Heads up to Rutgers fans in southwest Florida

[Mr_Twister]

Heads up to Rutgers fans in southwest Florida (Marco Island, Naples, Fort Myers areas). Update your calendar to support Rutgers baseball. Rutgers plays a 3-game series at FGCU's Swanson Stadium: Friday 3/17/17 6:30 PM, Saturday 3/18/17 2 PM, Sunday 3/19/17 1 PM. Swanson Stadium is a great venue. Set your GPS to 10501 FGCU Lake Parkway East, Fort Myers, FL 33965. FGCU's campus is minutes from Interstate 75.

http://www.fgcuathletics.com/sports/2014/8/16/swansonstadium.aspx

At last season's series, I was fortunate to bump into a retired, personable Rutgers AD who took the time to graciously chat for a few minutes. He has not lost his enthusiasm for Rutgers Athletics.

 

[JERSEYROOTS]

Not in So. FL but love this.... so, BUMP!

 

[Rutgers8086]

Two hours from Tampa

 

[RU85inFla]

Thanks for this post. I checked the schedule and saw that they are playing UNF in North Florida for a 5 game series. Very Psyched.

 

[Mr_Twister]

FGCU has a terrific team. They knocked off #2 Florida Gators. According to Fort Myers broadcast TV news sportscaster, FGCU has cracked the top 25. Before hosting Rutgers, FGCU hosts Ohio State

 

[RUInFlorida]

Thanks for posting this thread!

 

[lakejj]

Sucks that I'm in Naples for the winter...guess i have to go now... [banana]

 

[Mr_Twister]

FGCU just took 2 out of 3 from Ohio State. The Eagles play Florida State two days before Rutgers arrives.

http://www.fgcuathletics.com/schedule.aspx?path=baseball

 

[scottydont]

I was at FGCU's baseball stadium back in January while my daughter was looking at their softball program. Beautiful facilities for such a small school. Rutgers could take some lessons, especially on the softball side. Our softball field is worse than a lot of rec programs.

 

[RutgersUnion]

I was at FGCU's baseball stadium back in January while my daughter was looking at their softball program. Beautiful facilities for such a small school. Rutgers could take some lessons, especially on the softball side. Our softball field is worse than a lot of rec programs.

That's just Florida sports in general. Being able to play year round makes a huge difference.

 

[beaced]

That's just Florida sports in general. Being able to play year round makes a huge difference.

Name of the game.

 

[Mr_Twister]

FGCU's new president's background includes schools that have football programs. Nearby Fort Myers and Naples and Immokolee areas have terrific high school football talent. Do not be surprised if FGCU starts a football program. FGCU has its sights set on competing in a higher profile athletics conference.

 

[Mr_Twister]

Any truth to the rumor that Rutgers baseball wears green uniforms for the FGCU opener, compliments of Adidas?

 

[HeavenUniv.]

Scotty,
A few months ago, I was on the Kean University campus in Union. This DIVISION 3 school has better baseball and softball stadiums than New Jersey's State University. I was shocked that both fields had lights. I hope Pat Hobbs has something up his sleeve fairly soon.

 

[RU85inFla]

That's just Florida sports in general. Being able to play year round makes a huge difference.

I would have assumed alumni giving was the difference.

 

[RutgersUnion]

I would have assumed alumni giving was the difference.

At FGCU?

 

[Mr_Twister]

FGCU swept Rutgers, 3 games. Varsity versus the JV. Watched Saturday's game in-person. Rutgers led 4-zip, then FGCU scored 13 unanswered. The biggest difference ... the FGCU players are mature and arrive at FGCU as proven commodities. Players at FGCU from these JUCOs -- West Georgia CC, East Florida State College, Seminole State College (2), Broward College, Kansas City Kansas CC, State College of Florida, ASA College, CC of Rhode Island, Gulf Coast State College, Indian River State.
Rutgers has transfers from baseball powers Rhode Island and NJIT.
No kidding. Get FGCU off the schedule. They are competing. We are participating and enjoying the travel and southwest Florida weather.
BTW, college baseball is brutal to watch. Batters step out of the box on every pitch to stare at the third base coach and adjust their wristband (one FGCU batter did a sign of the cross between each pitch and drew a line with the bat in the batter's box), catchers getting pitches from the bench on every pitch to relay to the pitcher. You'd think this was the 7th game of a World Series. The umpires do nothing to speed up the game -- they must be getting paid by the hour.
Swanson Stadium is a beautiful facility.
Free parking, $7 admission, free roster programs, promotional contests between innings, real grilled hot dogs and hamburgers available at the concession stand.
Ex-Rutgers AD wintering in Florida, sitting ground level near the backstop, pulling for the Scarlet Knights.

 

[Mr_Twister]

At FGCU?

Yes, for baseball, FGCU has at least a few well-heeled donors. Luxury boxes beneath the stands show their names on the doors to the boxes.

 

[scottydont]

Scotty,
A few months ago, I was on the Kean University campus in Union. This DIVISION 3 school has better baseball and softball stadiums than New Jersey's State University. I was shocked that both fields had lights. I hope Pat Hobbs has something up his sleeve fairly soon.

Check out TCNJ's stadium. Gorgeous. Of course, they've won the D3 National Championship about a dozen times in the past 30 years, so they've earned it.