career victories and took ISU to its only College World Series appearance in 1986; it was only natural to dedicate the new field in his honor.

Alongside Warn were ISU President Daniel Bradley, ISU Foundation President Gene Crume, President of the ISU Board of Trustees Michael Alley, Athletic Director Ron Prettyman, Terre Haute Mayor Duke Bennett and current head baseball coach Lindsay Meggs.

"I am overwhelmed with gratitude right now in part with this celebration," Warn said of the event. "[My family and I] never thought we would have something like this ever happen. It's an honor."

Alumni, former players, media and fans all watched as current players hand over golden shovels for the dignitaries to perform a ceremonial dig behind home plate. The construction will begin as soon as the season wraps up and a formal opening of the new field and stadium will take place during the first game of next season.

Warn's excitement for the event carried over onto the field with a Sycamore win over Evansville, and into the stands, as he took his congratulatory handshakes and hugs from family and friends and former players, coaches, students.

"I am mostly excited for the players here and now and the future players coach Meggs will recruit. I can't wait to see some exciting wins on this field in the future," Warn said. "But the dedication of this field goes to the players who ran into fences, raked the dirt and played hard, as well as the coaches who helped and the fans that saw us play."

The field has been slowly deteriorating for sometime and has lacked sufficient changing rooms, dugouts, concessions, and seating compared to other Missouri Valley Conference stadiums. Planned improvements include more adequate seating, improved dugouts and locker rooms and concession areas.

"We need sporting facilities that are equal to the facilities of other universities and the greater facilities of our campus," Bradley said. "We have a great campus, but some improvements need to be made to match the rest of this institution."

Bradley has not been shy about appropriating money for athletics and feels these improvements only help the university.

"College sports are a great public relations outlet and involve the community, alumni and the student body," Bradley said. "It helps keep students and university workers employed, but also gives the student body something to rally behind."

The ISU Foundation is still accepting donations for more funding to make these improvements and if you have any questions or want to make a donation, please contact the ISU Foundation at (812)-237-4444.