Franklin University certainly seems committed to keeping athletics going at Urbana University.
Earlier this year, Franklin paid a hefty sum to have new field turf installed at UU Stadium, and lights are now being added to the stadium that should be ready for the start of the 2017-18 school year.
It would be nice to have some UU football games played at night, especially on hot September Saturdays when Ohio State is playing during the day.
Franklin has also said it plans to add even more sports at UU, which competes in NCAA Division II.
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UU football coach Tyler Haines seems to have made a couple of good additions to his coaching staff this year, if NFL playing experience and pedigree mean anything.
New defensive coordinator Stacey Hairston played defensive back for the Cleveland Browns in 1993-94 under head coach Bill Belichick and defensive coordinator Nick Saban.
Hairston was the head coach at Wilmington College the last four years and it didn’t go very well, although Wilmington’s program has been in a funk for quite a while now.
Also added to the UU staff was Jim Cordle, who was a standout offensive lineman at Ohio State under head coach Jim Tressel.
Cordle later won a Super Bowl ring with the New York Giants under head coach Tom Coughlin.
UU has also made what appear to be solid hires as men’s head basketball coach (Nick Dials) and women’s head basketball coach (Andrea McCloskey).
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Trivia Time – Urbana High School graduate Roger Wallace wore uniform number 84 with the Memphis team of the World Football League in 1974-75.
This week’s question – Which Super Bowl did Jim Cordle win with the New York Giants?
