The University's Lacrosse Team is among the top-ranked teams in the nation and the NCAA tournament is now taking place. The University is in the process of building a Lacrosse stadium and the first phase is complete with a state-of-the-art turf field in place. Telecommunications staff has been involved in planning the stadium since the beginning of the process. In preparation of Phase 2 of the project, Ron Thomas and Tom Hoey asked for several 4 inch conduit pipes to be installed out to the edge of field from the signal manhole system that services the RACC. These will eventually be used to provide voice and data connections for the new stadium, locker rooms and vending areas.
Given the Great Danes Lacrosse Team's outstanding season, the University was selected to host the America East Championship. In order to accommodate the series, the University leased bleachers and a press box. Telecommunications was charged with getting phone and data connections into the press box. They had just one week to turn the lacrosse playing field into a suitable tournament site. Ron, Tom and Brian Depasquale, assistant athletic director of media relations, met outside in a cold, driving rain to configure the location for the bleachers and press box. They quickly determined they could use the new conduits installed for Phase 2 of the project and run temporary fiber and copper cables for the press box. Once the bleachers and press box were in place, Ron and Tom needed to run fiber and copper cable across a pathway to the conduits several hundred feet away. With the help of Rick Patten in the Electrical Shop, tuff-track turf was laid over the path to protect the fiber and phone lines.
The press box was turned over to Telecommunications on Thursday, May 3 at 7:00 a.m. Telecom staff needed phones and data to be up and running by 3:00 p.m. With the assistance of CNC (a Telecom vendor), Tom went to work with Bill Ziman (Network Engineer) to design and configure the data communication switches while NEC hooked up the telephones. All fiber and switches were up, running, and monitored by Trevor Corbett (Network Analyst) by 3:00 p.m. The press box was turned over to Brian Depasquale and the America East crew to cover the game, which began at 4:00 p.m. UMBC beat Binghamton in the first game; our own Great Danes beat Stonybrook in the second game. The Great Danes went on to take the America East championship in a thriller 15-14 victory (read the story at http://www.ualbanysports.com/) over UMBC. The University at Albany will host Loyola in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Sunday, May 13.
UAlbany is the first team in American East history to host an NCAA tournament game. Many thanks to the Telecom, Athletics and Facilities Management staff and the support of participating vendors. Their team work and cooperation has been instrumental in preparing the University to host successful championship events.
Go Danes!
